Call Description

OVERVIEW
The Town of Castle Rock Public Art Commission seeks proposals of artworks to welcome residents and visitors to the northern entrance of Downtown Castle Rock at the northeastern intersection of Interstate 25 and Wilcox Street.

Artists are invited to submit proposals for this exciting opportunity to celebrate and represent the Castle Rock community through a large-scale work of art. The ideal piece could tell the local story or history,  strengthen community pride, evoke feelings of inspiration or joy, encourage fun and play or outdoor recreation, cultivate community dialogue, foster reflection, promote unity and connectedness or instill a sense of home and place.  

The site is highly visible. It serves as the primary entrance to Downtown, can be seen from Colorado’s central north/south interstate and will be viewed by travelers when entering and leaving Castle Rock. 

BACKGROUND
In thriving communities all over the world, the arts play an integral role in expressing community identity and conveying local culture and history. Public art inspires awe, enhances and beautifies shared public space, unites and promotes togetherness, honors local heritage, and pays tribute to history and public service.

Incorporated in 1881, the Town of Castle Rock is a vibrant and spirited community with a rich history and heritage. The Public Art Commission functions as the catalyst for local public art experiences and works to enhance community vibrancy and small-town character.

Castle Rock is known for its family-friendly charm, and our theme is “a world-class community with small-town character.” Castle Rock is distinguished by its vibrant and historic downtown, distinct identity as the Douglas County seat, and diverse and easily accessible recreation.

Located in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Castle Rock’s ridges, valleys, open space and spectacular views lend to a stunning natural setting. Creeks and gulches meander through the many drainage basins, and Ponderosa Pine and scrub oak dot the landscape. Panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains extend from Pikes Peak to the south to Longs Peak to the north.

At its founding, the namesake rock provided the landmark location for the Town. Ranching, the railroad, clay mines and rhyolite quarries formed the basis for Castle Rock’s early economy. The Town’s physical setting with its ridges creates a natural shape, and many residents strongly value the recreational activities these ridges now provide, such as hiking and mountain biking.  

There is also growing excitement within the Castle Rock community to add additional artistic places of interest in Downtown. A recent public art questionnaire showed that 90% of respondents felt art added value to their community and this welcoming piece will be highly visible to locals and visitors alike as they drive in to enjoy special events, restaurants and shopping in Downtown. 

SITE LOCATION AND ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
The site is located at the northeastern portion of the intersection of  Wilcox Street and W. Wolfensberger Road, adjacent to the entrance ramp to Interstate 25. The site used to serve as a gas station but was purchased and remediated by the Town. It is now a vacant lot with a gravel surface adjacent to a retaining wall owned by the railroad, a local business, Wilcox Street and the Interstate 25 northern on-ramp. As travelers exit the interstate and head east towards Downtown Castle Rock, the site is visible from the road.

The dimensions available for art installation are 40 feet wide by 140 feet long, but proposals do not necessarily need to fill the entire space or site. Ideal works of art would welcome visitors and provide passerby in vehicles readily available and safe viewing access. The ideal work of art would also not block the view of the Castle Rock above from the vantage point of the road and be able to withstand car pollution while maintaining graffiti/vandalism-proof qualities.

The site can be modified to provide anchors or a concrete pad(s), as well as electrical at the expense of the project budget. The retaining wall adjacent to the site is owned by the railroad property and may not be modified.  Please reference the included site images. 

PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS
The proposed artwork must be an original work.

The proposed artwork should be distinctive in design, color and subject matter and appropriate for public viewing of all ages. The piece will ideally be colorful to contrast the existing tan/concrete surrounding installation site.

Enjoyed day or night. Proposals and proposal budgets should include lighting elements.

The proposed artwork should be scaled for maximum viewability and be easily experienced from vehicle passerby in cars traveling both south and north along Wilcox Street. 

The scale of the artwork should also relate well to surrounding architectural elements and be attractive from a distance, as well as up close.

The artwork may at some point be required to be relocated to a new location due to future regional transportation needs; ideal works would be sturdy and have the potential for relocation. 

The artwork acquired for this site must be durable, low-maintenance, pose no hazard to the public (especially drivers), require minimal conservation (optimally maintenance-free for up to 15 years), meet safety standards and adhere to building codes and other state regulations. 

Given the expected attention that this project will attract, the artist agrees to participate in any press/media-related opportunities as they arise, including, but not limited to, print, radio/televised interviews, and discussions/presentations, as deemed appropriate by the Public Art Commission. 

Additional Considerations: the artist/artist team will not be responsible for the general maintenance of the sculpture, but agrees to be available after the completion of services for consultation if the need arises.

Potential adverse site conditions include: wind, sun, snow, extreme heat, freezing temperatures, potential for vandalism and graffiti, car pollution, etc. The selected artist will be required to provide a statement of recommended maintenance.

BUDGET
The budget for this commission, including all elements and the artwork’s foundation and lighting, is $200,000. Once a finalist is selected and under contract, 10% of the project budget will be paid to the artist for their design. The project will commence the following year (or as soon as possible) once funds are secured and the project and its budget is approved by Town Council. The remainder of the project payments will be completed in phases determined in agreement by the artist and the Town. 

An itemized breakout of costs is required. Artists submitting proposals should include ALL expenses for the proposed art piece/s, including design fees, supplies and materials, the cost of transportation, per diem expenses, project documentation, insurance, sub-ground-level anchoring (footing), foundational requirements, excavation, engineering review and approval fees, labor and equipment, all costs of installation, any above-ground base, electrical connections for lighting and plaques/signage to identify the artworks. 

Please note that the project budget must include travel expenses for site visits.

No design fees will be paid for preliminary sketches or designs submitted with the proposal. 
 

TIMELINE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
January 2024  - Announcement and distribution of RFP 
February 25, 2024 - Deadline for submissions to RFP at midnight
March 2024 - Semi-finalist selection
April 14, 2024 - Semi-finalist interviews and finalist selection
2024 - Fundraising and approval phase
2025 - Project commencement 

QUESTIONS
Maia Yates | Administrative Supervisor
Town of Castle Rock | Parks and Recreation Department
1375 W. Plum Creek Parkway | Castle Rock, CO 80109
myates@CRgov.com
 

Application Requirements

All proposal materials must be submitted electronically by midnight on February 25, 2024. Artists may submit multiple proposals (up to three), but each proposal should be submitted independently to be eligible for consideration.

Submit the following items in PDF format via email to Maia Yates, myates@CRgov.com in (1) single document. Please remember that the maximum file size to this email address is 25MB, although outbound limitations by the sender may apply.

- Statement of Interest (250 words or less)
- Resume  (outline your accomplishments as an artist and examples of previous work)
- Budget (include labor and detailed outline of materials)
- Detailed sketch/design of proposed artwork

Hard copy submittals will not be accepted. Each artwork must be submitted as its own proposal.

Eligibility Criteria

The request for proposal is open to all artists/artist teams with legal status to work in the United States without preference to racial/ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or disability.

Any group or individual awarded the project will be required to have general liability insurance throughout the project and must submit a current certification of insurance at the time of signing a project contract to ensure that coverage limits are appropriate to the scope of the work being completed.