Call for Indigenous Artists: Public Art Installation Overlook Plaza Project

The City of La Crescent seeks proposals from Indigenous artists and Indigenous artist-led teams for an original, site-specific outdoor sculpture at Overlook Plaza in La Crescent, Minnesota. The project honors the fortitude and resilience of Indigenous people connected to the region and may incorporate languages, traditional teachings, symbols and other cultural elements. The listed project budget is $60,000, with installation planned for May 2027. The capture contains conflicting application deadlines that applicants should verify with the city.

Indigenous history, resilience, cultural teachings and connections to La Crescent and the Mississippi River Valley.

Eligible applicants are 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. Submit a proposal for an original, site-specific outdoor sculpture reflecting the Project Intent and Guiding Principles. The selection criteria include artistic merit, technical quality, capability, budget and impact evidenced by past work and supporting materials; a Letter of Interest outlining the proposed approach; a body of work reflecting artistic excellence in Indigenous art; experience working in a public process; experience fabricating and installing permanent outdoor artwork; references that will be contacted before final selection; qualifications and experience; and a proven record of completing similar-scale projects on time and within budget. Applicants should have experience working with Indigenous communities and in public settings, and proven ability to fabricate their own work or work with fabricators and installers. The selected artist or team will work with the city, selection committee and Minnesota Design Center to create a durable piece. The city council will award the final commission through a contract; committee and city decisions are final. The listed $60,000 minimum and maximum are the project budget, not a stated individual payment. The timeline specifies work with the Minnesota Design Center from October 20 through February 26, 2027; artwork completed and delivered to the city by May 1, 2027; and installation on May 14, 2027. Entry is listed as free. Deadline information conflicts: the listing states October 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM PDT, the commission platform displays October 17, 2026 at 12:59 AM in an unspecified viewer time zone, and the project timeline states September 25, 2026 as the deadline for submittals. Verify the operative deadline before applying.