Project Number: 2024.870

Open to: Professional Artists, based in Colorado

Budget: $80,000

Amount inclusive of all costs associated with design and installation of this mural. This includes but is not limited to, artist fees, meetings, site visits, site survey, site prep, design, community engagement, materials, material tests, fabrication, site access (scaffolding, lift, etc.), insurance conforming to Adams County requirements, travel, transportation and expenses, maintenance plan; consultants’, and subcontractors' fees, and all other costs associated with this project. Mural sealant is not included in artist’s scope and will be subcontracted by Adams County once the mural is complete.

 *Finalists (3-4) will be awarded a $750 honorarium to complete a project-specific proposal.

Project Vision

Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts seeks an artist or artist team to create an original mural at 58th Avenue between Marion Street and Franklin Street. This gateway mural welcomes people as they enter Adams Country from North Denver.

Located in an urban/industrial area, the mural site is a nexus of transit that overlooks Riverside Cemetery, the National Western Complex (home of the National Western Stock Show), and the crisscrossing tracks of The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF), RTD, and The Union Pacific Railroad.

Artists are invited to draw inspiration from the project site and the rich tradition of street art painted on trains and boxcars. Text, stencils, stickers, and paste-up may be integrated into the mural design. Artists should include examples of previously created street art and graffiti-inspired art in their response to this call-for-entry.

Site Information

This highly visible mural will be installed on a retaining wall along the North side of 58th Avenue between Marion Street and Franklin Street. The wall is made of freshly poured concrete. The mural wall is approximately 3,664 square feet. It spans 308 feet wide and ranges in height from 3 feet to 28 feet tall. The artist will need to secure and operate proper equipment for installation. Click here for photos and elevations.

Artist’s Scope

The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for design, community engagement, installation, documentation, and the creation of a maintenance guide to inform future care and maintenance of the artwork. Artists are encouraged to work with subcontractors as needed to execute the scope of work described in this Call-For-Entry. The selected artist or artist team is responsible for the execution of this scope of work, including coordination with Adams County staff and relevant subcontractors. 

Mural Design

Mural design includes both visual design and a written / visual design narrative that explains the artists’ process and the research informing the piece. Artists are encouraged to explore new points of inspiration gained through site visits and/or community engagement connected to the history, present, and future of the area. The selected artist or artist team will work collaboratively with Adams County Cultural Arts to reach final design.

Community Engagement

Public Art projects must include a community engagement component. We ask artists to thoughtfully engage the public in their art process, but that can look like many things. Engagement can happen before, during, or after mural installation, may be open to the general public or designed for a specific community, and may be executed in a variety of ways. The selected artist(s) will drive the vision and plan for community engagement but will work collaboratively with Adams County Cultural Arts to develop a community engagement plan.

Mural Installation

Artists will be responsible for the coordination and execution of all aspects of site prep and mural installation. This includes equipment rentals, site access and safety, and material storage. Mural sealant will be executed by Adams County and is not part of the project scope or budget.

Maintenance Guide

The selected artist will create a maintenance guide listing all material and color specs and contact information for any fabricators and subcontractors used to execute this project.

Project Timeline*

• December 8, 2024: Call-For-Entry application deadline
• January 3, 2025: Finalists notified
• January 9, 2025: Virtual info session for finalists, 5:30 pm
• January 27, 2025: Project proposals due
• January 31, 2025: Finalists meet with Cultural Arts for individual proposal feedback
• February 11 & 12: Finalist interviews with artist selection panel
• February 14, 2025 : Project awarded, contracting & project execution begins
• June 14, 2025: Deadline for mural completion

*subject to change

Application Requirements

Call-for-Entry Submission Requirements

All professional artists responding to the call-for-entry must submit complete answers in the CaFÉ application. Responses will be evaluated based on the selection criteria below. Respondents should present the required information clearly and concisely.

• 5 – 10 Work Samples (photos or videos) highlighting completed projects of similar scope connected to the project vision listed above.
  • Include the following for each image:
    • Artist and any design or painting collaborators (If applying as artist team indicate pieces created together and as individuals)
    • Year of creation
    • Location
    • Dimensions
    • Materials
    • Budget
• Statement of interest
  • A brief narrative describing your interest in the project and you/your art practice’s connection to the project vision and location. No more than 2,000 characters.
• Resume highlighting past projects of similar scope. Artist teams should combine resumes into one PDF

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Selection Panel and Award Process

The Artist Selection Panel for the 58th Avenue Gateway Mural is made up of members of the Adams County Arts & Culture Commission, volunteer residents appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts staff, and community members.

Selection Panel and Award Process

The Artist Selection Panel for the 58th Avenue Gateway Mural is made up of members of the Adams County Arts & Culture Commission, volunteer residents appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts staff, and community members.

Evaluation Criteria

• Work Samples
  • Quality of past work; technical and aesthetic.
  • Fit of portfolio with street art and graffiti-inspired project vision.
• Statement of Interest
  • The connection between the project and the artist's creative practice.
  • Help the artist selection panel understand why you are interested in this project specifically. Highlight how the project site, mural theme, or other elements of the project vision connect to your art practice.
• Resume highlighting past projects of similar scope
  • Relevant experience and demonstrated ability to successfully design, fabricate, administer public art murals of similar scope.

Finalists

Finalists (3-4) selected using the below evaluation criteria will be awarded a $750 honorarium to create a detailed project proposal and interview with the Artist Selection Panel. In-person interviews are strongly preferred. Finalists will attend a virtual info session with Cultural Arts staff to learn more about the project on January 9th, 2025.

Finalist Project Specific Proposals will include:

• Initial Mural Design Concepts (3)
  • The initial concepts presented during the selection process will inform the award of the project, and may or may not be selected as the direction of the design for the final artwork.
• Initial Community Engagement Concepts (2)
• Detailed Execution Plan including approach to:
  • Design
  • Community engagement
  • Materials, site access, and installation
  • Budget & timeline
• Proof of your ability to obtain insurance meeting Adams County Standards
• Review of County’s Artist Agreement

 Finalists will be given the opportunity to revise their proposal based on Cultural Arts feedback prior to interviewing with the Artist Selection Panel.