Public Art Readiness Program

Creative Leaders Program – Civic Practice Track

ArtsKC is launching a new public-facing session as part of the Creative Leaders Program – Civic Practice Track, designed to help artists better understand how to navigate public art opportunities and engage with municipal processes.

Public Art Readiness will take place Tuesday, April 28, from 5:30–7:00 PM at the ArtsKC Gallery, with a virtual option available.

This program is designed to remove common barriers that prevent artists from pursuing public art opportunities—particularly confusion around city processes, eligibility requirements, and application expectations. Through a practical, plain-language discussion, artists will gain a clearer understanding of how public art systems work and how to prepare before opportunities arise.

The session will cover:

– How Calls for Artists and RFPs function within municipal systems
– Common eligibility and compliance requirements
– What it means to remain eligible with KCMO and other municipalities
– How proposals are reviewed and evaluated
– What to expect after being awarded a public art commission
– Where artists can go for clarification and support

The conversation will feature perspectives from across the public art ecosystem, including:

Phil Shafer

local artist and muralist

James Martin

Public Art Administrator, City of Kansas City, Missouri

Ann Holliday

Executive Director of Art in the Loop

Tiffany Meesha Thompson

Founding Director of Petrichor Projects and public art consultant

Register for this Workshop

-This program is part of a broader Creative Leaders Civic Practice learning series focused on building civic readiness for artists.

Additional sessions will be announced soon, including:

– A policy-focused discussion on Missouri’s state budget and its impact on arts funding
– A practical workshop on contracts and agreements for artists