A Journey through the American Civil Rights Movement
The Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation is planning a cultural heritage trail comprising plazas featuring art and interpretive signs about the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City, and we need your help.
The Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail is envisioned to be a series of interconnected nodes that tell the story of the American Civil Rights Movement and the Black experience in Kansas City through art installations.
This trail will highlight individuals and events from this movement as a way to move forward, feel a sense of healing, and draw a local, national, and international audience where people can reflect, meditate, and grieve.
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Artwork will be a key component to convey this important historical record. Interpretational materials at the nodes will be designed and installed to help further educate about the American Civil Rights Movement and Black experience in Kansas City.
It's time to tell the story
To plan this cultural experience, multiple elements are being considered
Cultural Heritage Element Themes
In-depth research is being conducted to determine 14 important themes of the American Civil Rights Movement and Black experience in Kansas City. These themes will be illustrated along the trail through the use of public art installations, historic speeches, photographs, and more.
Sites
Fourteen sites along the trail will be selected through the planning process. These sites will be the locations of the cultural heritage elements, and will be chosen based on their prominence, context, topography, and views.
and we need your help.
Public Art Installations
Due to the extraordinary significance of this corridor trail's planning, a call for artists will be released. This corridor trail will include art installations from submitting artists that will illustrate or represent the various selected American Civil Rights Movement themes.
Branding & Naming
Overall branding and naming of the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Corridor Trail will be developed through the planning process. Branding elements will specifically be integrated into signage along the corridor trail.
Help us by identifying the trail's cultural heritage elements.
What American Civil Rights Movement – tied to the Black experience in Kansas City – events, elements, or people should be illustrated along the trail? Please submit your ideas via this form to help us program the corridor trail experience. You may submit multiple entries by refreshing this webpage. Some example submissions include: the Rosa Parks story; Community Activist Alvin Lee Sykes; and Wheatley-Provident Hospital, which served the Black community in Kansas City from 1902 to 1972.
Project Timeline
Community Engagement
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January - August 2023
Cultural Heritage Element Theme Development
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February - September 2023
Public Art Installations - Call for Artists
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October - December 2023
Site
Selection
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January - April 2023
Branding and Naming
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January - November 2023
Call For Artists!
The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department has called for experienced artists or artist teams to submit their original ideas for engaging sculptures or installations for the Brush Creek Cultural Heritage Trail! Please click on the button below to learn more.
Do you have your submission ready? Please click on the link below to be directed towards the submission website and portal! Instructions will be provided on how to submit.
Project Partners
