Nominations are being accepted now through Aug. 15 for the Chris Cherches Award sponsored by the Design Council. The award, named after Wichita’s longtime City Manager, recognizes a public project that best exemplifies Cherches’ aesthetic vision for the city.

Any project completed in the past four years and located within the Wichita city limits may be nominated for the Chris Cherches Award. Up to 10 digital photos per entry may also be included. Nomination forms are available here or by contacting Bernadette Bradshaw, City of Wichita Division of Arts & Cultural Services, at (316) 303-8663.

All entries will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges, with the award recipient notified by September 30. The presentation of the Chris Cherches Award will be included in The Art Council’s Annual Art Awards Dinner in November.

The Design Council, an advisory group to the Wichita City Council, established this annual award in 2009 to support and encourage private and public sector design teams that integrate art into building projects as a way to beautify the surrounding environment. The Chris Cherches award was presented in 2010 for the Keeper of the Plains Plaza project. The project was chosen because of the high number of citizens who benefit from the Keeper Plaza as well as for its exceptional integration of engineering, artistry and landscaping.

In his tenure as City Manager from 1985-2003, Cherches advocated that by creating a higher aesthetic standard for public projects, it would lead to increased private-sector development, encourage economic development and create a higher quality of life for all citizens. Cherches passed away in 2004.