City advances "percent for art" ordinance

Downtown businesses to host interactive World Cup displays

Library plaza proposed as World Cup sculpture site

Commission explores projections and wheat paste for urban art

Student art to transform downtown parking structure

City advances "percent for art" ordinance

LAWRENCE, Kan. - A proposed ordinance that would formalize a "percent for art" funding mechanism is currently under review by the city's legal office. Stemming from the city's parks and culture master plan, the ordinance would convert existing municipal resolutions into law, mandating public art funding from the city's capital plan or municipal bond funding. Because bond funding carries strict spending restrictions — such as limiting expenditures to "brick and mortar" projects rather than programming — the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission plans to dedicate an April meeting to a thorough review of the ordinance.

Downtown businesses to host interactive World Cup displays

LAWRENCE, Kan. - As the city prepares for the 2026 World Cup, local artist Alicia Kelly will transform downtown storefronts with interactive window displays. The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission confirmed that The Roost, a local restaurant, will host deconstructed soccer ball designs created by Kelly. The installations will include paper soccer balls that children can assemble, adding a family-friendly element to the downtown corridor's World Cup festivities.

Library plaza proposed as World Cup sculpture site

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Lawrence Public Library plaza is being eyed as the prime location for a large-scale, World Cup-themed sculpture by an artist who has yet to be announced. The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission discussed placing the freestanding artwork at the plaza to serve as a highly visible welcoming landmark for visitors arriving via a nearby transit stop. The installation is expected to complement the library's planned World Cup community engagement activities and a forthcoming mural by Tokeya Waci U Richardson, which was approved by the Lawrence City Commission earlier this month.

Commission explores projections and wheat paste for urban art

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Seeking to saturate downtown with World Cup-themed art, the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission is exploring alternative mediums like wheat paste posters and digital projections. Commission members discussed utilizing exterior walls, including the U.S. Bank building at Ninth and Massachusetts streets pending property owner consent, to display Gary Mark Smith's photography of soccer culture in the Congo and Algeria. The temporary installations aim to create an immersive, citywide art experience without permanently altering downtown infrastructure.

Student art to transform downtown parking structure

LAWRENCE, Kan. - A city and statewide partnership will unveil a new public art installation at the New Hampshire Street Parking Garage in early April. Created by youth art collective Hang12, the project features painted native plants and animals spanning alternating parking stalls on the facility's main level. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 5 p.m. on April 9 to celebrate the students' contribution to downtown beautification.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us