Call Description

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art for Golden Police and Municipal Building Phase I

Interior/Exterior 3D Projects

Golden, Colorado

Qualifications are sought from qualified artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific, three-dimensional public artwork for indoor and outdoor sites at the new Golden Police & Municipal Building in Golden, Colorado. This project is open to Colorado artists and regional artists who reside in the neighboring states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. MST
SUBMITTALS ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY: www.callforentry.org
TOTAL ART BUDGET: up to $400,000 USD divided between interior and exterior sites

PROJECT SUMMARY
The City of Golden and the Golden Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) seek to commission unique, site-specific artwork for its new Municipal and Police Building. A total of $400,000 USD is available in Phase I for indoor and outdoor art sites at the property. (Download diagram for more details.) These projects are open to all qualified artists in Colorado and the neighboring states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Depending on the selection committee’s choice, preference may be given to artists who reside within 300 miles of the Denver Metro Area due to a desire to limit the carbon footprint for the public art project. Emerging artists and artists of historically margninalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

ABOUT GOLDEN, COLORADO
Today, Golden is a scenic, flourishing, former gold rush town in Colorado, resting between two mesas at the base of the Rocky Mountain foothills. The area was once the ancestral homelands of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. The city was founded in 1859 and quickly grew as an outpost and supply town for agriculture, industry, and miners heading into the western Rockies. Coors Brewery began in Golden and has maintained a steady presence in the Clear Creek Valley since the 1870s. Today, the city is a small but active center known for its arts, culture, history, science and education. It is home to the Colorado School of Mines, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) the Golden History Museum and Park, the Foothills Arts Center, Colorado Railroad Museum, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Boettcher Mansion, and the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. Outdoor recreation is also a highly sought activity in Golden.The city center is situated right on the banks of Clear Creek, and from this area, a network of recreational paths runs along the water and up into the foothills. Golden attracts visitors and residents who love kayaking, rafting and tubing, as well as biking, hiking, rock climbing and winter activities such as skiing & snowboarding.

PUBLIC ART IN GOLDEN, COLORADO
Golden’s public art collection began to grow in the 1990s with generous donations of bronze sculpture to the City. These initial sculptures tended to reflect the early history of Golden’s foundations and heritage. The City’s Art in Public Places Program (AIPP Program) was established in 2013 to help Golden continue to build and maintain its collection of city-owned artwork. The Golden Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) is the group appointed to guide the program. Since that time, the collection has grown more diverse and 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 AIPP Program will continue to evolve along with it, communicating its collective history and shared vision for the future.

ABOUT THE GOLDEN Police & Municipal Building
The new Golden Police & Municipal Building is scheduled to break ground in the third quarter of 2025. This will be the first PHASE I project initiated by The Heart of Golden plan completed in 2022. The project will make the Clear Creek Corridor more usable and desirable for residents while providing needed, updated, and consolidated space for Police and City services. Phase I of the Heart of Golden will locate the new Police and Municipal Building on a lot once owned by Molson Coors along the Creek Corridor, east of Washington Avenue. This project is an important and rare opportunity for Golden to consolidate services, enhance the community and amenities in the center of Golden, improve Police and City services, and ensure that the Heart of Golden reflects the values and wishes of its residents.

The new building will be an inviting and comfortable space for the Golden community and City staff who work there. It will provide tangible benefits for the community, such as community meeting spaces adjacent to the lobby and spaces to conduct business with the City. It will be a welcoming building with active streets and public spaces, outdoor event plazas, and landscaped areas for the community to gather. The interior and exterior designs will catalyze development on adjacent parcels, integrate with the Clear Creek natural ecosystem, and be designed to achieve Net-Zero Energy standards and LEED Platinum certification. The building will be constructed primarily of brick and light-colored timber and feature terraced natural stone and landscaped areas along the south and western edges of the property. The design for the building was informed by the three ecosystems of Golden: Upland Peaks, Urban Midlands, and Prairie Lowlands.

PHASE I: SITE-SPECIFIC ARTWORK FOR THE GOLDEN Police & Municipal Building
During this first phase of public art, the Art Selection Committee for the Golden Police & Municipal Building Project will commission site-specific, original public artwork for both the interior and exterior areas of the new building. At this time, the group seeks applications from artists with experience creating three-dimensional artwork suitable for the interior lobby and the terraced landscape area and entry plaza areas at the exterior. During a later Phase II, artists will be solicited for two-dimensional works (painting, bas-relief, fiber, etc.) for the interior.

Interior 3D Suspended Artwork: The committee seeks a suspended work of art for the two-story-high entrance lobby. The final artwork should be relatively light (under 50 pounds per square foot), and the engineering will be coordinated with the existing ceiling design. No specific materials or methods are required, but because the building features exposed wood beams, the artwork should complement the architecture, stand out visually, and bring color and texture into the space. The piece will be visible from outside, so a visual connection to the exterior artwork is possible. Up to $200,000 USD is available for this site.

Exterior 3D Sculpture Element(s): The committee seeks an artist to collaborate with project architects and landscape architects to design artwork that creates a welcoming, interactive, and natural environment outside the building. The area includes a grade change leading down to Clear Creek; artwork may be incorporated into these terraces, provide seating or earth retention, and serve multiple functions. Areas for exterior artwork may also include east and west plaza/entry areas. The piece(s) should go beyond a "solitary moment" and instead offer multiple opportunities for exploration and discovery. Up to $200,000 USD is available for this site.

Regardless of the site, the commissioned artwork should add visual interest, meaning, and a sense of discovery for people visiting the adjacent park, gathering for events, or entering the building. The committee encourages unique artistic perspectives. The only requirements are that the artwork be inclusive, appropriate for all ages, calming, contextual, and encourage community engagement.

In your application, you will be asked to identify which location you are most interested in, or if you wish to be considered for both. Phase I commissions may be awarded to one or more artists/teams.

PUBLIC ART BUDGET 
The total budget for all artwork for Phase I is up to $400,000 USD. This amount includes all costs related to the artwork: artist design fees, structural engineering (if needed), insurance, materials, transportation, installation, equipment, lane closures, site modifications, travel, per diem expenses, project documentation, and contingency.

ARTIST CRITERIA

This project is open to Colorado artists and regional artists who reside in the neighboring states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Emerging artists and artists of historically margninalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you lack experience with a project of this scale, please mention this in your Artist Statement; if selected, assistance can be provided.

The City of Golden Arts and Culture Commission complies with all federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws.

MAINTENANCE AND DURABILITY
Applicants must consider long-term preservation and maintenance. Artworks will be exposed to weather, UV, and possible vandalism. The site will be used by families and children, so pieces must be durable, low-maintenance, and safe. Semi-finalists may be asked to consult with a conservator. Engineering approval from a licensed Colorado engineer may be required.

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The Art Selection Committee will review complete applications that adhere to the Artist Criteria listed above. A shortlist of semi-finalists will be invited to present a design proposal. A site visit/orientation will be offered to selected semi-finalists. Finalist(s) will be selected based on their proposal/presentation and recommended to the Cultural Commission, then to City Council for approval.

Semi-finalists who present proposals will receive an honorarium of $750 per artist and/or artist team. Proposals may be presented online.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

●      June 20, 2025: Call for Entry Opens

●      Deadline for Applications: July 20 at 8:00 p.m. MST

●      Week of July 28, 2025: Committee Reviews Applications / Semi-Finalists Selected

●      August 2025: Optional Site Visit and Semi-Finalist Proposals

●      August 2025: Recommendations Presented to Golden Arts and Culture Commission

●      September 2025: Artist Contracts Executed

●      2027 TBD: Artwork Installation

APPLICATION PROCESS
Apply through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org) by the deadline. No email or hard copy submissions. No application fee.

Required Application Materials:

1. Digital Images: 8-10 images of previous work. Video (limited to 20 seconds) is optional but digital stills are required and preferred. See www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml for guidelines.
2. Résumé: Current résumé (only first two pages are required reading). Submit a résumé for each team member, listing lead artist first.
3. Statement of Interest: limit of 250 words. Address your interest in this opportunity and relevant experience. Also, if you consider yourself an emerging artist, please describe your experience level here.
4. Responses to Questions:
   1. Are you an artist residing in Colorado or a neighboring state to Colorado?
   2. For which location(s) are you applying: Interior Suspended Art, Exterior 3D Sculptural Elements, Both Locations?

ABOUT THE GOLDEN PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
Golden values art as a key part of its community life. Since 2013, its Public Art Program has worked to acquire artwork for public spaces, guided by the Golden Arts and Culture Commission, in accordance with the Public Art Framework Plan and the Public Art Handbook.

LEGAL COMMENTS
The ACC reserves the right to reject or modify any proposal or process. Submission does not obligate the City to select or contract with an applicant. Applicants may not contact City Council, ACC members, or media regarding this RFQ. Violations will result in disqualification.

QUESTIONS
Email Kendall Peterson, Public Art Consultant, with questions by July 20, 2025, 5:00 pm MST. Answers will be posted via CaFÉ™.

Application Requirements

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The Art Selection Committee will review complete applications that adhere to the Artist Criteria listed above. A shortlist of semi-finalists will be invited to present a design proposal. A site visit/orientation will be offered to selected semi-finalists. Finalist(s) will be selected based on their proposal/presentation and recommended to the Cultural Commission, then to City Council for approval.

Semi-finalists who present proposals will receive an honorarium of $750-1000 per artist/team (based on proximity to site). Proposals may be presented online.

Tentative Schedule (subject to change):

●      June 20, 2025: Call for Entry Opens

●      Deadline for Applications: July 20 at 8:00 p.m. MST

●      Week of July 28, 2025: Committee Reviews Applications / Semi-Finalists Selected

●      August 2025: Optional Site Visit and Semi-Finalist Proposals

●      August 2025: Recommendations Presented to Golden Arts and Culture Commission

●      September 2025: Artist Contracts Executed

●      2027 TBD: Artwork Installation

APPLICATION PROCESS
Apply through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org) by the deadline. No email or hard copy submissions. No application fee.

Required Application Materials:

1. Digital Images: 8-10 images of previous work. Video (limited to 20 seconds) is optional but digital stills are required and preferred. See www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml for guidelines.
2. Résumé: Current résumé (only first two pages are required reading). Submit a résumé for each team member, listing lead artist first.
3. Statement of Interest: limit of 250 words. Address your interest in this opportunity and relevant experience. Also, if you consider yourself an emerging artist, please describe your experience level here.
4. Responses to Questions:
   1. Are you an artist residing in Colorado or a neighboring state to Colorado?
   2. For which location(s) are you applying: Interior Suspended Art, Exterior 3D Sculptural Elements, Both Locations?

Eligibility Criteria

ARTIST CRITERIA

This project is open to Colorado artists and regional artists who reside in the neighboring states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Emerging artists and artists of historically margninalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply. If you lack experience with a project of this scale, please mention this in your Artist Statement; if selected, assistance can be provided.

The City of Golden Arts and Culture Commission complies with all federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws.