Call Description

Project Number: 2026.001

Open to:  Professional artists based in the United States 

Budget: $350,000* 

Amount inclusive of all costs associated with the execution of this scope described in this call-for-entry: project management, design, community engagement, delivery, and installation. This includes but is not limited to, artist fees, meetings, site visits, site surveys, site prep, community engagement, design, engineering, permits, materials, material tests, fabrication, site access and equipment (scaffolding, lift, etc.), insurance conforming to Adams County requirements, travel, transportation and expenses, maintenance plan; consultants’, and subcontractors' fees, and all other costs associated with this project. Project site has seven (7) existing footers available for artworks. 

* Finalists (3 - 5) will be awarded a $750 honorarium to complete a project-specific proposal. 

Project Vision 

Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts seeks an artist or artist team to create a series of original sculptures for a group of medians running down Pecos Street in southwest Adams County. This stretch of Pecos is a gateway between Adams County and North Denver, a busy transportation corridor, and home to many families and small businesses. 

We are looking for an artist who can capture the vibrant energy of this urban neighborhood. This highly visible sculpture series will be enjoyed by heavy commuter and freight traffic, as well as bus riders, cyclists, and pedestrians. Artworks will be viewed from a short distance and at varying speeds. Local residents along Pecos will view this series from their front porches and living room windows. 

Views of the city skyline, the movement and undulation of the corridor, the intersection of neighborhood and industry, and a sense of play will drive artwork design. Artwork should help create a sense of place in the surrounding the environment.  

We encourage artists to submit images of past works that reflect this vision. A strong knowledge of materials, transit public art projects, and familiarity with Colorado Department of Transportation Public Art Guidelines is required for this project.*   

*Pecos St. is a County Road and artists will work with Adams County for permits and access, however CDOT standards for integrated public art will be followed.  

Site Information

The Adams County Public Works Pecos Street Widening Project was completed in 2025. This major infrastructure project was a complete reconstruction and widening of Pecos from W. 52nd to W. 56th Ave. that included sidewalks, streetlights, traffic signals, upgrades to the storm sewer system, and landscaped medians and new safety crosswalks. 

The final phase of the project is to design and install public art.  

The project site has five medians with seven existing uniform footers for public art placement. The selected artist may utilize any or all existing footers and has the option to add additional footers (if needed) using their project budget. Current landscaping throughout all five medians includes trees, shrubs and bushes, rock mulch, and boulders. Artwork footers exist in four out of five of the medians.  

Detailed site information including footer specs & locations and site plans, and photos and videos of the medians and surrounding area can be found here. 

• Median 1: N Pecos & 52nd Place
  • Nearby points of interest: Lucero’s & Sons Restaurant, Sound Town, Guardian Angels School & Church, Union Pacific Railroad Offices, Zuni Park in Denver
  • One existing artwork footer in this median
• Median 2: N Pecos & 53rd Ct
  • Nearby points of interest: homes, businesses, and future multi-family residence directly face this median
  • Two existing artwork footers in this median
• Median 3: N Pecos & 54th Place
  • Nearby points of interest: 54th Pl. is a major street used by neighborhood residents. Many locals will view this median daily as they turn on to Pecos from 54th. This median is also across from the Coors Factory employee entrance. Drivers going South on Pecos are treated to an amazing view of the Denver skyline as they approach this median.
  • Two existing artwork footers in this median
• Median 4: N Pecos between W 56th Ave & Pecos Logistics
  • Nearby points of interest: Drivers encounter dramatic views of this median and Denver skyline as vehicles approach from the North.
  • Two existing artwork footers in this median
• Median 5: N Pecos between Pecos Logistics and Cargill Dr
  • Nearby points of interest: Drivers encounter dramatic views of the full stretch of Pecos and the medians as vehicles approach from the North and come down the hill from bridge
  • Zero existing artwork footers in this median. The selected artist may use their budget for additional footer(s) in this or other medians.

Community Engagement 

The selected artist will engage with the surrounding community to gain a better understanding of the neighborhood and help locals connect to their art practice. Your community engagement is shaped by your art practice, unique to each project, and can take many forms.   

We ask artists to thoughtfully engage the public to facilitate creative and unique experiences for our residents rather than social media campaigns, polls, or artist talks. Past examples include community artmaking at the project site or a county event, workshop series, or collaborations with local schools and youth organizations. 

The selected artist will work with the Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Division to develop a detailed community engagement plan once contracted. In this application stage, artists are expected to demonstrate successful prior community work. 

Application Requirements

Submission Requirements

All professional artists responding to the call-for-entry must submit complete answers in the CaFÉ application portal. Responses will be evaluated based on the selection criteria below. Respondents should present the required information clearly and concisely. 

• 5 – 10 Work Samples (photos or videos) highlighting past projects of similar scope
  • Include year, dimensions, materials, location, and budget in image description
  • If you are applying as artist team, indicate pieces created together and as individuals
  • Sketches and concept design may not be included at this stage. Applications that provide concept design will not be considered by the artist selection panel
• Resume or portfolio focused on past projects of similar scope
  • Resume or portfolio should focus on projects of similar scope (artworks in medians or other areas with heavy vehicle traffic) and include examples of successful community engagement efforts
  • File should be no larger than 2mb, and txt, pdf, doc, docx format only.
• Short answers to the following questions.
  • How does your art practice connect to the project vision described in the call-for-entry?
  • Describe your experience with projects of similar scope?
  • What is your approach to community engagement? How would it apply to this project site, located on a commuter road with a mix of industry and residential areas nearby? Please include specific examples of prior work with community.
  • What expertise will you/your team bring to this public art project?
  • What is your connection to Adams County (if applicable)?

Eligibility Criteria

Applications that do not provide the required information will not be considered. All materials must be submitted via the CaFÉ online application system. There is no application fee to apply. Adams County reserves the right to request any additional information from the individual artist. Submission materials emailed directly to County staff will not be considered by the artist selection panel.

Selection Panel and Process

The Artist Selection Panel for the Pecos Median Sculptures Series is made up of members of the Adams County Arts & Culture Commission, volunteer residents appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; a representative from the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts and Public Works departments, and community members with connections to the project site. 

The artist selection panel will review and score applications to select 3 –5 finalists for in-person interviews. Each finalist will be paid an honorarium of $750 to create a detailed proposal specific to this project. Finalists will attend a group virtual info session to learn more about the project to inform their proposal. They will also meet 1:1 with Adams County Cultural Arts Staff for proposal feedback before interviewing with the panel. 

Te panel will select the artist or artist team that best meets project requirements, based on the information contained in their response to the call-for-entry and the information presented during their interview. The artist selection panel will make a recommendation to the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department to bring to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.  

The artist selection panel does not participate in the design process once the artist is contracted. 

Evaluation Criteria 

The Artist Selection Panel will individually rate each applicant on the following criteria.  

• Work Samples
  • Quality of past work; technical and aesthetic
  • Fit of work samples with project vision
  • We seek an artist who will capture the vibrant energy of this urban industrial area. Views of the city skyline, the movement and undulation of the road, a sense of play, and the intersection of neighborhood and industry will drive artwork design. We encourage artists to submit images of past works that reflect this art direction.
• Demonstrated experience executing projects of similar scope
  • Relevant experience showing your ability to successfully design, fabricate, and administer public art projects of similar scope
  • Similar projects include sculptures in medians or other high-traffic areas and sculptural works made from materials that demonstrate durability and maintenance considerations.
• The connection between the project and the artist's creative practice
  • Help the artist selection panel understand what unique skills or perspective you will bring to this project.  Highlight how the project site, art direction, or other elements of the project vision connect to your art practice.

Finalists 

3-5 finalists will be selected using the above evaluation criteria. Selected finalists will receive a $750 honorarium to complete a detailed project-specific proposal and will have the opportunity to learn more about this project during a virtual information session.  

Finalist Proposals will include: 

• Design concepts
• Execution plan
• Proof of your ability to obtain insurance coverage levels meeting Adams County Standards
• References

Timeline (subject to change) 

Artist Selection  

• Sunday, March 1 at 11:59 PM Mountain Time: Application Deadline
• Friday, April 3: Finalists notified
• Wednesday, April 8: Finalist Webinar
• Monday, April 27 – Wednesday, April 29: Finalist feedback on draft proposal
• Wednesday, May 13: Final proposal and presentation files due
• Tuesday, May 19 & Wednesday, May 20: Finalist interviews, in-person
• Week of May 25: Selected artist notified
• June 1 - 30: Award recommendation brought to study session with the Adams County Board of County Commissioners for final approval
• July 1 – 31: Contracting

Project Execution 

Project Execution 

• Q3 2026
  • Site visits, and meetings with Adams County Cultural Arts and Adams County Public Works to understand site
  • Self-directed exploration of the project site to inform design concepts
  • Submittal of project schedule for County approval
• Q4 2026
  • Identify high-level concepts art concepts and engagement goals in collaboration with Adams County Cultural Arts
  • Finalize detailed community engagement plan
• Q1 – Q2 2027
  • Window to complete community engagement
  • Window to reach approved concept design
• Q3 2027 - Q4 2027
  • Window for design refinement to reach approval of final design
  • Including approval of stamped shop drawings and material specs
• Q1 2028 – Q2 2028
  • Fabrication
  • Check-ins with Cultural Arts during fabrication process
• Q3 2028: Installation
  • Artwork Installed by September 15, 2028
  • Maintenance manual and supporting documents submitted by September 30, 2028
• Q4 2028
  • Project Wrapped by October 15, 2028
  • Including approval of maintenance guide and documentation to inform future maintenance

Payment Schedule 

• Contracting
  • 5% ($17,500) Upon issue of PO
• Design Milestones
  • 10% ($35,000) upon approval of concept design
  • 20% ($70,000) upon approval of final design including approved stamped shop drawings and material specs
• Community Engagement Milestones
  • 5% ($17,500) upon approval of community engagement plan
  • 5% ($17,500) upon completion of community engagement
• Fabrication & Installation Milestones
  • 5% ($17,500) fabrication mid-point approval.
  • 10% ($35,000) approval of installation plan and receipt of all necessary permits
  • 30% ($105,000) Upon final installation approval.
  • 10% ($35,000) Upon approval of all project documentation files, and maintenance plan.

Legal Comments

The selected artist will be required to enter a time-sensitive contract with Adams County and the Board of County Commissioners which will outline payment and installation schedules, including penalties for failure to meet agreed-upon deadlines, and insurance requirements. The Board of County Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all submissions or applications and modify or terminate the process at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice.  

Procurement Process

This RFP complies with all policies and procedures set forth by the Adams County Board of County Commissioners. Address any questions or concerns about the process to: 

Project Contact 

Amy Smith, Public Art Project Administrator, Cultural Arts 

Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts 

9755 Henderson Road, Brighton, CO 80601 

AEsmith@adamscountyco.gov

Available Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm MDT, excluding holidays.