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Presentation: Artwork Commission and Purchase Agreement Process
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Key Issues:
The Artist Selection Panel and staff had the difficult task of narrowing 111 applications to only one selected artist. From the beginning, Mr. Satow’s proposal resonated with the Lee’s Summit community. Through public comments, citizens shared that the work invoked a sense of nostalgia and play, and brought joyful childhood memories to the forefront of the community’s collective mind. Mr. Satow’s public art is internationally renowned and we are fortunate to have an accomplished artist of his caliber work with us on this very special project. “Everything Changes with a Dream” is anticipated to instill new lifelong memories for residents and visitors of all ages.
Background:
As part of the Downtown Market Plaza Project (“Downtown Project”), $250,000 of the overall construction budget has been allocated to support the inclusion of various works of public art into the Downtown Project. The public art plan for the Downtown Project will include the addition of several new permanent public art pieces as well as the relocation of artworks currently owned by the City.
Early design concepts called for a large-scale art piece to serve as the iconic entryway landmark for the southern pedestrian access point into the Downtown Project from Third Street. This public art project was named the Downtown Market Plaza Entryway Public Art Project. The Downtown Project team designated $100,000 to commission a professional public artist to design, create and install an original and unique work of art that would be site-specific and site-responsive.
Selection Process
The process for selecting an artist for the project began with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) posted to CallforEntry.org, followed by a Request for Project Proposals (RFP) of the finalists. Following a review of the concept proposals and finalist interviews by the Artist Selection Committee, the top proposals were available for public review and comment. A final artist recommendation was determined by the Artist Selection Panel and staff, then presented to the Cultural Commission for approval.
Project Timeline
In January, staff formed a nine-member Artist Selection Panel comprising of three members of the Cultural Commission as well as Downtown Project stakeholders.
From February 21 to March 25, 2024, The City posted the Downtown Market Plaza Entryway Public Art Request for Artist Qualifications (“the call”) on Call for Entry (CAFE.org). Staff reviewed 111 applications submitted by professional public artists from across the country and determined that 88 were qualified for the Artist Selection Panel’s review.
In April, staff met with the Artist Selection Panel to provide orientation and review the expectations of panelists as reviewers (“jurors”) of the 88 eligible applications. Members of the Artist Selection Panel individually scored and ranked applications for two weeks and convened to discuss the top 15-tanked applications. The panel selected 5 artists as finalists and requested that staff invite those artists to advance to the Request for Concept Proposals (RFP) phase.
On April 26, 2024, the five finalists were notified and invited to develop a design concept of their proposed artwork for the project site.
June 24, 2024, a team comprised of the Artist Selection Panel, staff, Lane 4, and project architects from Olsson Studio and Tessere (formerly GLMV) reviewed concept proposals and interviewed each of the five finalists.
From July 1 to July 10, 2024, the City created a web page on the Downtown Market Plaza website and invited the public to review each proposed artwork designs and to complete a brief survey. Data from this survey provided the Artist Selection Panel and staff with informative feedback. The public input opportunity was promoted through the City’s website, email and social media platforms as well as though Cultural Arts’ email newsletters and social media.
July 11, 2024, staff reviewed accumulated data and found that 716 citizens provided informative feedback as part of the public input process. The Artist Selection Panel, members of the project and staff selected Heath Satow and his piece “Everything Changes With A Dream” to be the artist for the commissioned project.
July 24, 2024, the selected artist’s proposal was presented to the Cultural Commission for review. The Commission voiced unanimous approval of the selection and recommended staff to begin the process of preparing an Artwork Commission and Purchase Agreement with Mr. Satow.
August 20, 2024, staff presents this Artwork Commission and Purchase Agreement between the City and Heath Satow Sculpture, Inc. to the City Council for First Reading.
September 2024, Work to begin upon Council approval and full execution of contract documents.
Presenter
Ryan Elam, Assistant City Manager
Glenda Masters, Cultural Arts Manager