Kent County Maryland: Gateway to Chestertown

The Gateway Committee invites professional artists or artist teams to design and create a permanent, site-specific sculpture along Maryland Route 291 in Kent County. This installation will serve as a gateway into historic Chestertown and reflect the cultural, historical and natural identity of Kent County.

The project will result in a welcoming, iconic landmark at the entry point to Chestertown, visible to travelers and enduring for generations.

Project Overview

The Gateway Committee invites professional artists or artist teams to design and create a permanent, site-specific sculpture along Maryland Route 291 in Kent County. This installation will serve as a gateway into historic Chestertown and reflect the cultural, historical and natural identity of Kent County.

The project will result in a welcoming, iconic landmark at the entry point to Chestertown, visible to travelers and enduring for generations.

About Chestertown & Kent County, Maryland

Chestertown, the county seat of Kent County, Maryland, is a place where history, culture and natural beauty converge. Established in 1706 along the Chester River, the town flourished as a colonial port and center of commerce, leaving a legacy of Georgian architecture and a rich maritime past. Chestertown is also known for its role in America’s struggle for independence, famously reenacted each year during the Chestertown Tea Party Festival, a tradition that keeps its Revolutionary spirit alive. Today, the town is just as celebrated for its vibrant arts community. With a long history as an enclave for artists and craftspeople, Chestertown embraces creativity in its galleries, cultural festivals and public art, all of which contribute to the town’s welcoming and distinct character.

Washington College, founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington, enriches Chestertown with its intellectual and cultural heritage. As the 10th oldest college in the nation, it has become a cornerstone of the community, fostering a spirit of learning and artistic expression that extends beyond the campus into the heart of the town. Surrounding Chestertown, Kent County offers sweeping farmland, tidal rivers and woodlands that reflect the cultural, historical and natural identity of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Agriculture remains central to the county’s way of life, while waterways like the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay continue to shape both livelihood and recreation. This balance of heritage, higher learning, and natural beauty creates a distinctive sense of place—one rooted in centuries of history yet alive with creativity. It is this blend of past and present that makes Chestertown and Kent County special, and the perfect setting for a public artwork that will welcome all who enter this lovely riverside town.

Artwork Goals, The sculpture should:

• Embody the cultural, historical and natural identity of Kent County
• Be iconic and welcoming to residents and visitors
• Use durable, sustainable materials that are low maintenance and ideally sourced from Maryland’s natural resources (fieldstone, iron, etc.)
• Be clearly visible at vehicular speeds
• Avoid literal or nostalgic historic imagery, instead interpreting the Chesapeake Bay, rivers, landscape and heritage in a modern, enduring way

Site Details (images, measurements, constraints)

• Location: Maryland Route 291, within defined setback areas outside of travel lanes
• Supplemental materials: site map, photographs, footprint specifications, height and width guidelines, setback and safety requirements (provided to finalists)

Minimum Qualifications

The Gateway Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine if a Respondent is qualified based on the information included in the Submittal and the Committee’s own review. The following minimum qualifications must be met in order to be considered:

a. A minimum of five (5) years of experience creating and installing permanent public artwork comparable in scope and scale to this project; and

b. At least one (1) completed public or private art commission within the past five (5) years; and

c. A demonstrated record of high-quality artistic design that reflects or complements the goals for the Gateway artwork

d. Proven experience collaborating with stakeholders, design professionals, contractors or community partners; and

e. Demonstrated ability to complete public art projects within established timelines.

Submission Process

Artists or artist teams replying to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) must submit the following materials, which will be used in the evaluation process:

1.     Letter of Interest

a.       Include a header with full contact information (name, address, phone, email, and online portfolio).

b.      Share what interests you about this opportunity.

c.       Briefly describe your methodology and approach to public art works and design.

2.     Artist Bio

a.       A summary of your background, artistic practice and experience with public art projects.

3.      Past Work Samples (5–7 images)

a.       Visual representations of successfully installed public art pieces and/or final round renderings of prior projects.

b.      Multiple photos of the same site should be bundled as a single PDF file and submitted as one example.

c.       Please label each image file using the format: Artist’s Last Name_Artwork Title_Number (e.g., Smith_Title_1.pdf, Smith_Title_2.pdf).

4.     Image List

a.       A separate document that includes the following details for each work sample:

• Artwork Title
• Year Completed
• Materials
• Dimensions
• Budget/Cost
• Additional Comments (not to exceed 200 words per entry)

5.     Three Professional References

a.       Only the contact information is needed for this RFQ. Finalists will be asked to supply letters of reference, but those are not necessary at this time.

This opportunity is open to U.S.-based professional artists or artist teams with demonstrated experience creating durable, site-responsive public art.

• Artists from all backgrounds and disciplines are encouraged to apply
• Artists with ties to Chestertown or Kent County are especially encouraged
• Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the cultural, historical and natural identity of Kent County in their submission