REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project
Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center – Exterior Artwork
Budget: Approximately USD $118,000.00
Eligibility: Artists or Artist Teams residing in the United States
DEADLINE: Friday, April 5, 2024, 11:59 P.M. MST
En español

Introduction

The City of Denver's Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork for the exterior of the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, located at 4890 Argonne Way in Denver, CO. The goal of the public art commission is to create a landmark or icon for the neighborhood that celebrates the diversity and intergenerational nature of the recreation center’s ecosystem. An 11-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 artwork on the exterior of the building, adjacent to a major throughfare of the neighborhood which connects schools, a grocery store, a park and a library.

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting on March 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. for interested applicants. The meeting will cover project background and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Attendees will also receive 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.

Land Acknowledgement

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.

Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center

Green Valley Ranch is a local level recreation center in northeast Denver used by many community members, residents and students of nearby schools. It serves all generations of residents (from Active Adults to K-8 school kids), and is a hub for community members to gather and recreate. Its facility features include:

·     Mid-size multipurpose room for Active Adult programing

·     Large multipurpose community room used often for facility rentals

·     Weight room, cardio room, fitness and dance room

·     Gymnasium – Shared with Omar D. Blair School (K-8) during the day

·     My Denver/My Denver Prime – A free youth and adult membership access and programs

Neighborhood Demographics

Green Valley Ranch has a very diverse population. The population is 44% Latino, 26% African American/Black, 20% White, 6% Asian, 0.2% Native American, and 2.8% Other. Additionally, 27% of the community is foreign-born; a third of the community speaks Spanish; and a third of the population is under 18.

Goals, Site, Media & Materials

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the diverse communities that use Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center.

Goals:

·     Artwork should explore the idea of creating a landmark or “icon” for the neighborhood of Green Valley Ranch. The selection panel is interested in commissioning an artwork that has a strong visual impact as seen by pedestrians and car users passing by.

·     Artists are encouraged to consider the diversity and intergenerational nature of the communities that use the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center. The demographic makeup of the neighborhood, as well as the intergenerational nature of the groups that utilize the recreation center, makes the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center a unique and important hub for the community. The selection panel is interested in the artwork as a way to reflect this uniqueness.

·     The panel is also interested in inviting artists who have direct relationships with Green Valley Ranch, and/or experience creating artworks that explore themes of intergenerationality, diversity and belonging.

Artwork Site

Finalists will be asked to create an exterior public artwork on the south end of the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center, near the intersection of Argonne Way and Andes Court. The location is adjacent to a pedestrian and car thoroughfare that connects a park, library, schools and grocery store.

Media & Materials:
The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials suitable for outdoor display. Durability and ease of maintenance are important at this location.

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 being 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 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved timeframe.

Budget

The budget for this commission is $118,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. 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 consultation, 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, a contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. For all work done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline

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

Friday, April 5, 2024 11:59 P.M. MST                 Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

May 2024                                                           Finalist Selection

July 2024                                                            Artist Selection and 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 Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center selection panel is comprised of 11 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 selection panel, Denver Public Art staff and Denver Parks and Recreation staff. 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.

Application Requirements

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 Public Art 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, and Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) when finalizing their designs for installation.

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—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) 515-5768 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 statement (2,000 character maximum) outlining the following:

·     Why the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center exterior public art project is of special interest to you.

·     Your interest in or relationship to themes of diversity, intergenerationality, and “landmark” or iconic public artworks.

·     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 that will be part of the CaFÉ™ application.

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

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Apply

This project is open to artists residing in the United States. 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.

Can a team apply?
Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé for the team, with no more than one page per team member.

Diversity and Inclusiveness
Denver Executive Order No. 101 establishes strategies between the City and private industry to use diversity and inclusiveness to promote economic development in the City and County of Denver and to encourage more businesses to compete for City contracts and procurements. The Executive Order requires, among other things, the collection of certain information regarding the practices of the City’s contractors and consultants toward diversity and inclusiveness and encourages/requires City agencies to include diversity and inclusiveness policies in selection criteria in solicitations for City services or goods when legally permitted. Diversity and Inclusiveness means inviting values, perspectives and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, and integrating diversity into hiring and retention policies, training opportunities and business development methods to provide an equal opportunity for each person to participate, contribute and succeed within the organization’s workplace. “Diversity” encompasses a wide variety of human differences, including differences such as race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical disabilities, appearance, and historically underutilized and disadvantaged persons, as well as social identities such as religion, marital status, socio-economic status, lifestyle, education, parental status, geographic background, language ability and veteran status.

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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