REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Town of Parker 

PARKER ARTS, CULTURE AND EVENTS CENTER GARAGE MURALS

PROJECT SUMMARY

Qualifications are requested from Colorado-based mural artists or mural teams interested in creating site-specific murals for the new prominent parking garage at the Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center (PACE) underway in downtown Parker. The project is open to Colorado artists and/or artist teams only.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: May 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm MST

TOTAL ART BUDGET: Up to $350,000 all inclusive

Mural Dimensions: 4 areas totaling 8,293 square feet (see attached plan)

PUBLIC ART IN PARKER

The Town of Parker has elevated the importance of public art in the community through the development and adoption of a Public Arts Master Plan. The Plan provides a comprehensive framework to guide the Town of Parker with a plan for the siting and staging of art in any media in the public domain. The PACE Center garage is one of the first priority projects for the community.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Town of Parker has begun the construction of a four-story, free parking garage in downtown Parker, adjacent to the Parker Arts, Culture, and Events (PACE) Center. The Town is redeveloping a surface lot for this project, and the parking garage will serve the entire downtown area. The 48-foot-tall garage will replace the existing 255 parking spaces at the PACE Center with 295 standard-sized parking stalls, nine of which are to be accessible and two to be van accessible. Additionally, there will be 10 bicycle spaces provided. Of the 295 spaces, 4 will include electric vehicle chargers, and an additional nine spots will be electric vehicle charger-ready.

PUBLIC ART FOR THE PACE PARKING GARAGE

This new parking garage will be at the east end of Mainstreet in downtown Parker, adjacent to the PACE Center and Town Hall and across the street from the Parker public library. This is a very prominent location in the Town of Parker, so a significant budget has been allotted to commission murals that will be a signature artwork for the town. There are four separate areas for consideration on the east and west facades of the garage building. Please see the attached diagram for sizes and locations of the mural areas.

PROJECT CRITERIA

The selection panel for this project is composed of members of the project team, the public art commission, town staff, business owners, and members of the neighboring communities. There are no restrictions regarding specific themes, subject matter, style, or genre for this project,* but the panel has indicated an interest in colorful, lively, tasteful, and unique community-connected murals. They will be selecting artists for proposals based on overall artistic excellence and the artist’s experience with design and execution of murals of this size and scope. Artists may team together to create applications for this opportunity, or they can apply solo.

*This mural is likely to be dedicated in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the state of Colorado (the Centennial State) and the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Within Colorado, this event is called the Sesquisemiquincentennial. It culminates on July 4, 2026, with events continuing through the end of 2026. This public piece will provide a lasting perspective on this significant moment in time.

ELIGIBILITY

The artists or artist teams must demonstrate that they have the skills and experience necessary to successfully complete larger outdoor mural installations. Artists who do not possess this experience may team with others who do, in order to be considered for this opportunity. 

This project is open to Colorado-based artists only (artists who live and work in Colorado at least half of the year).

PROJECT BUDGET & BUDGET REQUIREMENTS

The total project budget for the PACE Center Parking Garage Murals shall not exceed $350,000. There is a possibility that the art selection panel may separate this budget between one or more artists, though they hope to commission one artist for the entire project to create a cohesive whole.

The budget shall be inclusive of all costs associated with the public art project including, but not limited to artist(s) design fee, project managers and assistants, insurance, materials, transportation, equipment rentals, installation, site modifications, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the project.

As part of their budget, artists will be expected to procure and utilize their own equipment (i.e. cranes, lifts, PPE, supplies, etc.), prime mural areas as needed and provide a final UV/Graffiti Coating after the mural is completed.

 INSURANCE

The selected artist(s) will be required to meet the Town’s minimum insurance requirements, plus other liability insurance that may be required for this unique scope of work. Insurance requirements will be sent to all selected semi-finalists in advance of the proposal phase.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

The qualification proposal must include the following to be considered: 
 

Digital Images. Up to eight (8) digital images of relevant, previously completed artworks. Please give preference to work that is in the public realm and of the scale and type (including murals with “interrupted surfaces” like ours) that is desired in this RFQ. Please provide images in the highest resolution possible, and do not include more than one project per image (insets showing detail are ok).
Résumé or Bio: A current résumé that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist or team. If your resume is longer than two pages, proposals are required to include an Executive Summary. If applying as a team, please submit a resume for each artist, with the lead artist first and an Executive Summary not to exceed two pages. Please include links to artist’s websites if applicable.Statement of Interest: A statement of interest that is 250 words or less, briefly outlining the artist’s interest in this specific opportunity. Please include a brief account of the artist’s experience working on projects of this scope and complexity, and why you are interested in this project.
Responses to Questions: Please also include answers to the following questions in your application. 

●      In what state do you reside?

●      Do you or your team members have experience completing projects of this size, scope, and complexity? Please explain. 

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The Art Selection Committee will only review completed submittals. A short list of semi­finalists may be invited to interview, and/or prepare and present a design proposal. Before finalist selection, the Town of Parker may require a public input period because of the prominence of this project.

A finalist or finalists will be selected from the semi­finalists’ proposals and public input assessment. Finalist(s) will be recommended to the Public Art Commission and the Town Council for final approval. Design proposals shall include images and descriptions of the proposed art project, a timeline for installation/completion, and a proposed budget. A site orientation can be arranged if semi-finalists desire.

The tentative schedule is as follows (subject to change):

April 15, 2025                                   Call for Entry Open

May 12, 2025 at 5:00 pm MST         Deadline for Qualification Applications

Week of May 19, 2025                     Application Review/Semi-Finalists Selected

To Be Announced                             Online Q&A/virtual Site Visit for Semi-Finalists

Week of June 23rd, 2025                 Design Proposals Presented

July 2025                                          Public Comment Period/Finalist Selection

August 2025                                      Approvals: PAC & Town Council

August/Sept. 2025                            Execute Artist Contracts

Fall 2025 or Spring 2026                  Expected Installation

Application Requirements

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

The qualification proposal must include the following to be considered: 

• Digital Images. Up to eight (8) digital images of relevant, previously completed artworks. Please give preference to work that is in the public realm and of the scale and type (including murals with “interrupted surfaces” like ours) that is desired in this RFQ.
• Résumé or Bio: A current résumé that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist. If your resume is longer than two pages, proposals are required to include an Executive Summary. If applying as a team, please submit a resume for each artist, with the lead artist first and an Executive Summary not to exceed two pages. Please include links to artist’s websites if applicable.
• Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 250 words or less briefly outlining the artist’s interest in this specific opportunity. Please include a brief account of the artist’s experience working on projects of this scope and complexity.
• Responses to Questions: Please also include answers to the following questions in your application.
  •       In what state do you reside?
  •       Do you or your team members have experience completing projects of this size, scope, and complexity? Please explain. 

Eligibility Criteria

The artists or artist teams must demonstrate that they have the skills and experience necessary to successfully complete larger outdoor mural installations. Artists who do not possess this experience may team with others who do, in order to be considered for this opportunity. 

This project is open to Colorado-based artists only (artists who live and work in Colorado at least half of the year).