Call Description

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS 

Public Art Project: High Line Canal Trail
Budget: Approximately $112,000.00 USD 
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States 
DEADLINE: Monday, September 1, 2025, 11:59 pm MST  

Introduction 

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for along the High Line Canal Trail, in the University Hills neighborhood of Denver. The goal of the project is to commission artwork that activates the trail, celebrates the neighborhood’s history and future, and engages users with a sense of motion and connectivity.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is approximately $112,000.00 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 outdoor display for this project.
Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Tuesday, August 19, at 5 p.m. (MST) via Zoom. The meeting will cover project background and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Attendees will also receive information via CallForEntry.org, through which artists may apply. 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 on which Denver’s Public Art Collection works stand; land where we stand, live, 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 The High Line Canal Trail

Built in the late 1800s as an irrigation canal and transformed into a recreational trail in the 1970s, the High Line Canal Trail spans 71 miles from Waterton Canyon in Douglas County out to the plains of Northeastern Aurora. Designated as a National Landmark, the High Line Trail is utilized by over 1 million users annually and home to over 200 species of birds, mammals and reptiles. Beloved by runners & cyclists, children and adults alike, the trail is stewarded by the nonprofit organization High Line Canal Conservancy, who seeks to preserve, protect and enhance the canal, alongside the multiple municipalities in which it intersects.
The trail segment running through the University & Holly Hills neighborhoods of Southeast Denver (approximately miles 37-41 of the HLC) is appreciated by residents as a “hidden gem” and “oasis from the city” that provides a safe space for exercise and encourages an appreciation of nature. Community members appreciate that the trail is open and accessible to everyone, connects them with their neighbors and helps them discover nearby parks and businesses.
The University Hills neighborhood surrounding this segment of the HLC trail is a suburb approximately 8 miles southeast of downtown Denver, near the University of Denver campus. The neighborhood experienced rapid growth in the immediate aftermath of WWII and has continued to be a high-demand suburb of Denver in the decades since.

Goals, Site, Media & Materials 

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the communities that use the High Line Trail in University Hills, Denver.

Goals: 

• The panel hopes to see artwork(s) that are culturally relevant and balance the unique past, present and future of the physical space (note: especially including indigenous history and the 19th century construction of the Canal).
• Artists are encouraged to consider experiential, interactive, or functional elements for the artwork(s), specifically kinetic aspects that convey a feeling of “motion.”
• The panel is interested in colorful artworks, which evoke feelings of happiness and joy, and emphasize a feeling of safety and welcome for trail users.
• The panel welcomes applicants who exemplify the collaborative spirit of the public art process and are open to working with community stakeholders and trail users.
• Artists are encouraged to consider ways to engage with a spectrum of different human abilities (i.e. visual, auditory, physical, etc).
• The panel is interested in multi-piece artworks that repeat along the trail, encouraging travel and appealing to users moving through the space (ie. Walkers, bikers etc.)

Artwork Site 

The panel has identified multiple areas as potential sites for public art, along miles 37-41 of the HLC trail, which includes areas within Eisenhower Park and Bible Park. Selected finalists will have the opportunity for a site visit and will be able to meet with the art selection panel, technical experts, as well as public art staff to ask specific questions about potential sites. Note: The location does not include a wall suitable for mural applications.

Media & Materials 

The panel is looking for artists who work in mediums suitable for outdoor display. Durability and ease of maintenance are also important at these locations. 

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 be subject to potential 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. Artist proposals 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 their work in an approved timeframe.

Budget 

The budget for this commission is approximately $112,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance resulting from the construction of a pedestrian underpass to the High Line Trail. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering, 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 costs. For all work performed on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline 

(Except for the online application deadline, the timeline is subject to adjustments)
Monday, September 1, 2025: Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)
October 2025: Finalist Selection
December 2025: Selected Artist or Artist Team Notification

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 High Line Canal Trail art selection panel is composed of 11 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 selecting an artist or artist team for the commission.

Selection Process 

1.Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the sites and have the opportunity to meet with community members from the art selection panel, Denver Parks & Recreation, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Denver Public Art Program staff. The finalists will receive an honorarium to prepare the proposal and present it in person or virtually. 
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: 
Lauren Hegge, Public Art Program Administrator, lauren.hegge@denvergov.org, 720-505-0494. 
 

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 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 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 Arts & Venues Public Art Program staff can provide guidance on filling out this form. 

Based on the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission. The selected artist or artist team will coordinate with Denver Public Art Program staff, Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR), and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) 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 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 720-865-5576 to arrange 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-character maximum) outlining the following: 
• Why the High Line Canal Trail public art project is of particular interest to you.
• How does your artistic practice align with the project goals listed in this call?
• Your design approach and experience working on public art projects.
• Information on your experience collaborating 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.

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