Call for Indigenous Artists: Public Art Installation Overlook Plaza Project La Crescent Minnesota

The city invites Indigenous artists and Indigenous artist-led teams with connections to what is now Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois and Montana to submit a proposal for an outdoor sculpture to be installed in May of 2027.   The goal of this project has been to be as inclusive as possible, create goodwill and to acknowledge that La Crescent sits on lands inhabited for millennia by Indigenous people.  

This first Indigenous History Public Art and Education project initiative by the city is meant to honor and reflect on the fortitude and resilience of the Indigenous people with connections to this region.  The public art sculpture may incorporate the use of languages, traditional teachings, symbols, and other cultural elements. The city welcomes proposals that initiate awareness and understanding of the shared love of this unique place and the common bond it creates for Indigenous people and the current and future residents of the City of La Crescent, Southeast Minnesota, and the Mississippi River Valley.

The City of La Crescent received a Blandin Foundation grant through their Boost Grant program.  The grant request noted the city desires to educate residents and visitors and celebrate our rich Indigenous history and culture by installing public art, monuments, kiosks, seating, and native plantings at the city’s proposed Overlook Plaza in downtown La Crescent.  Overlook Plaza is a greenspace located in the core of the city at the terminus of the new Wagon Wheel Trail bicycle/pedestrian connector bridge over U.S. Highway 14/61. 

Downtown La Crescent was the site of an Indigenous community, located on a terrace of the Mississippi River, yet very little written knowledge of this village exists other than one archaeological report.  It has become evident that the city is missing an important part of our history prior to European settlement. The Overlook Plaza area provides a prime location to feature the history, stories, and culture of the Indigenous people who called this part of the Driftless Region home and who continue to have a strong connection to this place. 

This project will build on the Neutral Ground history project by the La Crescent Historical Society and the Minnesota Historical Society that highlighted the 1832 Land Survey delineating a boundary the United States Government created between tribes.  These seemingly arbitrary boundaries held no meaning to the tribal nations that lived in this region. The Neutral Ground essentially became the first “reservation” that the Ho-Chunk people were forcibly removed to when they were forced from their lands east of the Mississippi River.  Ho Chunk were then forced from the Neutral Ground to multiple other locations in Minnesota and Nebraska, but they kept coming back to this area of the Mississippi River Valley. Likewise, the Dakota and other tribal nations have their own rich history and connection to this area. 

Overlook Plaza is envisioned to become the “first in a series” of focal points that celebrate the Indigenous peoples who called and still call this region home.  We need to look beyond traditional written history to tell the stories of the challenges these people faced and the resilience it took to still have a presence here today.  The purpose of this project is to honor, celebrate, and communicate the accurate story to a wide audience of students, residents and visitors.

Follow the Guiding Principles set forth in APPENDIX I 

Artist Statement – 2 page max. 

-          Legal name

-          Preferred name (if different from legal name)

-          Pronouns (optional)

-          Address (Street, City/Town, Province, Postal Code)

-          Phone number

-          Email address

-          Website (if applicable)

-          Tribal affiliation - statement of status as an American Indian identity, or enrollment status and/or ancestry in a project connected North American Indian tribe.

 Artist teams will submit a single application, with information for each member, indicating the Lead Artist. Prioritize supporting material showing artwork created by the team. If artwork is from an individual member, identify the artist in the list or caption.

Resume/References  2-page max.

-          Artist Bio (one for each member, if applicable).

A list of at least three references familiar with your work and working methods. The list must include name, role, organization, complete addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses (preferably from recent projects).

Letter of Interest (1 page max) No more than 200 words in length, describing how your work addresses perspectives of Indigenous people and your approach to understanding Minnesota Indigenous culture and history. 

-          Outline of artistic experience, ability, and how this project relates to the Artist’s practice.

-          Connection with Southeast Minnesota (specific or general).

-          Confirm availability to produce and complete the public art piece (ready for installation) by May1, 2027.

While artwork proposals are not needed at this stage, we encourage artists to describe their artistic approach and preliminary concepts for this project.

Proposal 1 page max

Proposal must be clear and specific and present a plan and description of the public art sculpture.  Consideration should be given to the site, materials, connection to the natural world with an explanation of how viewers will engage with the work.  A rendering of your proposal is encouraged.

Budget 1 page max.

The artist is responsible for all associated expenses related to design, fabrication, transportation to the site and will coordinate installation with the city.  Artists should factor these costs into their $60,000 budget. Please include a specific budget with line-item expenses in your proposal.

Portfolio (supporting material)

-          Up to 10 images of past work and links to audio or digital video.

-          List of artworks or caption including:

-          Title

-          Year

-          Medium

-          Dimensions

-          Location

-          Description (if applicable)

-          Commissioning body (if applicable)

-          Budget (if applicable)

Optional: may include up to three selections of support materials such as reviews, news articles, web links and other related information.

Video or audio files should total no more than10 minutes in length. Links must provide direct access to the audio or video and be public (no account required).

DEADLINE Applications materials must be received no later than September 25, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time. Submissions will not be returned.

This Call to Artists is open to any Indigenous artist 18 years of age or older and/or Indigenous artist-led team who primarily live or work in the Midwest or that has an affiliation and connection to the area.  Please describe this connection in the letter of interest.  Because of the ties and presence of multiple Indigenous communities with the La Cresent area, the city encourages collaboration amongst Indigenous artists. 

An artist is defined as someone who:

ü  has specialized artistic training, not necessarily in academic institutions.

ü  is recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition).

ü  is active in and committed to their art practice.

ü  has a history of public exhibitions.

ü  has produced an independent body of work.