2-D opportunity, Brooklyn Ave underpass

The Independence Plaza and Forgotten Homes neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri are seeking an artist to design and paint murals on 12 columns at the I-70 underpass at Brooklyn Avenue. Columns measure 16’ H x 8’ circumference for a total of approximately 1,536 sq. ft.

The project has been prioritized by the community during the neighborhoods' recent planning process with the hope that a mural will strengthen neighborhood identity, safety, and connectivity along this vital community corridor.

Two to 5 semifinalist artists will be asked to advance to the RFP phase and propose designs. The maximum budget available for this project is $30,000. Semifinalists will be paid a design proposal stipend of $1,000.

The Independence Plaza and Forgotten Homes neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri are seeking an artist to design and paint murals on 12 columns at the I-70 underpass at Brooklyn Avenue. Columns measure 16’ H x 8’ circumference for a total of approximately 1,536 sq. ft.

This public art initiative aims to strengthen community connections and neighborhood pride by celebrating the culture, history, and rich tapestry of people and places that define these neighborhoods.

Kansas City’s Planning and Development Department has been working with neighborhood leaders and published a Neighborhood Action Plan in 2026. As the Forgotten Homes and Independence Plaza neighborhoods work to overcome the highway barrier in connecting to the 18th and Vine Jazz District, the Neighborhood Action Plan calls for safe and welcoming pedestrian connections at the Brooklyn Avenue highway underpass.

Two to five semifinalist artists will be asked to advance to the RFP phase and propose designs. The maximum budget available for this project is $30,000. Semifinalists will be paid a design proposal stipend of $1,000.

Independence Plaza, named after its location near Independence Avenue, was one of the first neighborhoods to be developed in Northeast Kansas City in the 1870s and 1880s, when wealthy residents moved families to the area. These residents built and lived in grand mansions and apartment buildings, with many residing along Independence Avenue. Jazz artists, including Count Basie, lived in the Independence Plaza neighborhood at the peak of the jazz age in the city. The neighborhoods were also adjacent to many jazz clubs along 12th Street that helped form Kansas City’s music heritage.

The Forgotten Homes neighborhood was formally established in the mid-1970s. The small area was in a state of decline with many boarded up or demolished historic homes. Property owners from eight “forgotten” blocks met and created the “Forgotten Homes” group to address the conditions in the area.

In redlined areas near Independence Plaza, Urban Renewal projects and the construction of the I-70 highway demolished homes and businesses in predominantly African American northeast neighborhoods, creating fractured communities, displacing thousands of households, reducing neighborhood walkability and access to amenities, and destroying historic architecture. Since the suburbs became more accessible, the highway also facilitated a decline in population away from Kansas City.

Since the late 1970s to today, Independence Plaza and Forgotten Homes have seen a rise in immigrant and refugee residents settling in the neighborhoods. This includes people from Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Central America, shaping the neighborhood into a culturally diverse area.

Budget

The maximum budget available for this project is $30,000, all inclusive. Expenses may include, but are not limited to, artist's fees, travel, fabrication, supplies, material costs, meeting and administration hours, labor, artist’s legal review fees, permits, licenses, insurance, lighting, equipment rental, shipping, delivery, documentation, foundation, footings and installation.

Question and Answer Period

Questions related to this project for the KCMO Public Art Administrator should be emailed to james.martin@kcmo.org by Tuesday, October 6, 2026 5:00 p.m. Central Time. Questions will be answered through an addendum on this CaFÉ Call for Artists after the Artist Q&A videoconference described below. Emailed questions also will be answered during the Q&A sessions.

Virtual Q&A Sessions

Virtual Q&A sessions with the Public Art Administrator will be held on the following days:

• 5:30 p.m. Central Wednesday, October 7, 2026 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/277179958361151?p=d2fGgopTmswFjIkQ0E
• 5:30 p.m. Central Thursday, October 8, 2026 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/286031517523703?p=SHnxMecZBCRbLn6Ddi

ADDENDUM: Q & A responses

A recording of the October 8th Q&A session is located at https://drive.google.com/file/d/14dYfVPvgblSC_WUH5JvEF8xVdkTBctZ2/view?usp=sharing 

The October 7th Q&A session did not have any attendees.

1. What are the approximate dimensions of each column (height and circumference or diameter), and what is the current surface condition — bare concrete, painted, or previously tagged? 16’ H x 8’ circumference. The total square footage is 1,500. They are painted light gray about halfway up each column. Photos of the underpass are available through the “View Site Plan” button at https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/18174/CAFE

2. Who is responsible for surface preparation and priming — the selected artist or the city? Is an anti-graffiti or UV-protective topcoat required, and if so, is it supplied? The artist is responsible for surface prep and priming. I am under the impression that anti-graffiti and UV resistance are available in one product. That is what we require as a finish, and it is supplied by the artist.

3. Is the $30,000 project budget all-inclusive (materials, equipment, insurance)? Will lift or scaffold access and any traffic control be provided, or should the artist budget for them? Yes, the budget is all-inclusive. The artist should budget for lift/scaffold and traffic control.

4. What is the expected painting window for the selected artist, and are there weather or temperature constraints to plan around? We would like the work completed in spring or summer 2027.

5. Beyond celebrating the culture and history of the Independence Plaza and Forgotten Homes neighborhoods, are there content restrictions — for example on text, portraiture, or commercial imagery? No content restrictions as long as it’s appropriate for public art and does not break any laws.

6. What insurance (general liability, etc.) will the selected artist be required to carry? General Liability. If you drive a company vehicle, we require commercial auto insurance. If you drive your personal vehicle while working, we require you to carry insurance on your personal vehicle.

Use of Artificial Intelligence tools

Artists using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of their portfolio or semifinalist proposal must identify the use of AI in the information accompanying each image.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to professional visual artist teams or artists at least 18 years of age based in the Kansas City Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The Kansas City CSA includes the Missouri counties of Andrew, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray and the Kansas counties of Atchison, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, Wyandotte.

Artists lacking public art experience may want to consider jointly submitting the qualifications of an experienced collaborator. Resumes/CVs of all collaborators must be uploaded to CaFÉ as a single PDF with multiple pages.

Artists who have completed a City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art commission within two years of their project’s contract date are not eligible.

Full-time, permanent City of Kansas City, Missouri employees, General Services Department project consultants and their employees and sub-consultants are not eligible.

Selection Process

The Kansas City, Missouri Public Art Administrator will recommend selection panelists to the Municipal Art Commission for approval. The selection panel will consider artist’s resumes, portfolios and letters of interest residing on CaFÉ and select 2-5 semifinalists. Semifinalists will be paid a design proposal stipend of $1,000. The selection panel will interview the semifinalists, review their proposals and budgets and select the finalist and one alternate.

The finalist artist’s proposal will be presented to the Municipal Art Commission for approval prior to developing a contract. All contracts may be subject to approval by City Council or by the city’s executive leadership.

Evaluation Criteria

The city will select what in its sole judgment it determines to be the qualified candidate or candidates that is in the best interest of the city. Any evaluation criteria or weighting of criteria is used by the city only as a tool to assist the city in selecting the best candidate. The city may change criteria and criteria weights at any time. Evaluation scores or ranks do not create any right in or expectation to a contract regardless of any score or ranking given to any candidate.

The Brooklyn Avenue underpass Artist Selection Panel will use the following evaluation criteria to select semifinalists. All evaluation criteria are weighted equally. Each criterion is worth 1 point in the 7-point CaFÉ judging system.

1. Eligibility:

·         Collaborators and teams are eligible to apply within a single application. Resumes/CVs of all collaborators must be uploaded to CaFÉ as a single PDF with multiple pages.

·         All applications must be submitted through this CaFÉ Call for Artists.

·         Artists previously contracted for a City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art commission within two years of their past project’s contract execution date are not eligible.

·         Full-time, permanent City of Kansas City, Missouri employees, General Services Department project consultants and their employees and sub-consultants are not eligible.

2. Artistic Excellence: Works of art in the Artist's portfolio are original, innovative, and of exceptional quality and enduring value.

3. Prior Experience: Artist's and/or collaborator’s portfolio illustrates a track record of progressively significant projects or comparable professional or community-based creative experiences. Demonstrated experience working with diverse community stakeholders is also desired.

4. Appropriateness to Site and Project: Works of art in the Artist's portfolio indicate that the Artist is likely to be sensitive to the social, economic, cultural, historical, and physical context of the site, either existing or planned.

5. Low Maintenance & Durable: Works of art in the Artist's portfolio utilize materials and processes likely to contribute to the longevity of public works of art, especially for projects that will be located outdoors, or the Artist is willing to adopt such practices by collaborating with a partner with relevant specialized expertise.

6. Letter of Interest: Has the Artist introduced you to their art practice and/or their team, and convinced you they are a good fit for this particular commission?

7. Additional question to score applications: Can you visualize this artist's work in this location, and are you convinced that this artist/art team should move to the RFP phase and create a proposal for this location?

Tentative Schedule

• Friday, September 18, 2026: Call for Artists distributed
• Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Central: Written question and answer period deadline
• Virtual Q&A sessions
  • 5:30 p.m. Central Wednesday, October 7, 2026 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/277179958361151?p=d2fGgopTmswFjIkQ0E
  • 5:30 p.m. Central Thursday, October 8, 2026 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/286031517523703?p=SHnxMecZBCRbLn6Ddi
• Monday, October 26, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Central Time: Application deadline
• November 2026: Semifinalists selected and notified
• January 2027: Semifinalist artists’ proposal presentations (virtual), finalist selected
• February 2027: Finalist artist’s proposal presented to Municipal Art Commission
• March 2027: Artist contract executed, refinement of design
• April 2027: Purchase order issued, design finalized
• May 2027: Artist begins procuring materials, begins fabricating art
• Completion Summer 2027
• Artwork dedication: Within 1 week of installation, if applicable

Changes in the Call for Artists

From time to time, engineering, construction, or other factors may require the city to amend its selection criteria. After this Call for Artists (“CFA”) is issued, the city, in its sole discretion, may change anything contained in this CFA at any time, including after the application due date. If the change is prior to the application due date, the city reserves the right, when considered necessary or appropriate, to modify this CFA with an addendum. If the city shall amend the CFA after the application due date, the city may, in its sole discretion, solicit new applications in an amended CFA from anyone or everyone, regardless of whether an applicant submitted an application in response to the original CFA.

About the Kansas City One Percent for Art Program

https://www.kcmo.gov/art

• Work samples on CaFÉ. All applications must be submitted through this CaFÉ Call for Artists. Up to ten (10) Images and six (6) videos of your original completed commissions, not proposals, which demonstrate your qualifications for the project. Three-dimensional models, sketches, or drawings will not be accepted. You must include the title, medium, dimensions, project budget or price, year completed and location (if applicable) for each work. The value must be indicated in US dollars. Artists who need access to a computer and/or internet access are encouraged to seek assistance from their local library or KC BizCare, 816-513-2491.
• Artist resume
• Letter of interest

Artists lacking public art experience may want to consider jointly submitting the qualifications of an experienced collaborator. Resumes/CVs of all collaborators must be uploaded to CaFÉ as a single PDF with multiple pages.

Eligibility is limited to professional visual artist teams or artists at least 18 years of age based in the Kansas City Combined Statistical Area (CSA). The Kansas City CSA includes the Missouri counties of Andrew, Bates, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Platte, Ray and the Kansas counties of Atchison, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, Wyandotte.

Artists who have completed a City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art commission within two years of their project’s contract date are not eligible.

Full-time, permanent City of Kansas City, Missouri employees, Parks and Recreation Department project consultants and their employees and sub-consultants are not eligible.