Central Bank Center Public Art RFQ

Overview

LexArts and Central Bank Center invite professional artists and artist-led teams to submit qualifications for a major public art commission on the west façade of Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. This commission represents an opportunity to create a landmark artwork that enhances one of Lexington's most recognizable civic destinations. The selected artwork will strengthen the visual identity of Central Bank Center, contribute to Lexington's cultural landscape, and serve as an iconic feature for residents and visitors alike. This is a national call open to experienced artists with a demonstrated history of creating large-scale public artworks.

Project Details

The artwork will be located on the west-facing exterior of Central Bank Center, adjacent to Gatton Park. The wall is approximately 1,000ft x 60ft. The selected artwork should attach to the wall and should not be a mural painted directly onto the wall surface. The anticipated implementation budget is approximately $1,000,000, intended to cover all costs including artist fees, design development, engineering, fabrication, materials, transportation, permits, installation, insurance, travel, and documentation.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to professional artists, artist collectives, and artist-led multidisciplinary teams. Applicants should demonstrate experience with large-scale public art commissions, successful completion of projects with significant budgets, ability to collaborate with architects, engineers, fabricators, and stakeholders, and knowledge of durable materials appropriate for outdoor installations. LexArts encourages applications from artists of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and geographic locations.

Submission Requirements

• Submit 3–10 images (up to 10 maximum)
• Submit 0–3 videos (optional)
• 1 submission limit per applicant

Selection Process

Phase One: Qualifications Review. Applicants will submit qualifications materials for review by a Selection Committee. The committee will review all submissions and select up to five (5) finalists. Each finalist will receive a $2,500 proposal honorarium and up to $500 travel & lodging reimbursement for site visit. Phase Two: Concept Development. Finalists will be invited to develop site-specific proposals including concept narrative, preliminary renderings, materials description, fabrication approach, installation overview, preliminary project schedule, and preliminary budget. Finalists will present their proposals virtually to the Selection Committee.

Selection Criteria

• Artistic Excellence: Quality, originality, and innovation demonstrated in previous work
• Public Art Experience: History of successfully executing public art commissions
• Technical Capability: Demonstrated ability to manage projects of comparable scale and complexity
• Site Responsiveness: Ability to create engaging artwork tailored to the project location
• Feasibility: Evidence that the artist can effectively deliver a project within budget and schedule constraints

Key Dates

• RFQ Released: August 2026
• Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026
• Finalist Notification: October 2026
• Site Visits & Proposal Development: October–December 2026
• Finalist Proposals Due: January 2027
• Artist Selection: February 2027
• Fundraising Campaign: Spring–Fall 2027
• Fabrication & Installation: Following Fundraising Completion
• Timeline subject to change

Contact

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 859-255-2951