Call Description

The Utah Division of Facilities Construction and Management and the Utah Division of Arts & Museums Public Art Program in partnership with Ogden-Weber Technical College requests qualifications from Utah-based artists and/or artist teams with rich ties to Utah interested in creating site-specific artwork(s) for the upcoming Ogden-Weber Technical College Pathway Building. The Request for Qualifications with building renderings can be found HERE.

OGDEN-WEBER TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Surrounded by the scenic Wasatch Mountains, Ogden-Weber Technical College (OTECH) has offered hands-on technical education since 1971. The beautiful main campus and the Collette Mercier Campus – Business Depot Ogden offer convenient schedules, competency-based learning, and training opportunities in high-demand fields. With more than 300 technical skills courses in 30 programs, the tech college serves some 6,000 students annually. Ogden-Weber Technical College’s mission is to build a prosperous community by creating a technically skilled workforce, one student at a time.

Originally established in 1971 as Skills Center North, the institution has evolved many times in the decades since to meet the needs of Utah’s growing workforce. In 2001, on the college’s 30th anniversary, the Utah State Legislature approved them as a Utah College of Applied Technology Campus. Ogden-Weber Technical College is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, and holds additional accreditations from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Ogden-Weber Technical College was the first technical training institution in the nation to receive the prestigious U.S. Secretary of Education Award for Outstanding Vocational Programs.

OTECH PATHWAY BUILDING

The Ogden-Weber Pathway Building will provide a much-needed consolidated location for additional classroom spaces and vital student services. Bringing testing, financial aid resources, enrollment offices, culinary services, records management, and student support into the same building reduces logistical barriers for the student body and improves institutional capacity. The Pathways lower levels will also house the college’s network and data center with improved security infrastructure.

Designed to be the focal entry point to the college from Washington Blvd., the Pathway Building will be a striking addition to one of the main thoroughfares of Ogden City. This new construction will include two spacious courtyard plazas, located on the East and West sides of the building. These areas include numerous opportunities for student gathering and reflection, and will be primary entry points for the building.

The Pathway Building’s unique design is inspired by the visual properties of stepping stones, connected by a “pathway” formed by the central atrium. The four “stepping stones” of the building provide pathways between the campus and the Ogden-Weber community. The form of the building functions both literally and figuratively to welcome students from all directions and provide flexible access to the opportunities of competency-based education. 
 

COMMITTEE STATEMENT

The Pathway Building will serve as a new front door to Ogden-Weber Technical College — a visible, welcoming space that brings students, families, and community members into a place built for connection, learning, and opportunity. It reflects our college values: Community, Learning, and Integrity — and our commitment to meeting people where they are, honoring their stories, and supporting their goals.

As we select artwork for this space, we seek pieces that embody belonging, optimism, and potential. The art should reflect the rich cultural identities and life experiences of our community and help create an environment that is not only inspiring but also comforting, interactive, and wellness-centered.

We are especially interested in functional and environmental artwork — pieces that invite movement, offer rest, support wellness, and harmonize with the natural landscape. Potential elements could include sculptural seating, creative signage, shade structures, or installations that interact with light, weather, or the changing seasons. Given the adjacent canal, we also welcome ideas that incorporate or complement this waterway, such as a canal pathway bridge, integrated bridge features, or water-inspired designs that reflect the fluidity of the space.

We welcome art that:
 

• Reflects the cultural richness and strength of our region
   
• Embodies the transformative power of learning and community
   
• Honors the dignity of work and the potential of every student
   
• Encourages wellness, play, and emotional ease
   
• Enhances the environment with natural elements and functional design
   
• Creates a sense of welcome, inspiration, and shared pride

The art chosen for the Pathway Building will help shape first impressions, inspire confidence, and reflect the mission of OTECH: We build a prosperous community by creating a technically skilled workforce one student at a time.

The artwork’s subject matter and content must be appropriate for public exhibition and not contain advertising, religious references, sexual or violent content, or convey political partisanship.
 

BUDGET

$164,000 is available for the project. This project budget is for all related expenses of this Public Art commission, including (but not limited to) artist fees, fabrication, support structures, insurance, shipping, travel, lighting, installation, documentation, etc.

ELIGIBILITY

Professional artists and artist teams residing in Utah or with ties to Utah are eligible for this commission. Artists living in Weber County will receive additional weight in the review process. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and Jacoby Architects are not eligible to apply for this commission. All art selection committee members will declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for the Ogden-Weber Technical College Pathway Building Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to two movie files of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project. Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for delayed applications or damaged electronic files. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted. Questions or assistance requests must be made at minimum 48 hours before the submittal deadline.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an accommodation form at least two weeks in advance of the June 30 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility. 

DEADLINE

Complete application packages must be RECEIVED by 
June 30, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. MT.

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The selection committee will review all properly submitted qualifications, from which a short list of semi-finalists will be selected. Semi-finalists will be asked to present a full proposal to the committee on Sept. 24, 2025 to include concept, budget, and timeline. All semi-finalists will be awarded an honorarium to help defray the costs of the development of the proposal. The honorarium will be applied toward the commission amount for the artist(s) awarded the commission(s.) Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for applications delayed or lost. The Ogden-Weber Technical College Pathway Building Art Selection Committee reserves the right to withhold the award of a commission or re-release the call for entries.

Schedule:
June 30, 11:59 p.m. MDT | Deadline for receipt of preliminary materials
July 15, 2025 | Committee review and finalist artist notification
Sept. 24, 2025 | Finalists interviews and presentations
Fall 2027 | Artwork completed
January 2028 | Project substantial completion

ARTIST SELECTION COMMITTEE
Cori Anderson, OTech Board of Trustees
Johna Howard, OTech Vice President for Student Services
Josh Ulm, OTech Facilities Director
Matthew Boyer, Project Manager, Division of Facilities Construction & Mgmt
Kraig Wilkes, Principal Architect, Jacoby Architects
Venessa Castagnoli, Ogden Contemporary Arts Executive Director
Kasey Lou Lindley, Ogden Contemporary Arts Programs & Communications Manager

Please do not contact committee members directly. If you have any questions about this or other projects, information is available at: artsandmuseums.utah.gov/publicart/ Or contact: Hannah Nielsen at henielsen@utah.gov 
 

Application Requirements

Interested artists may submit applications online. Register at www.callforentry.org and follow the directions for registration and submitting material for the Ogden-Weber Technical College Pathway Building Public Art Request for Qualifications. The application process will prompt you for all necessary documents and information. This includes up to 10 images and/or up to two movie files of previous work, a CV or resume, and a Statement of Interest explaining your interest in the project and how your work might relate to the project. Utah Arts & Museums will not be responsible for delayed applications or damaged electronic files. Faxed or emailed applications cannot be accepted.

To request an accommodation for a disability, please complete an accommodation form at least two weeks in advance of the June 30 deadline. Accommodation forms can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov/accessibility.  

Eligibility Criteria

Professional artists and artist teams residing in Utah or with ties to Utah are eligible for this commission. Artists living in Weber County will receive additional weight in the review process. Applicants must have a U.S. Tax ID Number (SSN, EIN, ITIN, or other). Art Selection Committee members and staff of Utah Arts & Museums and Jacoby Architects are not eligible to apply for this commission. All art selection committee members will declare any conflict of interest and recuse themselves from the vote when reviewing artist applications.