Call for Indigenous Artists: Public Art Installation Overlook Plaza Project La Crescent Minnesota

Overview

The City of La Crescent invites Indigenous artists and Indigenous artist-led teams with connections to what is now Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, and Montana to submit a proposal for an outdoor sculpture to be installed at Overlook Plaza in May 2027. This inaugural Indigenous History Public Art and Education project aims to honor and reflect the fortitude and resilience of Indigenous peoples with connections to this region, educate residents and visitors, and celebrate the rich Indigenous history and culture of Southeast Minnesota and the Mississippi River Valley.

Eligibility

Open to Indigenous artists and Indigenous artist-led teams with connections to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, or Montana. Applicants must provide a statement of American Indian identity, enrollment status, and/or ancestry in a North American Indian tribe. Teams will submit one application with information for each member, designating a Lead Artist.

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: September 25, 2026
• Installation: May 1, 2027

Media & Requirements

Proposals for outdoor sculptures are welcome. The public art may incorporate languages, traditional teachings, symbols, and other cultural elements. Up to 16 total media files may be submitted (1-10 images, 0-3 audio files, 0-3 video files).

Application Requirements

• Artist Statement (2 pages max)
• Resume/References (2 pages max): artist bio(s) and at least three references with complete contact information
• Letter of Interest (1 page max, under 200 words): describe how your work addresses Indigenous perspectives, your approach to Minnesota Indigenous culture and history, artistic experience and ability, connection to Southeast Minnesota, and confirmation of availability to complete the work by May 1, 2027
• Proposal (1 page max): clear and specific plan and description of the public art sculpture, addressing the site, materials, connection to the natural world, and how viewers will engage; a rendering is encouraged
• Budget (1 page max): artist responsible for all design, fabrication, transportation, and installation coordination costs

Application Process

Artist teams will submit a single application with information for each member, indicating the Lead Artist. Prioritize supporting material showing artwork created by the team; if artwork is from an individual member, identify the artist in the list or caption. Follow the Guiding Principles set forth in APPENDIX I (not provided in this text).

Contact Information

• City of La Crescent Minnesota
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 507-895-4096

Project Background

The City of La Crescent received a Blandin Foundation grant through their Boost Grant program to develop Overlook Plaza—a greenspace in downtown La Crescent at the terminus of the new Wagon Wheel Trail bicycle/pedestrian connector bridge. Downtown La Crescent was the site of an Indigenous community on a terrace of the Mississippi River. This project will build on the Neutral Ground history project by the La Crescent Historical Society and the Minnesota Historical Society, highlighting the 1832 Land Survey and the history of forced removal of tribes including the Ho-Chunk, Dakota, and other tribal nations. Overlook Plaza is envisioned as the first in a series of focal points celebrating the Indigenous peoples who called and still call this region home.