Theatre in the Park Temporary Art Installation

Apply Now! The Call for Artists is Open.

Are you an artist residing within a 500-mile radius of Kansas City? View the project details below and apply to be considered for this project today!

Qualifications are due via CaFE by Thursday, December 29 at 11:59 PM.

Virtual Open House - Presentation and Q&As

JCPRD hosted an optional virtual open house / informational session on December 6 for prospective applicants to provide an overview of the park, the goals for the project, a review of the application process, and field any questions. The presentation and Q&As from the session can be found at the link below.

Project Overview

Theatre in the Park (TIP) is located on 10 acres in the northeast corner of Shawnee Mission Park. Each summer, Theatre in the Park presents five popular Broadway-style musicals with casts featuring actors from the surrounding community. The season welcomes over 26,000 attendees over the course of a summer, culminating with Evening in the Park, a free summertime party featuring live music and a movie. As an added feature to Theatre in the Park, a temporary public art project will be installed to create a fun, interactive, and magical component to this much-loved community tradition.

The goals for the temporary public art at Theatre in the Park are to:

Engage visitors of Shawnee Mission Park and attendees of Theatre in the Park with an artwork that is fun, interactive and/or participatory.
Create a sense of magic in the park and around Theatre in the Park that can be enjoyed during daylight and evening hours. Artists are encouraged to incorporate lighting as part of their design.
Create a piece that is site specific and inspired by the usage and visitation.
Provide opportunities for local and regional artists.

Additional Resources

The Theatre in the Park Art Selection Committee includes:

Tim Bair, Producing Artistic Director of Theatre in the Park
Kelby Hellwig, JCPRD Central Region Park Manager
Susan Mong, Superintendent of Culture
Rodney Riffle, Public Art Committee Representative / JCPRD Planning & Development
Jonathan Thomas, Theatre Advisory Council member
Catherine Kirland, Community Artist
DeAnn Gould-Lancaster, Community Art Advocate

Tentative Timeline

November 17, 2022	Artist Call Opens on CaFE
December 6, 2022	Virtual Open House / Informational Session
December 29, 2022	Artists Qualifications Due (by 11:59 PM)
January 12, 2023	ASC Selects Finalists
February 3, 2023	Pre-Proposal Site Visit with Finalists
February 24, 2023	Finalists Present Concept Proposals to ASC
February 28, 2023	ASC Selects Final Artist / Design
March 15, 2023	JCPRD Board Approval of Selected Artist / Design
March & April 2023	Finalize Design and Fabrication
May 2023	Installation (with completion by May 31)
June 2, 2023	Artwork “Unveiled” at Theatre in the Park Season Opening
July 2023	Community Engagement Activity
Fall 2023 with possibility of extending into 2024	Artwork Deinstallation (details will be coordinated in contract)

JCPRD's Public Art Vision Statement

Public art in JCPRD parks, trails and facilities will inspire a deeper connection to place through interactive, immersive, and inclusive experiences.

The Parks and Recreation Foundation of Johnson County plays a crucial role in the fulfillment of JCPRD’s Public Art Program through the procurement of grants and donations. The foundation continues to seek support for future projects through corporate and private funders. Those interested in becoming involved with public art initiatives are encouraged to contact Susan Mong, Superintendent of Culture, at 913-715-2573 or [email protected].