By SALINA POST
The City of Salina and the Department of Arts & Humanities are advancing an art integration project at Fire Station #4 near Crawford Steet and Markley Road. Identified as a Capital Improvement Project (CIP), the station is considered suitable for art integration, with a focus on community input and thorough review before the final design is presented to the city commission.
City staff and the project’s site committee prioritized working with local or regional artists or design teams. Artists and designers residing in Kansas can request the call for art proposals packet by contacting the art services coordinator at Salina Arts & Humanities. Applicants should have prior experience in large-scale, outdoor public art and be prepared to submit examples of past work with their proposal. Interested artists must contact the Art Services Coordinator by November 15, 2024, to receive a packet.
Project Overview and Vision Statement
Three areas at Fire Station #4 have been identified for design enhancement rather than a standalone art piece, reducing the overall cost of integration and addressing elements that must be included in the construction project.
The locations are:
A safety wall between the station's parking lot and the Berkley Family Recreational area.
A west-facing identifier wall.
A screen to cover HVAC units on the northwest corner.
Artists are encouraged to design for all three areas with separate budgets, allowing each element to be reviewed individually for community and financial suitability.
The design for Fire Station #4 should reflect a strong sense of community pride, embodying values such as honoring crew and personnel, selfless service, protection, and fostering community engagement. The design should harmonize with the station’s architecture, providing a sense of place specific to the firehouse.
It should be visible to both pedestrians and motorists, representing the community’s vibrancy and future vision. While incorporating aesthetics and functionality, the design must remain practical for the firefighters who live and work there. Elements of historical imagery are welcome but not limited to realistic depictions; abstract shapes, colors, textures, and patterns may also be used.
Safety is crucial to the design’s conceptualization, considering its location near major roads and parking areas. The design should address potential safety concerns, with an eye toward future population growth and increased traffic. It should possess a timeless quality, avoiding specific historical periods or trends, ensuring the firehouse remains a lasting source of community pride.
Next Steps
The approved budget for art integration ranges from $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. Artists who receive the packet may visit the site and consult with City staff to inform their creative process. The Site Committee, established under the City’s Community Art & Design Policy, will review proposals, ask questions, and make recommendations. Following the Site Committee’s recommendation, the proposal will go through CAD, the Arts & Humanities Commission, and the City Commission for final approval, amendment, or denial.
Deadline for Requesting Packet
November 15, 2024
Contact information:
Crystal Hammerschmidt, Art Services Coordinator at Salina Arts & HumanitiesEmail: [email protected]
Office: 785-309-5770
For more information on public art, maps, or the CAD Committee, please visit the Salina Arts & Humanities website. Additional questions about public art in Salina can be directed to [email protected] or by calling 785-309-5770.
Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served as an arts advocate and resource partner since 1966. Its programs include the Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Community Art & Design, and Creative Connections, all located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in Salina.
History of CAD
Since the establishment of the Arts & Humanities Department in 1966, Salina has been a cultural leader in Kansas. The city’s arts programs and services, offered by both private and public entities, are comparable to those in cities three times its size. On July 17, 2000, the Salina City Commission adopted a resolution establishing a Community Art and Design (CAD) Program. This program allows the city to initiate CAD projects and promotes public art’s benefits to the community. The CAD Committee and related policies guide artists through the design and review process.
The CAD Program’s established goals include expanding opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Salina's artistic and cultural heritage, enhancing the design of city infrastructure, contributing to economic development and cultural tourism, fostering public/private partnerships, increasing community identity, and engaging citizens in designing their environments. Additionally, the program aims to evoke thoughtful responses from residents and visitors to Salina’s built environment and to provide information about the CAD Program and its projects.