Call Description

CALL FOR EXISTING ARTWORKS 

Public Art Project: City of Denver: Lena Archuleta Library  

Budget: Approximately $60,000 USD (2-10 artworks will be selected with this budget, so each submitted artwork must be under $30,000) 

Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States  

DEADLINE: Sunday, December 31, 11:59 pm MST   

Introduction  

Denver Public Art is seeking to directly purchase multiple existing artworks for the new Lena Archuleta Library in the Westwood neighborhood of Denver. This is a unique opportunity for artists to submit existing artworks for consideration of purchase; all artworks selected will become a part of the City of Denver’s public art collection. The goal of the project is to fill the new library with vibrant artworks that honor the beautiful new space and the community it serves. The panel has provided specific themes and goals they are interested in seeing in the submitted works below; please review this list when submitting your works for consideration.   

The purchase amount for all selected artworks for the library is approximately $60,000 USD; 2-10 artworks will be selected, for a total budget of $60,000. 

A selection panel of community representatives, arts and culture professionals, and civic leaders has been assembled to identify art opportunities and to select artworks for this project. The panel is seeking artists who have existing two-dimensional artwork in mediums suitable for indoor display. Works in a variety of media and forms will be considered. Examples of media include, but are not limited to: textiles, painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, ceramics, or sculpture (under 6 inches deep, that can hang on the wall).   

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on December 2, at 5 p.m. (MST) via Zoom. The meeting will cover project background and goals, and the application process for this Call for Artists. 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 YouTube 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 Lena Archuleta Branch Library  

The Lena Archuleta Library is a brand-new, 6,000 square foot branch for the Denver Public Library (DPL) system, set to open its doors in November 2025. The library is located inside a newly renovated church that was purchased and revitalized by the local non-profit, Lifespan Local. The organization restored the church and opened Blossom House -- a community hub with a large campus of various organizations and services -- for the Southwest Denver community in 2025. The last space to open on the campus is the beautiful new Lena Archuleta Library, in partnership with Denver Public Library.   

The Blossom House campus has an early childhood education center, a community kitchen, mental health services, spaces for youth, a hydroponic farm, community learning and gathering spaces, and a law clinic, in addition to the new library branch. It is located on the corner of W. Nevada Place and S. Irving Street.  

To learn more about the area and its demographics, visit here.

About Lena Archuleta   

During its planning, the library underwent an extensive, community-engaged process to gain its name. The outcome was “Lena Archuleta Library,” named after beloved educator, librarian, and community advocate, Lena Archuleta. Lena was Denver's first Latina female school principal. She worked tirelessly to expand Spanish language access in several capacities (including ESL programs, archives, programs, etc). She was a trailblazer – she was one of the “Founding Mothers” of Mi Casa Resource Center and also created the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA), which helped people with job training, housing, and citizenship. She was so beloved by her community that she eventually became a member of the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.   

Link to Lena Archuleta's Biography   
Additional Information about Lena Archuleta 

Goals, Site, Media & Materials  

The selection panel members hope to directly purchase artworks from artists that speak to the spirit and intentions of the Lena Archuleta Library in Denver. The panel hopes to see artwork(s) that embody one or more of the following themes or descriptors:   

Artwork that...   

• Sparks curiosity
• Connects with the community, and is relevant to the people and the culture of Southwest Denver
• Feels like home
• Looks back to look forward; looks to the past to bring us to a better place in the future
• Speaks to the Immigrant experience
• Speaks to the American Indian experience
• Uses color! The building and the library are both very colorful, as is the community.
• Honors multiple generations – artwork that speaks to seniors, as well as youth
• “Weaves together” cultures present in the community
• Promotes hope and healing
• Speaks to children – integrates fun, joy, adventure!
• Honors Lena Archuleta’s legacy
  • intergenerational connectedness
  • empowerment through education
  • learning as a path to wellness
  • nurturing young minds
  • breaking barriers

Artwork Site  

The panel has identified several interior locations within Lena Archuleta Library for potential artworks. Below are the measurements of each space. Please consider these sizes when selecting artworks to submit. 

*Note: Submitted artworks do not have to be exact measurements below. These are the measurements of the spaces available, so anything that fits within these measurements will be considered (even if considerably smaller).  

Wall Area Measurements:   

(in WxH)

Large walls:  
Wall 1: 76 x 88 in  
Wall 2: 110 x 48 in  
Wall 3: 86x80 in 
 
Medium Walls:  
Wall 4: 48x64in  
Wall 6: 40x60in 
Wall 7: 34x34in 
 
Small Walls:  
Wall 5: 28x36in  
Wall 8: 24x36in  
Wall 9: 24x16in 

Media & Materials  

The panel is seeking artists who have existing two-dimensional artwork in mediums suitable for indoor display. Works in a variety of media and forms will be considered. Examples of media include, but are not limited to: textiles, painting, drawing, photography, and printmaking ceramics, or sculpture (under 6 inches deep, that can hang on the wall). Durability and ease of maintenance are also important.   

Maintenance, Durability & Accessibility  

The selected artworks will become permanent additions 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. The selections 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 $60,000 USD which will be used to purchase multiple artworks. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance. Artists will be paid the price submitted for each artwork in the application. The $60,000 must cover the purchase of at least two artworks, so artworks over $30,000 are not recommended for submittal. The panel will consider artworks at all prices up to $30,000. The price submitted for each work should also include framing, transportation/shipping, and documentation. Installation will be paid for by the city. 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)  

December 21, 2025: Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)  

February 2026: Artwork Selection  

Early March 2026: Selected Artist or Artist Teams Notified  

Late March 2026: Artwork delivered to Lena Archuleta Library 

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 Lena Archuleta Library 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 the call for artists, reviewing applications, and selecting artists or artist teams for the commission.  

Selection Process  

1. Artists will submit high resolution images of three artworks that fit the goals of this project to be considered for direct purchase. Please see the wall space measurements when considering your submissions. All artworks submitted must be available for purchase in March 2026. 

2. The selection panel will review the submissions, and based on a project rubric score, and price allocation, will recommend artist/artist teams’ artworks for the commission.  

3. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee and the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs for final approval. 

Application Requirements

Applying for this Opportunity 

In response to this call, applicants will be asked to submit the following items via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™).  

1. Three images of artworks that are available for purchase*

*The panel is interested in purchasing as much artwork as possible for the space with the $60,000 budget -- so it's recommended to submit a range of purchase prices!

2. Résumé  

3. Statement of interest (no longer than 2,000 characters)  

From these applications, the selection panel will choose 2-10 artworks from different artists to display in the library space. Artists will be paid the price submitted for each artwork in the application. The $60,000 must cover the purchase of at least two artworks, so artworks over $30,000 are not recommended for submittal. All artworks submitted must be available for purchase in March 2026. Artworks without a price or size listed will not be considered, please make sure to submit this information for each artwork.  

Statement of Interest

Please submit a statement (2,000 characters maximum) outlining the following:

• Why the Lena Archuleta Library project is of interest to you
• Why the submitted artworks are a good fit for the themes and goals the panel is looking for
• Any other relevant information you would like to share about yourself or the artworks

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.

Artists/teams selected will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form for their purchases 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.  

The selected artist or artist teams will coordinate with community representatives, as well as Denver Public Art Program, Denver Library and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) staff when submitting their artworks for installation.  

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Apply  

This project is open to artists that reside in the United States of America. 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 (BIPOC), 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 career and applicants practicing a variety of artistic disciplines.  

Can a team submit?  

Applicants may submit collaborative artworks. 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.

Denver Arts & Venues የሚመለከታቸውን የፌዴራል ሲቪል መብቶች ሕጎችን የሚያከብር ሲሆን ቋንቋን ለማካተት በዘር፥ በቀለም፥ በብሔረሰብ፥ በዕድሜ፥ በአካል ስንኩልነት ወይም በጾታ ልዩነት አያደርግም። ካስፈለገ፥ በአፍ መፍቻ ቋንቋዎ የቃል ወይም የጽሑፍ የቋንቋ ድጋፍ አገልግሎቶችን መጠየቅ መብትዎ ነው። እባክዎን Denver Arts & Venues ን በ DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org ይገናኙና እነዚህ አገልግሎቶች በነጻ ይቀርቡልዎታል። 

لقوانین الحقوق المدنیة الفدرالیة المنطبقة ولا تمارس التمییز على أساس Denver Arts & Venues تمتث ل
العرق أو اللون أو الأصل القومي أو العمر أو الإعاقة أو النوع لإدراج لغة. من حقك طلب خدمات المساعدة اللغویة
على البرید الإلكتروني Denver Arts & Venues الشفھیة أو المكتوبة بلغتك الأساسیة، إذا لزم الأمر. یرجى التواصل مع
وسیتم توفیر ھذه الخدمات لك مجاناً. DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org

Denver Arts & Venues သည် ဗဟိုအစိုးရ၏ အများြပည်သူရပိုင်ခွင့်များဆိုင်ရာ ဥပေဒများကို လိုက်နာ􀆱ပီး၊ လူမျိုး၊ အသားေရာင်၊ မူရင်း􀇳ိုင်ငံ၊ အသက်အရွယ်၊ မသန်စွမ်းမ􀋪၊ ဘာသာစကားအပါအဝင်၊ အမျိုးသားအမျိုးသမီးအြဖစ်ခံယူမ􀋪တို့ကို အေြခခံ􀆱ပီး ခွဲြခားဆက်ဆံြခင်း မြပုပါ။ လိုအပ်ပါက၊ ေြပာစကားအတွက်ြဖစ်ေစ ေရးသားထားသည့် စကားအတွက်ြဖစ်ေစ အကူအညီဝန်ေဆာင်မ􀋪များကို သင်အဓိကေြပာဆိုေသာ ဘာသာစကားြဖင့် ေတာင်းဆိုပိုင်ခွင့် သင်၌􀇹ှိပါသည်။ Denver Arts & Venues ကို DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org တို့တွင် ဆက်သွယ်ပါ၊ ထိုအခါ ဤဝန်ေဆာင်မ􀋪များကို သင့်အား အခမဲ့ေပးပါမည်။

Denver Arts & Venues 遵守适用的联邦民权法律，并且不会因为种族、肤色、民族、年龄、残疾或性别（包括语言）而歧视任何人。如有需要，您有权申请您的首选语言的口头或书面语言援助服务。请联系 Denver Arts & Venues DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org，将免费为您提供此等服务。

تابع قوانین حقوق مدنی فدرال است و بر اساس نژاد، رنگ پوست، تبار ملی،Denver Arts & Venues

سن، معلولی ت یا جنسیت و زبان افراد را مورد تبعیض قرار نمیدھد. این حق شماست کھ در صورت نیاز، خدمات

وDAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org  بھ نشانی ایمیل Denver Arts & Venues کمکزبانی شفاھی یا کتبی بھ زبان اصلی خود درخواست کنید. لطفا با
تماس بگیرید و این خدمات بھ صورت رایگان بھ شما ارائھ میشود شماره تلفن

Denver Arts & Venues respecte les lois fédérales applicables en matière de droits civiques et n’exerce aucune discrimination fondée sur la race, la couleur, l'origine nationale, l'âge, la situation de handicap ou le sexe, y compris la langue. Vous avez le droit de demander des services d'assistance linguistique orale ou écrite dans votre langue principale en cas de besoin. Veuillez contacter Denver Arts & Venues à DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org, et ces services vous seront offerts gratuitement.

Denver Arts & Venues လူၤပိာ်မၤထွဲ၀ဲဒၣ်
ကီၢ်စၢဖှိၣ်ကမျၢၢ်ခွဲးယာ်ဂ့ၢ်၀ီသဲစးတၢ်သိၣ်တၢ်သီတဖၣ်ဒီး တပဲာ်ထံနီၤဖးတၢ် ဒိးသန့ၤသးလၢ ကလုာ်

ဖံးဘ့ၣ်လွဲၢ် ကလုာ်ဂံၢ်ထံး သးနံၣ် တၢ်နီၢ်ခိက့ၢ်ဂီၤတလၢပှဲၤ မ့တမ့ၢ် တၢ်ကဲမုၣ်ခွါ

လၢကပာ်ဃုာ်ကျိာ်အဂီၢ်ဘၣ်လီၤႋ မ့ၢ်နတၢ်ခွဲးတၢ်ယာ်လၢကဃ့ထီၣ်ကျိာ်တၢ်တိစၢၤမၤစၢၤ

လၢတၢ်စံးကတိၤလၢထးခိၣ် မ့တမ့ၢ် တၢ်ကွဲးလံာ်ကွဲးလဲၢ် လၢအမ့ၢ်နဂံၢ်ခီၣ်ထံးကျိာ်အဂီၢ်

ဖဲအလီၢ်အိၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤႋ ၀ံသးစူၤဆဲးကျၢ Denver Arts & Venues ဖဲ DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org

ဒီးတၢ်ဖံးတၢ်မၤတဖၣ်အံၤ ကမၤစၢၤနၤလၢနတဘၣ်လၢာ်ဒီး တၢ်ဘူးတၢ်လဲဘၣ်န့ၣ်လီၤႋ

Denver Arts & Venues ले भाषा सामेल गन􀅊का लािग लागूयो􀆶 फेडेरल नाग􀄯रक अिधकार

कानुनह􀅝को पालना गद􀅊छ तथा जात, वण􀅊, उ􀈋ि􀈅 रा􀊼􀅌, उमेर, अस􀆅ता, वा िल􀇀का आधारमा

िवभेद गद􀅔न। यिद आव􀊴क भए, आफ्नो प्राथिमक भाषामा मौ􀄰खक वा िल􀄰खत भाषा सहयोग

सेवाह􀅝का लािग अनुरोध गनु􀅊 तपाईँको अिधकार हो। कृपया Denver Arts & Venues लाई DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org

मा स􀉼क􀅊 गनु􀅊होस् र यी सेवाह􀅝 तपाईँका लािग िनशु􀊋 प्रदान ग􀄯रनेछन्।

Denver Arts & Venues соблюдает действующие федеральные законы о гражданских правах и не допускает дискриминации по признаку расы, цвета кожи, национального происхождения, возраста, инвалидности или пола, а также языку. Вы имеете право, если необходимо, запросить помощь в виде устного или письменного перевода на свой основной язык. Пожалуйста, обратитесь к следующему лицу: Denver Arts & Venues по DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org, и эти услуги будут предоставлены вам бесплатно.

Denver Arts & Venues waxay addeecdaa sharciyada xuquuqda madaniga ee Dowladda dhexe oo ma sameeyaan wax takoor ah oo sal looga dhigo jinsi, middab, asal qaran, da’, naafonimo, ama lab ama diddig oo lagu daro luqad. Xaq baad u leedahay inaad codsatid adeegyo caawimaad oo af ah ama mid qoraal ah oo aad ku soo codsan karto luqaddaada koowaad in aad ku soo codsato, haddii loo baahdo. Fadlan kala xiriir Denver Arts & Venues kala soo xiriir DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org oo adeegyadan ayaa lagu siin doonaa si bilaash ah oo wax lacag ah aan lagugu soo dalacayn