Greenway Walking Trail Art

The Hopkinsville Art Guild is seeking proposals from artists or artist teams to design, fabricate, and install permanent public art along the Greenway Walking Trail. The goal is to create innovative, thoughtful artwork that also may reflect local culture, nature, agriculture, and history of the Pennyrile region. We are seeking works by various artists, working in many materials and techniques. Our efforts will transform our Greenway trail from simply being a walking trail, into an experience of beauty and communication.

Artistic Medium: Mosaic tiles, metal, glass, wood, stone, concrete, or paint. These may be used to create sculptures, murals, footpaths, or functional art (e.g., artistic benches).

● Key Themes: There are no required thematic expectations for subject matter, but they may take inspiration from regional history, agriculture, nature, local wildlife, literary heritage, community heritage or contemporary / non-objective and abstract works. Works should not reflect inflammatory social-political ideas as this is a public, family friendly area.

● Environment: The artwork must withstand Kentucky’s weather conditions (rain, humidity, freezing temperatures).

2. Scope of Work

The selected artist(s) will be responsible for:

● Creation of a design plan appropriate for one of the three trail head locations.

● Possibly refining the design based on review by Selection Committee

● Fabricating the artwork off-site or on-site.

● Installing the artwork, including all site preparation, foundation work, and safety measures.

● Providing a maintenance plan for wear on their creation if not permanent.

3. Eligibility

● Open to professional artists or artist teams.

● Experience with large-scale outdoor, weather-resistant installations is required.

● While not required, priority may be given to artists residing in Kentucky or the surrounding region.

4. Submission Requirements

Interested artists must submit the following:

● Cover Letter: Outlining interest and artistic approach.

● Conceptual Proposal: Detailed description, sketches, or 3D renderings of the proposed artwork.

● Project Timeline: Including fabrication and installation dates.

● Budget: Detailed breakdown of artist fees, materials, transportation, and installation costs.

● Resume/Portfolio: Images of 3–5 previous relevant public projects.

5. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by a Selection Committee based on:

● Artistic Merit: Quality and creativity of the concept.

● Site Suitability: Durability, safety, and appropriateness for the trail environment.

● Community Impact: How well the art resonates with local culture.

● Feasibility: Ability to complete the project within the budget and timeline.

● Durability: Materials must endure high humidity and varied temperatures.

● Accessibility: Ensure the installation complies with ADA requirements.

● Community Input: Involving local individuals, schools or neighborhood groups is highly regarded.

● Environmental Impact: Consider how the installation affects local flora/fauna.

6. Site Information

● Site Locations:

○ Library Trail Head, 1101 Bethel Street, amphitheater at Little River

○ North Drive Trail Head 450 North Drive

○ Pardue Lane Trail Head, 151 Pardue Lane, Dog Park & Rotary Park.

● Dimensions: Should be appropriate for outdoor exhibition

● Security: Trail heads all are lighted with surveillance cameras and nearby call boxes.

North Drive Trail Head, 450 North Drive, Hopkinsville, KY – 2 views

Library Trail Head, 1101 Bethel Street – 2 views

Pardue Lane Trail Head, 151 Pardue Lane, Hopkinsville, KY – 3 views

7. Contact Information

May 31, 2026, Deadline for submissions

Entries may be emailed or mailed to:

info@hopkinsvilleartguild.org

Hopkinsville Art Guild

PO Box 495

Hopkinsville, KY 42241