Above: 176 S. Robert Street was previously the site of the Red Cross (left). The land will be redeveloped into Soul Apartments (pictured in an artist's rendering on the right).
WSCO is partnering with the Office of Cultural Work to engage two developers, Sherman & Associates and Schafer Richardson, who are in various phases of building housing developments on the West Side Flats. Both developments were assessed by our Equitable Development Scorecard team in recent years and granted letters of support by our West Side Voices voting members, contingent on increasing affordability and including public art by artists of color and West Side residents.
Public Art at Soul Apartments
Next steps
To move forward with this public art project, WSCO will put out a request for proposals (RFP) in 2023 that will further define the project, goals, and organizational sponsors. Included in the RFP will be a call for artists that will determine, based on a panel of artists and collaborators, what artist will lead with WSCO in the creative visioning of the art direction and community engagement process on site.
Timeline
- RFP complete in January 2023
- Artist Call complete & identified artist March 2023
- Spring/Summer 2023 start a public art community engagement process
Above: the Verdant Apartments at 85 S. Livingston Avenue on the West Side
Sherman & Associates - the Verdant and the Scenic Apartments
Our vision for public art at the new apartments on Livingston Avenue is focused on the long-standing indigenous stewardship of this land and cultural legacy along the riverfront. WSCO staff is in conversation with Heather Friedli, a longtime resident of the West Side and talented Anishinaabe painter; we also hope to collaborate with a Dakota artist or organization.
Timeline
- Artist outreach: January 2023
- Complete a conceptual design of the walkway: March 2023
- Begin public art community engagement process: Spring/summer 2023
Learn more: