Submissions sought for art installation at new Lawrence police headquarters

photo by: Hoefer Wysocki

This rendering shows a design concept for a new Lawrence Police Department headquarters in northwest Lawrence.

The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission is looking for professional artists to develop a public art installation as part of the new Lawrence Police Department headquarters site.

Individual artists or teams of artists have until midnight June 3 to submit a resume and samples of their work, according to a news release from Porter Arneill, director of communications and creative resources with the city of Lawrence. The public art project is in collaboration with the Lawrence Police and Parks & Recreation departments and has a total budget of $325,000.

Background on the city’s Percent for Art program

• Aug. 27, 2018 — Upcoming city building projects to include $450K of public art

The plan is to install original exterior art to be incorporated as part of the new police headquarters, at 5100 Overland Drive, according to the release.

Any professional artist living in the United States may apply; however, local and regional artists are encouraged to submit their qualifications, according to the release. The LCAC and staff will coordinate the overall public art project for the site. A selection panel made up of artists in the field of public art, community members, police representatives, design professionals and city staff will narrow the candidates and then begin the interview process. Their criteria for selection will include the artistic quality of the submission, professional public art experience as well as a sensitivity and connection to the site. Artist or artists should be selected by September/October 2019. The estimated date for completing the project is summer/fall 2020.

Construction on the new headquarters will begin this summer, according to the city of Lawrence.

To complete the application online, go to lawrenceks.org/public-art/.

More about the proposed police headquarters design

• March 10, 2019 — City reveals green, public-friendly design for $18.5M police headquarters

5100 Overland Dr, Lawrence, KS 66049

photo by: Nick Krug

Undeveloped land owned by the City of Lawrence, at 5100 Overland Drive, is seen from the north, looking south, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. The city has recommended the site, just north of the Walmart location at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, as a location for a new $17 million police headquarters facility.