Glory Awaits

Call to Artists for Public Art: Sixteenth Temporary Public Art Exhibition

In the City of Blue Springs, Missouri 64015

Application Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2025 by Midnight, Mountain Daylight Time

Overview

The Blue Springs 2026 entitled “Glory Awaits” themed Public Art Installation is our sixteenth temporary exhibition of public art. A series of sculptured in-action soccer player themed sculptures is planned to celebrate the metro area’s global event showcasing your work to a global audience and enhance the city’s cultural landscape.

Call to Artists for Public Art: Sixteenth Temporary Public Art Exhibition

In the City of Blue Springs, Missouri 64015

Issued by Public Art Commission, City of Blue Springs, Missouri on September 3, 2025

Application Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2025 by Midnight, Mountain Daylight Time

Overview

The City of Blue Springs, Missouri established the Blue Springs Public Art Commission (PAC) in 2000. It is dedicated to enhancing the City of Blue Springs public spaces through art that reflects the vibrancy, culture, and aspirations of our community in which citizens live, work, and shop.

The Blue Springs 2026 entitled “Glory Awaits” themed Public Art Installation is our sixteenth temporary exhibition of public art. A series of in-action soccer player themed sculptures is planned to celebrate the metro area’s global event showcasing your work to a global audience and enhance the city’s cultural landscape.

This “Call to Artists” invites 3-D artists and artist teams to submit proposals to be considered by the Selection Panel for an exhibit placed for one year, from April 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027. Four artists will be selected to provide a work of public art for outside installation. The four artworks will be displayed prominently along major streets with sidewalk access to the sculptures. The “Call to Artists” is open to all professional artists over the age of eighteen. Emerging and professional artists are also encouraged to apply. In the past, typically one or more artworks have been purchased from each exhibition to add to our permanent public art collection that is promoted via Bloomberg Connects.

For this exhibit we will be sponsored by the Blue Springs Parks and Recreation Department whose mission involves “creating outstanding recreational, cultural and natural experiences to enrich and enhance the quality of life for our community today and for future generations.” In addition to the 13 parks throughout our community, the Department is widely acclaimed for its 35 miles of bike/walking trails spread throughout seven parks and three roadways in Blue Springs, encouraging positive lifestyle recreation for citizens and families. We will also be sponsored by the Blue Springs Art League whose mission is “to foster greater interest in the visual arts among the residents of the community”. The Art League supports placing art in public places in addition to holding an annual fine arts show.

Display of public artworks within the heart of the community helps fulfill the purposes of these organizations and the PAC. By placing accessible sculptures throughout out City, citizens and visitors will be able to participate in the cultural experience that public art provides.

Due Date for Application: All applications should be submitted through Café not later than Monday, October 12, 2025, Midnight Mountain Daylight Time.

Theme: All proposed artworks should capture the artist’s conception of the energy and spirit of soccer. We are looking for artistic excellence and originality in four near life-sized action artworks. These will be displayed outside requiring durable, weather-resistant materials. We encourage the use of sustainable materials. Solar lighting will be provided as part of each installation.

Site: The exhibit installations will be placed over a wide area of Blue Springs, and includes high-traffic areas along several subdivisions, downtown, and parks. Solar lighting will be provided as part of each installation. For photos of possible art sites, go to: www.bluespringsgov.com/publicartcall

Media: Media can include, but is not limited to, bronze, stone, wood, metal, ceramic, mosaic or other materials suitable for exterior display. Artworks for this call are preferred but not required, to be near life size, and that can be easily recognized while driving by, walking, or biking. Kinetic or interactive art is encouraged but not required.

Compensation: Each Artist will receive an honorarium of $3,125.00 for the 11-month exhibition. Artists may offer their work for sale but PAC reserves the right of first refusal for any artwork purchase from the exhibit. If PAC chooses to purchase an artwork for permanent exhibit, the $3,125.00 will be credited toward the purchase price. PAC will encourage the offer of sale to others if it does not choose to retain the art.

Installation: Artists are responsible for transporting and installing artworks for the exhibition and will be responsible for removing the artwork after the exhibition if not purchased. PAC will be responsible for site preparation and on-site additional equipment needed for installation. Artwork should be durable and require no maintenance during the 11-month exhibition period. In western Missouri, heavy rains, high heat and humidity, high winds, and seasonal snow or freezing precipitation may occur, so consideration should be given to resistance to the effects of weather.

Installation and Exhibition Dates: Installation of artwork will be between March 22 and March 26, 2026 as arranged between the Artist and PAC. Exhibition will be from April 1, 2024 to March 2, 2027.

Promotion: Each Artist will be interviewed and videotaped during installation for use by PAC in promotion of the “Glory Awaits” exhibit. Artists will receive brochures and access to all media about the artists and artworks of the display. Artworks will be promoted in local and regional publications and will be part of the City of Blue Springs website with photographs and a map of the location of each artwork. Artists will be invited to attend a dedication event for the exhibit during June, 2026.

Selection Process: An Artist Selection Panel composed of artists, art administrators and community

residents will review all submissions meeting the application requirements and deadline in order to select the top candidates. The Selection Panel will interview candidates via phone to discuss their proposed artwork. An illustration of the proposed piece or photograph of a pre-existing artwork must be provided prior to the phone interview. Artworks that are offensive or politically motivated or those which do not meet community standards of decency will not be approved, Artworks must satisfactorily address public safety and liability issues and assure structural integrity. Resistance to vandalism will also be important. The selected artists must enter into a contractual agreement with the City of Blue Springs. The artist may request a specific site for an artwork but the final decision will be made by the PAC.

Application Requirements: Interested artists should submit the following to be considered:

• Letter of interest. Please explain why you want to be considered for this exhibit. Indicate the specific artwork you wish to display or describe the sculpture you intend to create for display. Suggest your interpretation of how your art would fit the theme of the exhibit.

• Current Resume. Include information and details about educational background, previous work, gallery showings, and past experience in public art exhibits.

• Digital Images. A minimum of four and a maximum of six jpg images representative of your body of work are required. Also include with images (1) title of work (2) which artwork is available (3) dimensions and approximate weight of the work (4) materials used (5) sale price for each artwork. One additional video file is optional which may include a 3D model or sketches of a proposed artwork.

• CAFÉ. Any questions regarding file preparation should be directed to the homepage of CAFÉ which is https://www.callforentry.org.

Project Timeline:

September 3, 2025 “Glory Awaits” themed Call to Artists is available on CAFÉ

October 12, 2025 Artist Application process closes on CAFÉ at Midnight MDT

October 12-19, 2025 Jury process Round 1 via Café

October 19 – 26th, 2025 Jurors process Round 2 1 via Café

October 27 -31, 2025 Final selected candidate artists notified to prepare for phone interview

November 5, 2025 Jurors (required attendance), and PAC phone interview with

final selected artists

December 5, 2025 Required, Artist signed contract returned to City

March 23-27 2026 Install artworks, (mutual City/artist agreed date/time)

March 28, 2026 - March 7, 2027 Exhibition “Glory Awaits”  themed Artworks

June, 2026 “Glory Awaits”  Kickoff Event, (date TBD), exhibit artists invited

Application Requirements:  Interested artists should submit the following to be considered:

• Letter of interest. Please explain why you want to be considered for this exhibit. Indicate the specific artwork you wish to display or describe the sculpture you intend to create for display.  Suggest your interpretation of how your art would fit the theme of the exhibit.
• Current Resume. Include information and details about educational background, previous work, gallery showings, and past experience in public art exhibits.
• Digital Images. A minimum of four and a maximum of six jpg images representative of your body of work are required.  Also include with images (1) title of work (2) dimensions of the work (3) materials used (4) sale price for each artwork.  One additional video file is optional.
• CAFÉ. Any questions regarding file preparation should be directed to the homepage of CAFÉ which is https://www.callforentry.org.

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