Project Name: Art & Lived Experience: Housing Insecurity

Project Budget: $25,000

Amount inclusive of all costs associated with this public art project including but not limited to, artist fees, artist and participant materials for community artmaking activities, materials for commissioned artwork, transportation, and insurance conforming to Adams County requirements.

Open To: Professional artists local to Colorado

Project Number: 2022-038

Project Description:

Adams County, Colorado seeks to commission an artist with lived experience of housing insecurity to

1.      Facilitate a community-engaged artmaking series with residents experiencing homelessness.

2.      Create an interior artwork inspired by the program series to be displayed at the Adams County Government Center.

This two-phase project is a collaboration between the selected artist, the Adams County Community Safety & Well-Being Department (CSWB) and the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department (POSCA). The selected artist will work closely with CSWB Homelessness Reduction Staff and POSCA Cultural Arts staff during this project.

Phase 1: Community Engagement

The selected artist will facilitate artmaking at Homeless Reduction community engagement events such as resource fairs, mobile services, and Crisis Response Unit office hours. The goal of Phase 1 is to use art to help meet the whole person needs of our residents as they work with CSWB staff to navigate a challenging experience.

The selected artist will have access to the expertise and experience of the CSWB Homelessness reduction team. The artist will shadow and meet with CSWB staff from December 2022 through February 2023 to develop a community engagement program. Visit the Adams County Poverty and Homelessness Reduction website (https://www.adcogov.org/poverty-and-homelessness-reduction ) to learn more about their work.

The selected artist will regularly attend community engagement events from March 2023 through May 2023. This consistent engagement will foster a space for connection and artistic exchange. Art made during this phase of the project will not be publicly displayed. This phase constitutes 75% of the project.: 25% for planning and development, 50% for community engagement.

Examples of Community Engagement Events:

·         Resource Fairs

Resource fairs are a one-stop shop for people experiencing housing insecurity in any shape or form to learn about resources and providers that may help them navigate their individual circumstances. Resource fairs take place quarterly and may be scheduled on weekdays or weekends. Past locations include fire stations, the Adams County Human Services Building, K-12 schools, churches, and private business conference halls.

·         Mobile Services

Mobile services are free laundry and shower facilities at the Crossroad Community Center at 10451 Huron St, Northglenn, CO 80234. Open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am to 12 pm.

·         Crisis Response Unit Office Hours

The Crisis Response Unit connects people with crisis services, housing navigation resources, and SNAP or similar resources. The Crisis Response Unit also provides limited homelessness case management for clients. Office hours are held in the annex of Northglenn City Hall every Friday from 9 am – 12 pm.

Phase 2: Artwork Creation

The selected artist will create an interior artwork informed by their experience with Adams County residents. This artwork will be displayed at the Adams County Government Center with the goal of using art to spark conversation about homelessness and housing insecurity, educate Adams County staff and residents about this social issue, and create empathy around a stigmatized experience. This phase constitutes 25% of the project.

Phase 3: Artwork Activation (not part of this scope of work)

The commissioned artwork will be activated with a programming series. Programming will be determined by the selected artist, CSWB, and POSA staff. Programming related to the commissioned artwork is not part of this scope of work and is not included in this budget.

Estimated Timeline*:

Sunday, October 23, 2022: RFQ submission deadline.

Week of November 2, 2022: Semi-finalists notified.

Thursday, November 17: Zoom info session. Semi-finalists will have the opportunity to meet with CSWB and POSA staff to ask questions about the project.

Sunday, December 4, 2022: Project-specific proposals due**

Week of December 12: Semi-finalist interviews. Held in-person at the Adams County Parks Administration building between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

Week of December 19: The selected artist is contracted.

December 2022 – February 2023: Artist works with CSWB and POSCA staff to develop a community engagement plan.

March 2023 – May 2023: Community Engagement Period. Artist regularly facilitates artmaking at CSWB community engagement events

June 2023 – August 2023: Artist creates commissioned artwork and develops programming related to the artwork with CSWB & POSCA staff.

September 2023 – October 2023: Commissioned artwork displayed at the Adams County Government Center. The selected artist participates in programming related to their artwork.

* Timeline subject to change.

** 2-3 semi-finalists will be paid an honorarium of $750 to create a project-specific proposal detailing their proposed community engagement, approach to the commissioned artwork, budget, and timeline.

Payment Timeline:

25% upon signing a contract with the County

25% upon completion of the community engagement plan

25% upon completion of the community engagement period

25% upon installation of the commissioned artwork

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements:

All professional artists responding to the call-for-entry must submit complete answers in the CaFÉ application.

Artist Statement

a)      Tell us about your specific interest in this project.

b)      Describe how you plan to bring your lived experience with issues surrounding housing insecurity to this project.

c)      Describe your experience working with the public and your approach to working with vulnerable populations.

Project Portfolio

Submit a PDF highlighting past projects of similar scope highlighting your experience with community-engaged artmaking. Include photos and descriptions of each project. Include the project name, year, location, and budget. 

Artwork Samples

Submit a PDF with between ten (10) and fifteen (15) images featuring select examples of your artwork. Include the name, year, location, media/materials, and budget for featured artwork.

The selected artist will work with Community Safety & Well-Being staff and Cultural Arts staff to refine and finalize their community engagement plan and commissioned artwork.

Applications that do not provide the required information will not be considered. All materials must be submitted via the CaFÉ online application system. There is no application fee to apply. Adams County reserves the right to request any additional information from the individual artist. Adams County will not accept late entries.

Selection Panel and Process:

The Selection Panel for Art & Lived Experience: Housing Insecurity is made up of the Adams County Visual Arts Commission, a 7-member group of volunteer residents appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, one Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts staff member, two Community Safety & Well-Being staff members, and two community members.

The Selection Panel will review and rate RFQ applications and project-specific proposals to select an artist that best meets project requirements. The selection panel will then make a recommendation to the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department for final approval.

RFQ Evaluation Criteria:

The Selection Panel will individually rate each applicant on the following criteria.

1.      The connection between project goals and the artist's creative practice

2.      Demonstrated ability to facilitate and create meaningful art-making experiences

3.      Ability and willingness to collaboratively develop the project.

4.      Ability to create artwork that explores social justice issues and engages a wide audience

Eligibility Criteria

This project is open to professional artists local to Colorado