REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (en español)

Public Art Project

Behavioral Health Solutions Center

Budget: Approximately $60,000.00 USD

Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the state of Colorado

DEADLINE: Monday, August 14th, 2023, 11:59 P.M. MST

Introduction

The City of Denver’s Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for the Behavioral Health Solutions Center in Denver, CO. A nine-member selection panel of community representatives, arts and design professionals, and civic leaders has been assembled to identify art opportunities and to select and recommend an artist or artist team for this project. The selection panel has identified a location for potential artworks for the allocated total budget of approximately $60,000.00 USD.

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that the land Denver’s Public Art Collection occupies - - land where we stand, live, work and learn - - is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. Our nation was founded upon and continues to enact exclusions and erasures of Indigenous Peoples. May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to dismantling ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities, as we intentionally honor and celebrate the Indigenous communities in our city and express our gratitude for their ongoing and significant contributions. Let’s not forget that this land was theirs long before we made it ours.

Sun Valley Neighborhood

The neighborhood now known as Sun Valley and has seen many transitions in the past century. In the late 1880s, much of the region was transformed by Jewish immigrants. The community established a school, synagogue, markets, bakeries, a recreation center, a pickle factory, a rag shop, and other small businesses. In the 1920s, the City and County of Denver passed its first zoning code, which designated much of the area around the South Platte River to the east of Sun Valley as an industrial zone. The neighborhood shifted again with the opening of Las Casitas in 1942, the neighborhood's first public subsidized housing. Eight years later, I-25 was constructed, and Sun Valley Homes, a 330-unit affordable housing complex, was added. The City and County of Denver Human Services also moved its offices to the neighborhood, to provide Denver residents assistance in housing, health, food, child support, and medical care.

More recently, the Decatur Federal Station Area Plan was created to build upon Sun Valley's rich history. This plan provided a long-range vision and set of guiding principles for the development and future of most of the Sun Valley neighborhood.

Behavioral Health Solutions Center

The newly renovated Behavioral Health Solutions Center is situated within the Sun Valley neighborhood, and administered by WellPower. The facility provides specialized support and brief respite to Denver residents experiencing a range of mental health crises, including, but not limited to, extreme psychosis, manic episodes, suicidality and housing instability, as well as serving those needing support or stabilization with medication. Providing a space for this support reduces the load on emergency rooms and local jails and provides the best and most appropriate care individuals need.

The goal of the facility’s renovation is meant to increase the safety and dignity of clients and staff. Renovations to the building have included upgrades to the ground-level crisis clinic, the crisis stabilization unit, and the 30-day transitional residence. These improvements were supported through the City and County of Denver’s General Fund and are now complete.

WellPower

WellPower (formerly the Mental Health Center of Denver) was founded in 1989 and is a community non-profit organization non-profit that focuses on recovery, resilience and well-being. It is known locally and nationally as a model for innovative and effective community behavioral health care. The work of WellPower enables adults to live more fulfilling lives, children to be more resilient, and families to be happier and healthier. Core programming and services include outpatient, psychiatric, vocational rehabilitation, transitional and supported employment, school-based, case management, substance abuse, parent counseling, HIV services, and more. The organization has grown over the past three decades and now supports a network of more than 1,000 staff members to provide care to Denver’s communities.

Goals, Site, Media & Materials

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the diverse communities that will interact with the Behavioral Health Solutions Center.

Goals:

• Artwork should invite reflections of tranquility, peace, joy and comfort.
• Artists are encouraged to consider biophilic and trauma-informed design strategies that support mental health through color, pattern and subject matter. Biophilic design is the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities. Trauma-informed design is the practice of combining trauma-informed care with the design process.
• The panel is especially interested in inviting artists to apply who have relationships or lived experience with mental and behavioral health topics.

Site:

The panel has identified a preferred site for public art on the exterior of the building in the courtyard, particularly areas in the courtyard that support rest. Selected finalists will have the opportunity for site visits and to meet with the selection panel, WellPower staff, Denver Public Art staff, and Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) members to ask specific questions about the preferred sites.

Media & Materials:

Artworks could be created using media such as paint and sculptural applications. Durability and ease of maintenance are important at this location. Artists must also comply with specific design guidelines that support the wide range of mental health crises treated at BHSC*. The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials suitable for outdoor display and the site.

*Some visual media and designs can easily trigger or worsen mental health crises. Artists should avoid the use of activating colors (blue or red), figurative works that depict human or animal eyes, surfaces that are highly textured or sharp, structures that are climbable, and elements that are portable or removable.  

Resiliency Training

As the Behavioral Health Solutions Center is intended to support the mental health of the communities using the space, Denver’s Public Art Program team also wants to ensure the wellness of selected artists or artists teams. Selected artists or artist teams for this project will have the opportunity to receive resiliency training before on-site work and after the project is complete. Resiliency training encourages and builds a positive mindset and experience in what could be perceived as a stressful situation or environment.

Behavioral Health Solutions Center Guidelines

To ensure this project is a safe and healthy experience for all, selected finalists will be expected to comply with all Behavioral Health Solutions Center and WellPower policies and procedures, including compliance with regulations listed below as well as other considerations:

1. Confidentiality: Contractor acknowledges and agrees that it shall treat all Confidential Information with the strictest confidence and secrecy and shall not disclose any Confidential Information to any third party or use Confidential Information for Contractor's own purposes or other than for the benefit of WellPower in performing services, during the term of a contract and at all times thereafter, without the prior written consent of WellPower. Contractor also agrees that any dissemination of Confidential Information within its own business entity shall be restricted to "a need to know basis" for the purpose of performance hereunder.
2. Background Checks: Contractor shall ensure that all their employees and, subcontractors, performing work for or providing services to WellPower are subjected to a criminal history background check. Such checks shall include county, state and federal checks based on residence for the preceding seven years. Checks must be completed before any employee of Contractor or subcontractors begin work or services under contract, whether brought on at the outset of a contract or at any other point during the term during a contract. In determining whether an employee of Contractor or subcontractors, is suitable to work for or provide services to WellPower, Contractor shall consider the number of convictions; nature, seriousness, and date of occurrence of each offense; relevance of the crime committed in relationship to the work or services to be performed; the potential risk to WellPower assets, property, employees, persons served, and visitors; and the nature of WellPower’s business as a provider of mental health services to adults and children.
3. Smoke, Tobacco, Weapon & Drug Free Campus:  WellPower maintains an environment that is free of weapons, smoking, tobacco, illegal drugs, and alcohol. The following are prohibited at/on WellPower premises (that is, indoor and outdoor property owned, leased, operated, or otherwise under the control of WellPower):  (1) weapons or any item that can be construed as a weapon (a weapon is defined as any item designed, used, or threatened to be used for inflicting bodily harm or physical damage), with the exception of law enforcement; (2) smoking, e-cigarettes, vaping, and the use of tobacco in an form or by any method; (3) consumption of alcohol or possession of an open container of alcohol (except for individuals or entities who possess a valid liquor license and are catering an event for WellPower); (4) use, possession, sale, or distribution of marijuana (which remains illegal under federal law); and (5) use, possession, manufacture, distribution, sale, solicitation, or purchase of controlled substances not prescribed to the individual or other illegal drugs. Vendor, Vendor employees, and Vendor subcontractors shall not engage in any prohibited activities while at/on WellPower premises.

A full list of policies and procedures can be obtained through inquiry of Denver Public Art staff.

Maintenance & Durability

This artwork will become a permanent addition to the Denver Public Art collection. All applicants must consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects are in the public realm and will be exposed to physical stresses, as well as be subject to vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the City of Denver’s Public Art Committee to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as American Disability Act (ADA) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved time frame.

Applying for these opportunities

In response to this RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit the following items via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™).

1. Six digital images of past work
2. Résumé
3. Statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters

From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five finalists who will create site-specific proposals and be interviewed in person or virtually. Artists will be paid an honorarium for this work. Artists/teams selected as finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form for their proposals to be considered, which will be provided upon notification. As directed by Executive Order 101, this form must be submitted for all city solicitations of proposals. Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program staff can guide you in filling out this form.

Based on the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission. The selected artist or artist team will work with the Denver Public Art Program staff, WellPower staff, and the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) when finalizing their designs for installation.

Budget

The budget for this commission is approximately $60,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1% Percent for Public Art Ordinance resulting from improvements made to the Behavioral Health Solutions Center project. 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), tools, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. For all work performed on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline

(Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments)

Monday, August 14 11:59 p.m. MST                                       Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

August 2023                                                                            Finalist Selection

September 2023                                                                     Selected Artist or Artist Team Notification

Project Selection Panel

According to Denver’s Public Art policy, the project selection panel plays an active role in the acquisition of public art for the City and County of Denver. The Behavioral Health Solutions Center selection panel is comprised of nine voting members and additional non-voting advisors. The selection panel is responsible for reviewing the site, establishing criteria for a request for qualifications, reviewing applications, selecting and interviewing finalists, and finally for selecting an artist or artist team for the commission. 

Selection Process

1. Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the sites and have the opportunity to meet with community members from the art selection panel, Denver Public Art Program staff, WellPower staff, and the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI). The finalists will receive an honorarium to prepare a proposal and present it in person or virtually.
2. The selection panel will review the proposals, interview the finalists, and recommend an artist/artist team for the commission.
3. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and the mayor of Denver for final approval.

*All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.

Meeting Format

All meetings are held virtually via the Microsoft Teams platform. Selected artists and artist teams will be expected to download the free Microsoft Teams app and schedule platform testing prior to any presentations and interviews.

Language Preference

Denver Arts & Venues complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender or language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, if needed. Please contact Denver Arts & Venues at DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org and these services will be provided to you free of charge.

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Application Requirements

Materials to be Submitted

Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. 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

In order to be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit six digital images of previously completed artworks through the online CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or media works must submit a complete CaFÉ™ application and will have the opportunity to upload one video file.

IMPORTANT: if submitting audio or video files, do not use them as your very first image. They must be submitted last in your image sequence.

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at https://www.callforentry.org/uploading-images-audio-and-video-files/.

Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available here: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/.

If an artist does not have access to a computer, s/he/they may call 720-865-5576 to make arrangements to use a computer at Denver Arts & Venues. 

To request this RFQ in an alternate format (such as Braille, large print, or accessible electronic format) please contact DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org.

Statement of Interest

Please submit a brief statement (2,000-character maximum) outlining the following:

• Your interest in the Behavioral Health Solutions Center project
• Your relationship to or experience with mental and behavioral health topics
• Your design approach and experience working on public art projects.
• Please also include information on your experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders

Résumé

Submit a one to two-page current résumé via CaFÉ™ that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. Please name your résumé file accordingly: Last name.First initial (i.e. Smith.J.pdf).  Résumés that are more than two pages will not be downloaded. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé with no more than one page per team member.

Survey 

Applicants will also be required to fill out a short demographic survey located within this CaFÉ™ application.

References 

Applicants who are selected to be finalists will be required to provide three professional references.

Meg Pursell, Public Art Program Administrator, meg.pursell@denvergov.org, 720-865-5576

Denver Public Art is also hosting a virtual pre-application meeting on Wednesday, July 19th, 5:30-6:30 p.m. for interested applicants. The meeting will cover project backgrounds and goals, and the application process for this Requests for Qualification. Attendees will also get information on CallForEntry.org through which artists may apply. This event will be hosted on Zoom. Interested applicants are asked to register to get information on how to join prior to the event. If you cannot attend, a recording will be available on the Denver Arts & Venues Vimeo channel.

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Apply

This project is open to artists residing in the state of Colorado. Denver Arts & Venues is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad diversity of artists and encourages applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities including artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino/x, People of Color (BILPOC), people with disabilities, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersexual, asexual, Two-Spirit+ (LGBTQIA2S+) communities. Denver Arts & Venues also encourages applicants at various stages in their career and applicants practicing a variety of artistic disciplines.