Public art will welcome visitors to Kansas City when they land at our new airport terminal, and the city of Kansas City has launched a nationwide search for artists who will create compelling new works.
Work is underway on the $1.5 billion terminal and parking garage at Kansas City International Airport. The Build KCI project will replace the aging three-terminal complex with a single, modern terminal and 6,000-space garage that will improve the traveling experience for residents and visitors. Public art will be a significant part of this experience.
To reach this project milestone, the city commissioned a team of local artists and friends of art to study public art for the New Single Terminal and Parking Garage at KCI and make a report to the Municipal Art Commission. These community experts identified optimal locations for public art within the complex. Additional requests for qualifications will be issued for other locations this winter and in spring 2021. Follow the KCI public art timeline.
“The art team has made it clear that our goals are diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of the art program,” said Public Art Administrator James Martin. “The public art at Kansas City International Airport should reflect our city’s diverse demographics and be welcoming to travelers of all backgrounds. With an open RFQ process we hope to provide opportunities to local, regional, national, and international artists so we have a good mix of local and global art.”
As with other KCI Airport public art projects, the new single terminal and parking garage will showcase works of art approved by the Municipal Art Commission as part of Kansas City, Missouri's "One Percent for Art" program. Along with over 300 other U.S. cities and counties, this program stipulates that 1% of public construction costs be set aside for public art. A panel of aviation professionals, community representatives and artists will select the artist for each project.
