The City of Wichita has opened a request for proposals for visual artists interested in creating permanent outdoor sculptures for 14 existing pedestals located throughout Wichita’s central core districts of Old Town, Downtown and Delano.

Artists are invited to submit existing or conceptual sculptures for consideration with a budget of $8,000-$14,000 per artwork. Selected artworks will be accessioned into the City’s 300+ piece public art collection and included in the City’s annual art maintenance plan.

“This project offers the City a unique opportunity to add several new works to our vibrant downtown landscape and create engaging urban spaces,” said Lindsay Benacka, Director of Arts and Cultural Services. “We hope to see many local and regional artists apply for this opportunity, which will create meaningful experiences for residents and visitors.”

This project is funded through the percent for art ordinance and the City of Wichita’s Capital Improvement Plan. In 2019, the Wichita City Council approved an ordinance that allotted 2% of capital improvement funds to a pool of funding allocated for the commissioning of onsite artworks that then become part of the citywide art collection. The administration of the percent for art program is overseen by the Design Council, an 11-member, resident-lead advisory board.

Proposals must be submitted by 12:59 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 through the CaFÉ website at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=15636. All questions may be emailed to Public Art Manager Jana Erwin at [email protected] by 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, June 30, 2025.