Public Art Commission Background and Overall Goals

Golden’s public art collection began in the 1990’s with many generous donations of traditional bronze sculpture to the City. At the time, there was no group overseeing that donation process, and there were no over-arching goals or criteria to guide the program. These initial sculptures tended to reflect the early history of Golden’s foundations and heritage. Since the establishment of the PAC in 2013, the collection has grown and become more diverse. Furthermore, it has been integrated throughout the larger Golden community. It is beginning to tell a new, more contemporary story about Golden, its community and its bright future. As the City continues to grow and develop, the Program will continue to evolve along with it, communicating its collective history and shared vision for the future. 

The PAC commissioned an Audit and Analysis of the collection in 2021 with a focus on summarizing the collection’s strengths and weaknesses, themes, and gaps. The report provided with PAC with some key observations:

• Golden is a community that values public art and sites artwork in prominent locations for residents and visitors to the community, mostly in the downtown area.

• Much of the collection is represented by traditional bronze, figural artwork depicting historic or allegorical figures and western animals.

• The community and visitors truly enjoy the collection and engage with it regularly.

• The collection is not very diverse, whether in location, siting, or materials, nor artist genders, genders depicted or styles. However, this is improving with the addition of murals and more contemporary pieces. 

In late 2022, the City of Golden approved a Public Art Framework Plan that included an overall goal to create a collection of permanent and temporary artwork that:

• Features work of the highest level of artistic excellence.

• Features work by a broad and diverse group of artists, working in a variety of methods and media.

• Explores and reflects a diversity of themes, subjects and traditions; and

• Enriches public spaces in all parts of our City and is accessible and available to everyone.

Based upon the audit and Framework Plan, the PAC has identified a few general themes that can be enhanced with additions to the City’s public art collection. Some of these themes include:

·  Recognition of the contributions of local indigenous peoples

·  Recognition of the contributions of Golden’s pioneer women

·  Recognition of our geographic and geologic setting

·  Recognition of the benefits of playfulness and whimsey

·  Recognition of nature and our natural setting

Context and Details Regarding the Project

The project location is a larger neighborhood park in North Golden generally located on the southerly side of 5th Street just east of Rubey Drive. The parkland was dedicated to the City with the Canyon Point development and was named for the Loveland Mine whose shafts run deep under the tract, rendering the site unsuitable for home construction. The Mine is associated with a major mining disaster that occurred in 1889 when the abandoned Loveland Mine flooded into the nearby White Ash Mine trapping and killing ten miners (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Ash_Mine_disaster.)

The park is a combination of native open space areas and manicured walking and activity areas used extensively by the immediate neighborhood; it has a large area of regional native plants which support native pollinators and birds. In addition, the park is located near an older (post World War II) neighborhood and newer housing built in the late 1990’s as well as an elementary school. The trail within the park and pedestrian bridge over SH 58 to the south are part of a regional trail system, resulting in a high volume of bicycle traffic on the paved trails.  There is also a large stormwater detention facility in the southern portion of the park and extensive views to the south. Please see the attached map for the specific location.

The PAC has identified the location based on its unique role in the neighborhood and the opportunity to broaden the locations and effect of the public art collection. The PAC’s goals for the installation include a celebration of the neighborhood and community in support of the PAC’s goals for the City’s Public Art collection. As with many locations, this park location can be expected to be a “high touch” environment where park patrons will likely interact physically with the installation, unless discouraged by the design.

 The artwork should be a welcoming enhancement to the visual appearance of the site and should appeal to a broad range of people and be uplifting and stimulating to the spirit, intellect and physical senses. Artistic creativity and interpretation that speaks to Golden’s heritage and natural setting is encouraged. The art should be in harmony and complimentary to the surrounding area. While the PAC has not identified a specific theme for this installation, artists are asked to consider the themes listed above in developing their proposals. Materials should be durable and reflect the anticipated level of interaction between the public and the installation. Artists must also be sensitive that the installation does not conflict with existing or potential uses of the neighborhood park. The PAC will reserve the right to require the relocation or alteration of the proposed installation design, based on anticipated conflicts or other concerns.

Application Requirements

Application Requirements 

·       Submit at least three images or drawings of the proposed artwork with all pertinent information including artist name, medium, and artwork title.

·       Your application should have at least three images of past work.

·       A letter of interest describing why you are interested in the project must be included in your application. If you submitting as part of a team one collective letter of interest is sufficient.

·       Submit a current artist resume, placing emphasis on public art projects or other related art experiences, with a budget amount for all projects. If you are part of a project team submit one resume and indicate each team member’s role with a specific project.

·       Include a timeline for art development and installation.

·       Create an estimated budget for the project fabrication, installation and artist’s fee.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The call is open to all artists and artist teams 18 years and older. Experience creating public art is preferred. The selection panel will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or physical challenges. Excluded from participation are Artist Selection Committee members and their families.

                        Artwork will be selected on the basis of creativity, artistic merit, technical proficiency, and relationship to the aforementioned theme and site. Long-term maintenance, durability, and impact on park design and operations concerns will be major selection criteria. The final location must be approved by both the PAC and the City Parks and Recreation Board.