If you take a walk in historic downtown Liberty, you’ll find a growing collection of public art — murals on the exterior and interior walls of several county buildings, statues of two great Americans and a recently installed sculpture, all within a five minute walk.
“Plumb Twisted,” the work of sculptor Jacob Burmood, was the first sculpture installed through the Liberty Arts Commission’s new Public Art Sculpture Program, part of the Commission’s efforts to cultivate creativity, invest in the art community and draw new visitors to the community.
In 2017, the annual Public Art Sculpture Program has funding to bring three original, three-dimensional works of art to the downtown Liberty area, to be displayed through mid-July 2018, each awarded with a $1,000 honorarium. The Arts Commission expects to select two more sculptures in 2017 and another six in 2018. Grant recipients will be chosen based on artistic excellence, accomplishments to date and the promise of future achievement.
The City of Liberty has the option to purchase at least one piece of art from each grant cycle, which would become a part of the City’s permanent art collection. Both existing works and concept proposals will be considered. Applications for the remaining two honorariums in the 2017 grant cycle are due by Sept. 29, 2017.
The Public Art Sculpture Program art grants are funded through a Transient Guest Tax and aim to support art related programs and events that draw tourism to Liberty. Interested in becoming a featured artist? Learn more about the Public Art Sculpture Program and other grants for the arts and apply online » www.libertymissouri.gov/artgrants.
