Kansas City has a long history of supporting public art. The City Charter of 1925 set up the current City Council/City Manager form of governance. The City Charter gives the Municipal Art Commission authority to approve works of art displayed on city property. In 1970 and 1992, non-binding Resolutions proposed the creation of a public art fund. 

The One Percent for Art Program became law in 1986 when the City Council passed Ordinance 60321. This ordinance states "... the preparation of ordinances for the construction, reconstruction or remodeling of any municipal building...shall include an amount equal to one percent of the engineer's estimated cost of improvement... for the acquisition and installation of works and other aesthetic adornments."

Since 2017, the city has also been able to place art on streets, sidewalks and bridges as part of the GO KC general obligation bond initiative for infrastructure improvements.

By City Charter, the Art Commission’s responsibilities include the approval of works of art on, or extending over, any City property; the design of buildings, bridges, fences and other structures built by the City; and certain privately owned signs, skywalks or other structures that extend over public property. The Charter also provides that no existing work of art owned by the City can be moved or altered without Commission approval except under emergency conditions.  The mission of the Municipal Art Commission is to serve as a catalyst for artistic growth and aesthetic excellence in our communities, and in doing so, enhance the vitality of Kansas City and enrich the lives of our residents.

Municipal Art Commission
Attention: James Martin, Public Art Administrator
City Hall, 17th Floor
414 E. 12th St. Kansas City, MO 64106
816-513-3422

Artists and organizations seeking to place art on city property must complete the Placing Art on City Property Form no later than one week prior to the Municipal Art Commission meeting. The Municipal Art Commission meets every first Friday of the month at 9 a.m. via videoconference. The videoconference link will be emailed prior to the meeting.

The Municipal Art Commission meets virtually at 9 a.m. on the first Friday of each month. To attend a MAC meeting, visit the City Clerk’s page one or two days prior to the meeting date and look for the MAC agenda.

To receive monthly alerts of upcoming MAC meetings:

1. Go to the City Clerk’s web page.
2. Click on the “Sign In” link on the City Clerk’s web page.
3. On the next page click on the “Sign Up” link. Provide a User Name and Password and enter your email address to receive notifications.
4. After creating your account, return to the “Sign In” link on the City Clerk’s web page and sign in.
5. Under the Calendar Alerts heading, click on the “Add a New Calendar Alert” link.
6. In the Search Terms box enter Municipal Art Commission.
7. For frequency, choose daily to ensure you do not miss a meeting announcement.
8. When you receive a notification email, follow the links within it to access the Municipal Art Commission agenda and videoconference link.

Today there are hundreds of public art programs located throughout the United States, managed by federal, state, county or city governments and by agencies such as public transit and aviation authorities.  Most public art programs are legally mandated, with 1/2% to 3% of various construction project budgets set aside specifically for public art.

The first work of public art commissioned by Kansas City's One Percent for Art Program, Bull Wall by Robert Morris, was dedicated in 1992. 

To view a map of One Percent for Art locations throughout Kansas City visit Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art Program (arcgis.com)

KC Studio Magazine published a catalog of the One Percent for Art Program in 2017.   To learn more about One Percent for Art works visit  Art City - Public Art in Kansas City - KC STUDIO.

Additional Information for artists: 

• How to apply for a One Percent for Art project
• Public art at KCI
• How KCMO selects public art for One Percent for Art projects
•  To subscribe to KCMO public art opportunities, please visit KCMO.gov/subscribe and enter your email address at “Public Art Opportunities” near the bottom of the page.
• Typical requirements for KCMO contracts
• Legal help for artists
• Public art best practices, FAQs, examples and resources: 
  Americans for the Arts

How to Apply City of Kansas City, Missouri One Percent for Art program

Subscribe to the KCMO Public Art Opportunity email list to receive Calls for Artists

• Visit KCMO.gov/subscribe and enter your email address at “Public Art Opportunities” near the bottom of the page.

Use the website that KCMO has selected to manage artist applications

• Create a free artist profile at CaFÉ (“Call For Entry”). CaFÉ provides help setting up your profile
• CaFÉ is a website tool for artists to store images from their portfolio, biographical information, artist statements, etc. The website does not charge fees for artists to store their information. Some Calls for Artists listed by other organizations will charge fees to artists, but KCMO does not charge artists fees to respond to our Calls for Artists.
• CaFÉ is owned and managed by the Western Arts Federation, a regional nonprofit arts service agency that serves arts organizations, artists and communities.
• CaFÉ will help KCMO staff manage the large number of artist submissions that are expected for public art opportunities.
• Adjust the settings of your notifications in the CaFÉ website to be notified about Calls for Artists

Many organizations that distribute Calls for Artists use CaFÉ, including numerous public art programs. Other organizations may use a different application management website, such as CODAworx, publicartist.org, SlideRoom, or Submittable.

To apply for most Calls for Artists, regardless of which application management website is used, artists will need:

• Resume or CV
• Biographical statement
• Artist statement
• Portfolio (digital images) with information about each image such as title, date, materials and budget amount and location for commissioned works
• References

Artists who need access to a computer and/or internet access are encouraged to seek assistance from their local library or KC BizCare, 816-513-2492.