photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

The Vermont Street garage is pictured on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.

Another parking garage in downtown Lawrence will soon be adorned with some public art, and the city is currently seeking applications from local artists to make it happen.

In a news release Wednesday, the city announced a call for artists or teams of artists to submit qualifications to create a mural in the Vermont Street parking garage, 725 Vermont St. next to the Lawrence Public Library. The mural will be on the ground level west-facing wall of the garage, directly opposite the stairs on the Vermont Street side.

“This is a new public art opportunity to help celebrate Lawrence’s unmistakable identity and community spirit,” the release said.

The artists aren’t expected to make a formal proposal at this stage, but they are being asked to submit a written idea or sketch showing their approach to the project, as well as work samples, a bio and a resume or CV. The release said the artists are “encouraged to create a design that reflects our community’s unique character, creativity and inclusivity,” and that the design could also include “imaginative or playful references to the Lawrence Public Library.”

A review committee will choose up to three finalists, and each will receive $300 to develop a formal proposal. Then, one of those finalists will be awarded a $5,500 commission and work with city staff to develop and install the artwork.

The application is available at lawrenceks.gov/lprd/public-art, and the deadline to apply is Sunday, Nov. 16 at 11 p.m. Those with questions can contact Assistant Parks, Recreation and Culture Director Porter Arneill at parneill@lawrenceks.gov or call 785-832-3449.

Multiple other public art projects have been installed at city parking garages this year, including another piece of art on the Vermont Street garage. That piece is a group of banners called “Hanging In, Hanging Out,” which was created by local artist Alicia Kelly for the city’s Unmistakable Public Art Exhibition. And local artist Mona Cliff created a mural in another downtown parking garage, in the 900 block of New Hampshire Street.

photo by: Bremen Keasey

An art piece called Hanging In, Hanging Out created by local artist Alicia Kelly on the Vermont Street parking garage in downtown Lawrence. Kelly was one of nine artists selected to have her work featured in the city’s Unmistakable Public Art Exhibition, which will officially open Sept. 26.

photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

A mural in a parking garage on New Hampshire Street by Lawrence artist Mona Cliff is pictured Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.