Watch CBS News

Minneapolis Looking To Commission Artists For Nicollet Mall Redesign

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Nicollet Mall, which runs like a major artery through the heart of downtown Minneapolis, is getting a massive redesign, and the city is looking to commission artists to create new works for the reimagined roadway.

The Nicollet Mall Project is slated to be completed by 2017, and it'll be the mall's biggest facelift since the late 1980s. The city says the redesign effort is being headed by the New York-based landscape and design group James Corner Field Operations, in conjunction with local firms.

As part of that project, the city is looking for artists to create new works for the mall, which already boasts a large body of public and private artwork.

The four new projects the city says it will commission artists to work on include:

-- leading a team of local artists to create a series of lanterns ($200,000).
-- making iconic artwork on a large scale ($500,000).
-- designing a key feature in the mall's overall design ($225,000).
-- and integrating all public art in to the overall mall design ($75,000).

The city says it wants the works to stimulate and bring in new visitors to Nicollet Mall, make Minneapolis more of a national attraction, and help bring customers to local shops and restaurants. It also said the works should reflect a broad range of culture communities and be able endure in Minnesota's harsh weather.

Those interested in the projects are invited to attend an informal meeting on Feb. 12 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis Central Library, room S-275. The presentation from that meeting will also be posted to the city's website.

The deadline for project submissions is midnight on Feb. 27, the city says. Artists are expected to be picked by mid-Aril.

Those that apply don't have to live in Minnesota, but they do have to live in the United States. More application information can be found here.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.