The Boulder Office of Arts + Culture is seeking an artist, or artist team, for a site-specific public art commission for north Boulder. This commission will compliment reconstruction of the North Broadway corridor and visually acknowledge the NoBo Art District. The project’s location parameters– roughly .8 miles from Violet Avenue to US-36 – boasts the city’s only formal Arts District, serves as a gateway to Boulder, and is a mix in density of residential and commercial spaces.

Possible locations and themes for the North Boulder Public Art Project have been identified by the technical review committee and selection panel, with specific emphasis of the corridor character change that occurs near the intersection of Broadway and Violet.  A creative response to the other key corridor nodes as defined in “Public Art: Parameters and Goals,” will also be considered. The project must be sited within the public right-of-way. Roughly $80,000 of the allocated funds are restricted, federal funds. The artist will be integrated in early with the Broadway Reconstruction Project design team to help identify locations and refine project art scope. The project shall “contribute to the artistic and eclectic character of the North Broadway area through requirements or incentivizes.”[1]

This commission is open to all artists/artist teams working in all media, with a preference to local and regional artists. The estimated budget of $165,000 USD is all-inclusive. The art selection process will be managed by staff in the Office of Arts + Culture Public Art Program, with input from a technical review committee, including key members of the Broadway Reconstruction Project design team.
 

About North Boulder

Since its founding, Boulder has attracted visual artists, poets, performers, writers, musicians, designers, and creative people of all kinds as a beautiful, inspiring, and supportive place to live, practice their craft, and prosper in the business of their art. The residents, workers, and business owners of the neighborhoods of north Boulder have consistently demonstrated support for the activities and impacts of a creative district, the recommendations for culture in the North Boulder Subcommunity Plan, and the Community Cultural Plan.[2]

North Boulder has a long history, starting as an agricultural destination and later developed into a neighborhood after WWII, by offering tracts of land to returning soldiers.  North Boulder is unique to Boulder development in that it boasts a mix of density (both residential and commercial spaces). Additionally, the nearby Holiday Neighborhood was designed with sustainability and affordability in mind, providing a walkable neighborhood, public parks and many different types of residential units.

North Boulder is described as “mixed, diverse and unexpected. The old quirky Boulder with the new and young, all mixed together.”

Residents compiled the following descriptive list during the NoBo Place Project (see “Project Resources” for more information):

Alive • First Friday Art • active • artists’ haven • gritty • excitement • beautiful, radiant, dramatic light • innovative • creative spirit • casual atmosphere • cauldron of opportunities • community • contemporary • crossroads • contrasts in new and old • urban • off beat • potential • developing open opportunities • scrappy • vintage • good restaurants • inclusive • individualistic • inviting • less crowded • unique to our city • multi-dimensional • old, but so NEW! • new restaurants, shops • old strip mall • place where the mountains meet the plains • quirky • bikers • really needs some public ART!

About the North Broadway Reconstruction Project (Violet Avenue to US 36)

The North Broadway Reconstruction Project will reconstruct the street infrastructure and make improvements to the multimodal facilities where possible. The planning and design phase began in 2016, with construction planned to start in 2019, and is anticipated to take 18 months to complete.  The city’s Transportation Division of Public Works will manage the reconstruction project, and has a long history of integrated public art implementation into their projects.  A key factor in the success of this project is the early and successful integration of public art design development into the overall reconstruction project design, recognizing that public right-of-way and public infrastructure have unique requirements related to transportation function, safety and liability. 

About the NoBo Art District

Project Resources:

North Broadway Reconstruction Project:

https://bouldercolorado.gov/transportation/north-broadway

North Boulder Subcommunity Plan:

https://bouldercolorado.gov/planning/north-boulder-subcommunity-plan

NoBo Art District:

http://noboartdistrict.org/

NoBo Place Project:

https://noboartdistrict.org/projects/place-project/

CDOT Guidelines for Integrating Artwork into Transportation Facilities

https://www.codot.gov/library/traffic/traffic-manuals-and-guidelines/fed-state-co-traffic-manuals/art-in-the-public-right-of-way-guidelines-2016/view

Public Art: Parameters & Goals

The selection panel identified specific goals for this public art with the hope of creating a unique work of art that complements the Broadway streetscape and character of north Boulder:

Appropriate & Unique: The selection panel seeks a one-of-a-kind artwork.

Location: The North Broadway Corridor (Violet Avenue to US 36) is roughly a one-mile stretch through the northern-most segment of Boulder. Specific site opportunities within this corridor are reflected below in the selection panel’s preferential order, however the selection panel is open to site opportunities identified by the artist(s):

·         The transition zone at Broadway and Violet Avenue

·         Nodes/key intersections with Broadway (Violet Avenue, Yarmouth Avenue, Lee Hill Road)

·         Underpass at Fourmile Canyon Creek

·         North and south approach (or gateways) into the corridor

The selection panel is aware that, within the budget parameters, the project will result in a concentrated focus in one of these areas. However, the panel is interested in the possibility of a small-scale gateway work that encourages movement through the various locations included in the above bullets, and/or work that has presence in multiple locations, if even just hints of a larger experience.

Materials & Media: The project is currently open to artwork of any media. The final project’s location may be sited within the floodplain (pending details and permitting approvals), in the City of Boulder’s Broadway right-of-way, or within Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) right-of-way at the intersection with US 36, and may require specific permitting and approaches, and regard for proximity, safety and public exposure in a public right-of-way.

Durability & Maintenance:   All public art projects in Colorado are exposed to weather, physical stresses, and subject to vandalism and should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Semi-finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator or fabricator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the selection panel, the Office of Arts and Culture, the Technical Review Committee (a project-specific technical group comprised of city staff and Broadway Reconstruction Project design professionals), the Boulder Arts Commission, and the City Manager’s Office to ensure conformity with city standards of construction, maintenance and durability, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.  All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved timeframe, integrated with the overall Broadway Reconstruction Project.

Applying for these opportunities

In response to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), applicants will be asked to submit up-to eight digital images of existing work samples, up-to two video or audio samples, a résumé or CV, and a statement of interest in the North Broadway/North Boulder Public Art opportunity no longer than 2,000 characters via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™).  From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five semi-finalists who will be brought in for an interview with the panel. If a formal proposal is requested, the artist will be provided an honorarium to prepare and present the proposal in person.  Semi-finalists are strongly encouraged to conduct a site visit, and will be expected to pay for travel expenses from the honorarium.  From the interview or proposal, artist(s) will be selected for this commission. 

Eligibility:  This project is open to all artists, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation or mental or physical handicap.  Artists working in any media are eligible to apply.  Artists are not required to have previous experience in public art. Preference will be given to regional artists in considering semifinalists.

Can a team apply?:  Applicant(s) may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaboration.  In the case of teams, please submit a single résumé for the whole team (see details below).

Selected artists for the commission will collaborate with the Broadway Reconstruction Project Management Team and Technical Review Committee when finalizing their designs for installation. Public art commissions must go through applicable review and permitting processes.

Applicants are encouraged to review a sample public art contractual agreement prior to applying for any public art opportunities. The draft contract can be found here: https://boulderarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sample-Public-Art-Contract-2016-2220.pdf

Budget

The budget for this commission is approximately $165,000 USD which will be allocated to the artists/team selected by the selection panel.  $85,000 from the Community, Culture and Safety Tax; $80,000 1% Restricted Transportation Capital Project. Transportation Capital Project Funding is identified for urban design and architectural improvements integrated into the roadway reconstruction, to maintain reimbursement ability under the federal transportation grant awarded to the project.  This budget 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; small tools; materials; fabrication; transportation and installation; including 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 of any kind. The artist(s) should be aware the project may warrant he/she/they enter into a design-only contract. The project timeline reflects a project that will be integrated within the Broadway Reconstruction Project construction.  Budget will need to include all foundational and infrastructural supports. 

Tentative Timeline

(Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments):

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, 11:59 p.m. MDT               Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

Week of Oct. 23, 2017                                             Semi-finalist selection

Nov. 15, 2017                                                           Notify semi-finalists

Project Selection Panel 

The North Broadway/North Boulder Public Art Selection Panel is comprised of five voting members. The technical review committee is comprised of roughly 10 additional non-voting advisors. 
 

Selection Process

Between three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as semi-finalists, and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the site and will have the opportunity to meet with the selection panel and technical review committee during a site visit. The selection panel will interview and/or review proposals from the semi-finalists and recommend finalists for the commission.

Additionally, community engagement is a vital component in Boulder’s decision-making process. Semi-finalists should be prepared to present or have their proposals presented to the public in some fashion during the decision-making process. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Boulder Arts Commission and the city manager for final approval.

Materials to be Submitted

Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered without exception. 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 up-to eight digital images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system.  Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or media works may include up-to two videos and up-to two audio attachments.

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at http://www.callforentry.org/imaging_tips.phtml.  Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303-629-1166 or 1-888-562-7232, or e-mail cafe@westaf.org.  If you do not have access to a computer, call 303-441-4342 to make arrangements to use the Office of Arts and Culture computer.
 

Statement of Interest:  Please submit a statement of interest that briefly outlines your interest in the North Boulder Public Art Project and experience working on projects of this kind (2,000 character maximum) via CaFÉ™. 

Résumé/CV:  Submit a one- to two-page current résumé or CV, via CaFÉ™ that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist.  Please name your résumé file accordingly: Last name.First initial (i.e. Smith.J.doc).  Résumés over two pages will not be downloaded.  If applying as a team, please submit one résumé with one to two pages per team member. 

References:  Submit two - to three professional references that can speak to your accomplishments as an artist.

Questions about the project:  Please contact Mandy Vink, public art administrator and North Broadway/North Boulder Public Art Project Manager: 303-441-4342 or vinkm@boulderlibrary.org.

[1] City of Boulder North Boulder Subcommunity Action Plan (October 2014) 
[2] Boulder City Council Resolution 1205: A Resolution Recognizing a Creative District in North Boulder (May 2017)

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria