September 8, 2017

CALL FOR ARTISTS

Two Johnson County, KS One Percent for Art Projects
Project No. 1 – New Johnson County Courthouse, Olathe, KS

Project No. 2 – New Johnson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Facility, Olathe, KS

Deadline for both projects is receipt by October 6, 2017

Introduction
The Johnson County Public Art Commission, on behalf of the Johnson County (KS) Public Building
Commission, is seeking artists or artist teams to closely collaborate with project designers and
constructors to develop innovative, original art for the two new building projects listed above.

Eligibility
The opportunity to compete for one or both of these projects is open to all professional artists residing in
the United States, including emerging artists in collaboration with other professional artists.
Project Descriptions
Project No. 1 – New Johnson County Courthouse
Public Art Budget = approximately $1,000,000.00
A new $193,000,000, 7-story, 28-courtroom facility at the busy intersection of Santa Fe Street
and Kansas Avenue in downtown Olathe, Kansas.
Project No. 2 – New Johnson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Facility
Public Art Budget = approximately $200,000.00
A new $21,000,000, 1-story facility on the County’s suburban Sunset Drive campus at 119th
Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe, Kansas.
Information about both projects can be found at:
https://www.jocogov.org/public-safety-sales-tax-new-courthouse-and-coroner-facility
For the Courthouse project, conceptual information including massing and site plan can be found in the
2016 Courthouse Study:
https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/2015_16_Johnson_County_Courthouse_Study_Final_Report_
web.pdf
For the Coroner/Medical Examiner Facility project, conceptual information including massing and site plan
can be found in the 2016 Coroner Study:
https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/documents/FAC/SFMP1A4Coroner%27s%20Office%20Study2
016-0119.pdf

2

Submission Requirements (individual submissions are required for EACH project)
Interested artists should submit the following which must be received by 5:00 pm, October 6, 2017.
Materials should be sent/delivered or emailed via a download link. County email size limits are very
restrictive and large image files will likely not be received. Please submit one packet for each project in the
order listed below:
1. A professional resume/CV (limit 3 pages). Artists working collaboratively must submit a resume/CV for
each collaboration member
2. A letter of interest outlining your approach to developing public art as well as providing the selection
panel with insights regarding your interest in making art for this project and the public realm in general;
what you bring to this type of project as an artist; challenges and/or sources of inspiration presented by the
project and site; what you would hope to gain from this experience; and any other comments that might
help to differentiate you as a candidate for this project.
3. An annotated image list of past works that clearly indicate the title, dimensions, materials, date of work,
and location, as well as project budget and commissioning entity, if applicable. Image names must match
image names on the CD/USB and be in the exact same order. If possible, please include thumbnail pictures
next to each artwork listed.
4. One CD-ROM (or USB drive or download link) with up to 15 clearly labeled images of related past work
in JPEG format:

o Image resolution – up to 200 pixels per inch (ppi)
o Maximum file size per image 800 KB
o Name each image with the following format in the order you want them to
appear: lastnamefirstnameimagenumber.jpg. For example, filenames for artist Pablo
Picasso would be picassopablo01.jpg, picassopablo02.jpg, picassopablo03.jpg, and
so on.

Label the CD/USB with the artist’s name. The Johnson County Facilities Management Office is not
responsible for distortion or alteration of images as they appear on monitors as projected.
Movie clips accompanying digital images must be cued and no more than three minutes maximum length.
5. Up to three individual pieces, total, of selected printed materials such as articles, catalogues, etc. (.pdf
file preferred)
6. Three references with current contact information.

3

Selection Process
Review the Johnson County Public Art Master Plan.
Per the process outlined in the Master Plan:
1. A diverse Artist Selection Panel (ASP) will be convened for each project. Based on qualifications and
Artist Statements, each panel will shortlist artists to be interviewed in the 4th Quarter of 2017.
2. Shortlisted artists will be provided additional project information, as available, and will be required to
present, in person, one or more proposed concepts. Stipends will be paid for the development of
proposals/finalist interviews. Site visits and interface opportunities with the design/construction teams
will be available.
3. Following the interviews, each ASP will recommend one or more concepts (from one or more artists)
to the Public Art Commission.

Concept Development
Each ASP-recommended artist will be contracted through the Architect of Record or the Design/Build
Team to further develop and finalize their proposed concept(s) in close collaboration with the Architect as
the building design is being developed. A highly-integrated “Placemaking” final concept is the desired
outcome.
At the architectural Design Development stage of each project, a recommendation from the Public Art
Commission will be solicited in support of the fully-developed concept(s).
Final Contract & Implementation
Upon receipt of an affirmative recommendation by the Public Art Commission, each artist will be
contracted through the Construction Manager or Design/Build Team to finalize design documents,
coordinate associated infrastructure requirements, and implement the approved art concept(s).
Submission Instructions
Submit all materials, either electronically or by mail/delivery to the address on Page 1 to the contact listed
below by 5:00 pm, Monday, October 6, 2017. Use the same contacts for any questions.
Project No. 1 – New Johnson County Courthouse, Olathe, KS:
Daniel Wehmueller
[email protected]
Project No. 2 – New Johnson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Facility, Olathe, KS:
Chad Foster
[email protected]
For mailed submissions:
Johnson County, Kansas
Facilities Management
111 S. Cherry, Suite 2100
Olathe, KS 66061