No more ugly buildings: proposal would require major Wichita city projects to include artists

In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Wichita was abuzz with public art.

Major new projects were completed seemingly every year, and some of Wichita’s most recognizable public art to this day was created during that time.

But somewhere along the way, that momentum slowed.

Arts advocates in Wichita will present a proposed city ordinance at a Council Workshop on Tuesday that they hope will pave the way for more public art in town and put the kibosh on ugly public buildings.

The ordinance would set aside a flat 1 percent of the city’s capital-improvement project budget for that fiscal year and earmark it for public art projects.