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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) |
Looking for information about the 2022 Theatre in the Park Temporary Public Art Project? Click here!
Symbiosis by Matthew Dehaemers
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.
Supporting the JCPRD Public Art Program
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].