Lightning Bug sculpture by Tom Flynn

Get ready for our latest Art on the Trail installation! Thrive Allen County and National Endowment of The Arts have partnered to spearhead this public arts initiative. This initiative will offer one artist the unique ability to showcase their original sculpture. The goal of this initiative is to increase tourism, increase physical activity and to bring beauty to Allen County trails. The selected sculpture will be installed on a section of a trail in Allen County, Kansas. The artwork will remain the property of Thrive Allen County and can be removed at owners discretion.

For consideration, please submit the following:

• Sketch or model of desired sculpture piece
• Examples of previous work
• Resume of past work/exhibitions
• Single page with artist contact information, explanation of the design concept, overall dimensions and proposed material with price for materials.

Serene Flight mural by IT-RA Icons

LOCATION

The selected sculpture will be placed on the Lehigh Portland Trails located in Allen County, Kansas. The specific location is yet to be determined, and the selected artist’s input is desired.

SCHEDULE

All proposals are due by 5pm on August 15th, 2022 at Thrive Allen County. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted. Proposals can be mailed, emailed, or dropped off at Thrive Allen County’s office. The winning proposal will be selected by August 26th, 2022. The artist with the winning proposal must be prepared to have their sculpture installed no later than October 16th, 2022.

Images/Examples of proposals not selected may be picked up at Thrive Allen County by October 16th, 2022. Anything not picked up by this date will become the property of Thrive and may be discarded.

SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA

One artist will be selected by a community taskforce formed specifically for this initiative. The winning proposal will be chosen by a community taskforce. Criteria will include artistic merit, appropriateness of the sculpture, diversity, and artist resume.

ELIGIBILITY

Thrive Allen County is a community-based organization. This call for artist is open to anyone willing to submit a proposal that can complete the requirements as specified, including the design and delivery of the sculpture. Any designs that include advertising, soliciting, campaigning, or other promotional or commercially-driven entries are ineligible.

ARTIST COMPENSATION

The chosen artist will be compensated through a payment of $12,000 which is intended as a design fee, and will be paid in increments during the project period. The selected artist will also be given a daily per diem during the project period (up to seven days) for meals and/or lodging, if travel accommodations are required for the project. Project material cost will be reimbursed up to $2,500 by Thrive Allen County in addition to the artist fee.

MORE INFORMATION

The artist agrees that Thrive Allen County may reproduce images of the sculpture for non-commercial, educational, and promotional purposes, and will credit the artist. Please note that during the project the trail will continue to be accessible to the public. During the installation of the sculpture, Thrive will organize community engagement activities such as live-stream social media events, artist meet and greets, and artist interviews.

For more information, please contact Summer Boren at 620-365-8128 or email summer@thriveallencounty.org.

View and Download this Call for Artist as a PDF.