The City of Salina, Department of Arts & Humanities is moving forward with an art integration project at Fire Station #4, to be constructed at the corner of Crawford and Markley. The new station was identified as a Capital Improvement Project (CIP) appropriate for art integration. The city’s public art policy supports intentional steps, including a broad range of community input and review before a final design is brought to the city commission.
Along with city staff and the project Site Committee, it was clear that working with a local or regional artist(s) or design team was a priority on the project. All artists and designers residing within Kansas may request the Call for Art Proposals packet by contacting the Art Services Coordinator at Salina Arts & Humanities. Interested individuals or teams should have prior experience in large-scale, outdoor public art and be able to provide examples of work along with their proposal submission. All parties must contact the Art Services Coordinator with the Salina Arts & Humanities with their expression of interest to receive a packet no later than November 15, 2024.
History of CAD
Since founding the Arts & Humanities department in 1966, Salina has been a cultural leader in Kansas and the central United States. Salina’s cultural arts programs and services, offered by 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 resolution allows the City to initiate CAD projects and educate the community on the benefits of public art. This committee and the policy will help guide artists throughout the design and review process.
The established goals of the CAD Program are to:
- Expand opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Salina's artistic, historic, and cultural aspects in public places and facilities.
- Enhance the functional design of the City’s infrastructure.
- Contribute to the City’s economic development, promote cultural tourism, and help Salina institutions attract new employees and professionals.
- Foster public/private partnerships for artistic beautification and expression.
- Increase community identity, pride, and vitality.
- Provide a meaningful way to involve citizens in the design of their environments.
- Evoke a positive, thoughtful response from residents and visitors to Salina’s built environment.
- Provide the public with information about the CAD Program and specific CAD Projects.
Project Overview and Vision Statement
Three locations have been identified for design enhancement rather than a stand-alone art element. This ensures the reduction of the overall cost of art integration and addresses areas of need that must be part of the final construction project.
- To the south, a safety wall will be built between the Fire Station's and the Berkley Family Recreational area's parking lots.
- A west-facing identifier wall.
- A screen to cover unsightly HVAC units at the northwest corner.
Artists are encouraged to design for all three locations but as separate stand-alone budgets. This will allow all boards and commissions to review each element more flexibly for community and fiscal appropriateness.
Vision Statement
The artistic design envisioned for Fire Station #4 must embody and reflect a deep sense of pride in community service, embracing the essence of the fire department's integral role within the city. It should encapsulate the following values: honor crew and personnel, selfless service, protection of families, and fostering community engagement. Additionally, the design should harmonize with the station's architecture, evoking a sense of place specific to the firehouse itself.
The designs created should be visible to pedestrians and motorists and reflect the community's vibrancy, activities, and future vision.
The design must balance aesthetics and functionality, ensuring it remains visually striking while being highly practical and efficient for the firefighters who live and work within its walls. Special emphasis should be placed on the facility's purpose. Elements of historic imagery can be included but are not limited to realistic representation. These or any other elements could be communicated through abstract shapes, color, texture, and pattern.
Safety is paramount in the work's conceptual design and function, considering its location at a significant intersection of major and minor roads and publicly used parking areas. Anticipating future population growth and increased traffic, the design must prioritize the safety of both pedestrians and motorists. The artist's creative vision should address and mitigate potential safety concerns in the surrounding environment.
A timeless quality should underscore the design, transcending passing trends to ensure the firehouse remains a source of enduring pride for the community. It should avoid representing a specific moment or historical era, aspiring to resonate with future generations.
Next Steps
The budget for art integration has been approved, with a minimum of $10,000 and not to exceed $100,000. Once artist(s) or designers have received the packet, they can visit the site and communicate with City staff to further inform their process. The Site Committee, established in line with the City’s Community Art & Design Policy, will be the first group to review artists' proposals, ask questions, and make recommendations. Once this body has made a recommendation, it must go back through the checks and balances of CAD, the Arts & Humanities Commission, and the City Commission to approve, amend, or deny any or all elements of the submitted proposal.
Deadline for Requesting Packet
November 15, 2024
Contact Information
Crystal Hammerschmidt,
Art Services Coordinator at Salina Arts & Humanities
Crystal.hammerschmidt@salina.org
Office: 785-309-5770
Please visit the Salina Arts & Humanities website for more information about the public art, maps, or the CAD Committee. If you have additional questions about public art in Salina, please email sah@salina.org or call 785-309-5770.
Salina Arts & Humanities, a department of the City of Salina, has served a unique role as an arts advocate and resource partner since 1966. The Smoky Hill River Festival, Horizons Grants Program, Smoky Hill Museum, Arts Infusion Program in schools, Community Art & Design, and Creative Connections are among the programs of Salina Arts & Humanities, located at 211 W. Iron Avenue in Salina.