The City of Boulder Stormwater Quality Program is looking to engage the public at stormwater control measures (SCMs) and increase awareness of stormwater and its impact on water quality.

El Programa de Calidad de Aguas Pluviales de la Ciudad de Boulder busca involucrar al público en las medidas de control de aguas pluviales y aumentar la conciencia sobre las aguas pluviales y su impacto en la calidad del agua. El Departamento de Servicios Públicos de la Ciudad de Boulder y el Programa de Arte Público de la Oficina de Arte y Cultura invitan a los artistas de Colorado a postularse para esta oportunidad de arte público en el jardín de lluvia Valmont Park, propiedad de la ciudad. El requisito principal para las instalaciones es que deben llamar la atención sobre la función de un jardín de lluvia. Se seleccionó un jardín de lluvia como sitio para este proyecto de arte público debido a los beneficios que brindan a la salud humana y al medio ambiente. Un presupuesto total del proyecto de $18,750 está disponible para esta oportunidad. Más servicios de traducción y soporte de aplicaciones disponibles enviando poniéndose en contacto con publicart@bouldercolorado.gov.

About Stormwater & Rain Gardens

Stormwater pollution occurs when rain or snow melt flows over streets and picks up trash, oil, dirt, chemicals, and other pollutants from our neighborhoods and communities as it travels. These pollutants are then carried through the storm drainage system, which drains directly into our local creeks and streams untreated. The city builds stormwater control measures (SCMs), including rain gardens, to manage and filter stormwater from parking lots and other areas before it reaches local streams. Rain gardens are shallow, sunken areas with plantings and special filtering soil that are selected to help filter out pollutants and create natural habitats for wildlife and beneficial insects. Rain gardens are at their visual peak and performance from June through November. To learn more, visit https://bouldercolorado.gov/stormwater-resources-property-owners.

Anatomy of a Rain Garden

The attached site plan shows all the standard components of a rain garden and associated routine maintenance activities, which include: inflow/intake, plantings used to filter the inflow/intake, additional rock filtration, and an outlet.

Public Art: Parameters & Goals

The selection panel identified specific goals for this public art with the hope of creating an original unique work of art that complements the above-mentioned areas:

• The City of Boulder Utilities Department and Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program invite Colorado-based artists to apply for this public art opportunity at the city-owned Valmont Park rain garden.
• Bring attention to the stormwater system: storm drains, SCMs, and their role in protecting water quality
• Connect SCMs to water quality and other topics the public values – recreation, wildlife, environmental and human health, water
• Create a sense of place by connecting people to these features and the surrounding environment
• Help people connect to the environment/watershed/stormwater through art
• Allow the Stormwater Program to engage more directly with the public
• Educate passersby and connect them to ways they can curb their own pollution of stormwater
• Unique and original in that this artwork is created directly in response to the site and functionality of the rain garden

Appropriate & Unique

The selection panel seeks a unique, one-of-a-kind artwork.

Locations

The proposed location for an art installation is at a city-owned rain garden at Valmont Park. This is a link to a dropped pin on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B001'46.6%22N+105%C2%B013'50.8%22W/@40.0296155,-105.2313283,132m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x6ec1e3bd75f59a51!8m2!3d40.0296145!4d-105.2307811.

Materials and Media

The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials that are appropriate to this exterior location. Projects should not obstruct the right of way, impede the function of the rain garden (water needs to be able to enter and infiltrate into the ground), or require any sort of electrical tie-in’s.

Durability and Maintenance

All public art projects in Colorado are exposed to weather and physical stresses and are subject to vandalism and should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Due to the nature of placement near rain gardens, specific design parameters will be determined with semi-finalists. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the selection panel, the Office of Arts and Culture, the Technical Review Committee (a project-specific technical group comprised of city staff), the Boulder Arts Commission, and the City Manager’s Office to ensure conformity with city standards of construction, maintenance and durability, and ADA standards. All finalists are expected to stay within the budget and to complete work in an approved timeframe.

 Budget

The budget for this commission is approximately $18,750 USD which will be allocated to the artists/team selected by the selection panel. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to, the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering, insurance, including Colorado Workers Compensation, small tools, materials, fabrication, transportation and installation, including any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem and lodging expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs of any kind. For all work done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied. Budget will need to include all foundational and infrastructural supports.

Tentative Timeline

Anticipated significant project milestones include: 

• October 25: Deadline for entry (via CAFÉ system)
• Nov 1: Semi-Finalist Selection
• Mid-Nov: Notify Sem-Finalists
• Mid Nov - Jan: Proposal Development, Site Visit
• Early Jan 2023.: Semi-Finalists present Proposals, Community Engagement
• Mid January: Staff presents to Boulder Arts Commission for approval, followed by CMO approval and contract draft
• Contracting (2-3 months)
• Design (2 – 5 months)
• Fabrication (3-8 months)
• Install Summer/Fall 2023

Project Selection Panel

The Valmont Park Rain Garden Educational Art Installation Selection Panel is comprised of 5 voting members. The Technical Review Committee is comprised of additional non-voting advisors from various city departments and county advisors including Parks and Recreation, Utilities, Planning and Development Services.

Selection Process

Between three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as semi-finalists and will receive a $250 honorarium to develop a proposal for further consideration. Semi-finalists will receive more specific information regarding the site and have the opportunity to meet with the Selection Panel and Technical Review Committee during a site visit. Additionally, community engagement is a vital component in Boulder’s decision-making process. Semi-finalists should be prepared to present or have their proposals presented to the public in some fashion during the decision-making process. The final recommendation of the Selection Panel will be presented to the Boulder Arts Commission and the City Manager for final approval.

Application Requirements

Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered without exception. The applicant’s name must appear on all materials submitted.

All materials must be submitted online, via the CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system.

Digital Images: To be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit up-to eight digital images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or media works may include up-to two videos and up-to two audio attachments. Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at http://www.callforentry.org/imaging_tips.phtml. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303-629-1166 or 1-888-562-7232, or e-mail cafe@westaf.org. If you do not have access to a computer, call 303-441-4342 to make arrangements to use the Office of Arts and Culture computer.

Statement of Interest: Please submit a statement of interest that briefly outlines your interest in the Valmont Park Rain Garden Educational Art Installation project and experience working on projects of this kind (2000 character maximum) via CaFÉ™.

Résumé/CV: Submit a one- to two-page current résumé or CV, via CaFÉ™ that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist, including any prior public art experience. Please name your résumé file accordingly: Last name. First initial (i.e. Smith.J.doc). Résumés over two pages will not be downloaded.

If applying as a team, please submit one résumé with one to two pages per team member.

Questions about the project: Please contact Mandy Vink, Public Art Program Manager: 303-441-4342 or vinkm@bouldercolorado.gov.  

Eligibility Criteria

The City of Boulder Utilities Department and Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program invite Colorado-based artists to apply for this public art opportunity.