REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project: Denver Botanic Gardens  

Budget: Approximately $40,000.00 USD

Eligibility: Artists or Artist Teams residing in the United States

DEADLINE: Monday, January 6, 2024, 11:59 P.M. MST

Introduction

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create public artworks for the Robert “Bob” A. Ming Bridge (Ming Bridge) inside the Denver Botanic Gardens, located at 1085 York Street, in Denver.. The goal of the project is to commission artwork that enhances the bridge, an indoor transitional space that connects the Boettcher Memorial Center and the Freyer – Newman Center. In particular, the artwork should creatively celebrate the Gardens and its work, as well as invite and encourage visitors to enter the space and cross the bridge into the Freyer – Newman Center.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is $40,000.00 USD.

A selection panel of community representatives, arts and culture 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 panel is seeking artists who work in mediums suitable for indoor walls and interior spaces (drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, multimedia, reliefs, etc.) for this project.

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. 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 receive 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.

About Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens’ mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and entertainment to everyone. To fulfill its mission, Denver Botanic Gardens has embraced four core values: Diversity, Relevance, Sustainability, and Transformation. Not only do these core concepts relate to the natural environment and the care of living things within it; but these four ideas also apply to people and relationships. The Gardens strives to preserve diversity of plant life, as well as engage diverse audiences. Denver Botanic Gardens must speak relevantly to local, regional, and national communities. In all things, the Gardens strives to act as a catalyst for transformation of individuals and the environment.

The Gardens works to conserve plants of the Rocky Mountain West and as a leader in low-water horticulture practices educates the public about gardening in our semi-arid region. Signature collections include Colorado native plants, steppe, tropicals, and alpine. Important natural history collections in two herbaria document and preserve plants and fungi for research. Art, rare books, and archives complement these holdings.

About the Freyer – Newman Center

The Freyer – Newman Center is a physical manifestation of the Gardens’ celebration of the fusion of science and art. It is rare that an institution contains breadth and depth in a variety of specialties related to human interaction with the natural world. At the Gardens, one can find preserved plant and fungi specimens, documented uses of plants, and historic botanical illustration. The Gardens’ holdings are unique in that horticulture, plant conservation and preservation, mycology and art unite to document human relationships with these elements and the larger environment.

The Center houses the Helen Fowler Library, Sturm Family Auditorium, art galleries, herbaria, classrooms, the School of Botanical Art & Illustration, and research labs.

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 visitors to Denver Botanic Gardens. While the Gardens provides ample programming opportunities and spaces for children, the Freyer – Newman Center serves multi-generational groups and families exploring art and science together.

Goals:

• Artists are encouraged to use biophilic design strategies that support overall wellbeing through color, pattern and subject matter. Biophilic design is the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities. Click here for a helpful resource guide on biophilic design principles.
• The artwork(s) should creatively celebrate the Gardens (the panel encourages art that is not directly representational).
• The panel is interested in artwork that evokes connectedness and belonging and provides a sense of hope and optimism.
• The artwork should be inviting, encouraging people to cross the bridge into the Freyer – Newman Center.

Artwork Site

The preferred location of the artwork is the Ming Bridge. The walls on either side of the bridge are currently blank, look somewhat institutional and offer a natural canvas for an artistic intervention. Artwork in this space should enhance the bridge and provide an aesthetic that complements the Gardens’ spaces and buildings. There is additional wall space on the Boettcher Memorial Center side of the bridge that could also be activated with art, depending on design. Artwork on these walls could serve as an invitation to visitors to cross the bridge into the Freyer – Newman Center.

Media & Materials:

The panel is looking for artists who work in mediums suitable for indoor walls and interior spaces (drawing, painting, printmaking, multimedia, reliefs, etc.) for this project. The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials suitable for indoor display.

Maintenance, Durability & Accessibility

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. 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 $40,000.00 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 the Denver Botanic Gardens renovation project. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the art 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, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other associated 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)

January 6, 2024, 11:59 P.M. MST              Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)  

February 2025                                             Finalist Selection  

March 2025                                                 Artist Selection and Notification 

Artists must be available to attend two meetings, a community meeting with representatives from the selection panel and a technical meeting with representatives from the Denver Public Art Program and Denver Botanic Gardens. These two meetings will take place between February 4, 2025 and February 21, 2025. The finalist presentation meeting will take place during the week of March 24, 2025 and all artists must be available to present their concept proposals during this week.

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 Denver Botanic Gardens selection panel is comprised of 10 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 for the commissions. 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 Botanic Gardens staff.
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.

Please direct all questions about the project to:

Megan Deffner, Public Art Program Administrator, Megan.Deffner@denvergov.org, (720) 365-9326.

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 to eight 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 be invited to 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. The selected artist or artist team will work with the Denver Public Art Program staff and Denver Botanic Gardens staff 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 to eight 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 characters maximum) outlining the following:

• Why the Denver Botanic Gardens public art project is of particular interest to you.
• Your design approach and experience working on public art projects.
• 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 careers and applicants that practice 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.

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

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, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART or disability-related accommodations 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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