City of Bloomington Seeks Artists for Signature Gateway Public Artwork

The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Economic and Sustainable Development departments request qualifications from professional artists or artist teams to create a signature public artwork for the Bicentennial Gateway that celebrates the vibrancy, diversity, resilience, creativity and rich history that make Bloomington unique.

The Bicentennial Gateway has welcomed people to Bloomington since 2024. When the final design for the sign was selected, a portion of the project's Bicentennial Bond funds were earmarked to solicit and install a piece of public art at the site.  Now, the City is looking to add public art that goes beyond the city's name to reflect the character, history, and creativity of the community.

“Parks are important gathering places and gateways to our community, and this project is an opportunity to create something that welcomes people to Bloomington in a meaningful and memorable way,” said Tim Street, Director of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. “We want this artwork to reflect the character of our city and give residents and visitors alike a sense of connection and pride in the place we call home.”

There will be multiple opportunities for the community to engage throughout the process and provide feedback. During this initial phase, residents are encouraged to share their perspectives through an online survey.

“The Bicentennial Gateway is an example of what can happen when we listen to our community and remain willing to rethink an approach,” said Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Residents helped shape the direction of the first phase and we’re taking that same approach as we move forward with the public art component.”

The project has a budget of $125,000. Professional artists and artist teams based in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, or Illinois are eligible to apply. Qualifications must be submitted by December 4, 2026. To view the entire call, learn more about the project, and submit an application, visit the City’s Public Art Page.