HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson’s Public Art Design Council is inviting professional and emerging mural artists or artist teams over the age of eighteen and older and residing in Reno County to submit qualifications to create public art at the Otter Exhibit planned for new construction at the Hutchinson Zoo.

The Otter Exhibit Project involves new construction of an exhibit to house a pair of North American River Otters. Construction of the exhibit is scheduled to begin in December 2017 (weather permitting). The mural artwork will begin following exhibit construction sometime in the spring of 2018 and will be painted on a tall vertical concrete wall (dimensions and scale are provided in the Call for Artists).

The total budget for the exhibit is $375,000 with 50 percent coming from the fundraising efforts of Friends of the Zoo and the remaining 50 percent from the City of Hutchinson. The percent of Public Art budget for the mural artwork is $3,750.

The mural artwork at the Otter exhibit should enhance the connection of the exhibit to its surroundings, serve as a backdrop (not a focal point) within the otter habitat, strengthen the visitor experience and withstand exposure to extreme weather conditions, including ice, water, humidity, and sunlight.

Details for the thematic considerations, the exhibit site plan (with artwork dimensions), artist selection process, timeline, eligibility requirements and application procedures can be found in the Call for Artists posted under “Public Art” on the city’s website at www.hutchgov.com. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017.