Application Closed
Images | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 6
Video | Minimum:Min. 0, Maximum:Max. 1
Total Samples | Minimum:Min. 1, Maximum:Max. 6
Eligibility: Local
State: Colorado
Event Dates: 1/1/19 - 1/1/19
Budget: approximately $35,000.00 USD
(Colorado artists only)
DEADLINE: Monday, July 1, 2019 11:59 p.m. MST
Introduction
The City of Denver’s Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original work of art at the intersection of South Havana St., Cherry Creek Trail, near the Joe Shoemaker School located at 3333 South Havana St. This location borders the edge of Hentzell (Paul A) Park and the Hampden and Kennedy Neighborhoods. The Hentzell Park public art selection panel has recommended a site-specific, three-dimensional work of art designed, fabricated and installed at the specified location. A requirement of this project is to engage the students of Joe Shoemaker School (Hampden Heights Expeditionary School) in the creative process through a hands-on workshop. The goal of the artwork is to celebrate the community and the uniqueness and diversity of the students, and engage with the users, ecology and natural environment of the Cherry Creek Trail through the creation of a timeless and permanent high-quality art installation. Artist(s) should consider how the artwork will enhance the neighborhood culture, and celebrate the public space and urban waterway. This commission is open to artists or artist teams residing in the state of Colorado. The budget is approximately $35,000 USD, with a generous portion of the budget provided by the Office of Denver City Councilwoman Kendra Black.
Joe Shoemaker School is an Early Childhood Education (ECE-5) school named after former State Senator, Joe Shoemaker, who is credited with establishing the Auraria Higher Education Campus in Downtown Denver, and spearheading the clean-up of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek by founding the Greenway Foundation in 1974. The mission of Joe Shoemaker School is to ensure that all children achieve academic and personal excellence, experience joy in learning, and use their individual and collective talents and passions to become citizen scholars who value themselves, others and the environment.
The Cherry Creek Trail is a 42-mile paved biking/hiking/jogging trail that begins at Confluence Park and runs along Cherry Creek to Franktown. The Cherry Creek Trail has long served as an area of urban retreat in the heart of Denver and offers a safe and scenic route through urban neighborhoods while surrounded by native grasses, mature trees, birds and other wildlife.
The Site for the Artwork:
The selection panel has identified the interior of the triangle junction of the Cherry Creek Trail with the trail spurs from South Havana Street. The site is easily accessible by students, visible from South Havana Street, and adjacent to the Kennedy Golf Course. See image with site circled in red. See site plan.
Appropriate & Unique:
The selection panel seeks unique, one-of-a-kind artwork(s) appropriate for the students at the Shoemaker School and the users of the Cherry Creek Trail. The artwork should respect the natural scenery and speak to the history and topography of the site. The artwork(s) should also provide a sense of excitement and discovery. The artwork may also be interactive or kinetic. The selection panel is looking for artists who can demonstrate experience with integrating artwork into the built environment.
Materials & Media:
The selection panel is open to three-dimensional artwork in all media and materials. The artwork will be placed outside, along the heavily used trail; consequently, durability and safety are major factors when considering media and materials.
All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects exist in the public realm and are exposed to weather and physical stresses, as well as vulnerable to vandalism. Public Art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. The finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Selected artist proposals will be reviewed by the City of Denver’s Public Art Committee and other appropriate city agencies to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved timeframe.
Eligibility:
This project is open to artists residing in Colorado, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical disability. Artists working in any media are eligible to apply. Artists are not required to have previous experience in public art. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply for this commission. Contact the Denver Public Art office with any questions regarding this designation. The art selection panel would like to encourage that, in addition to commissioning an artwork from a Colorado resident, the artwork itself be fabricated in Colorado.
Applying for These Opportunities:
In response to this RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit six digital images, a résumé, and a statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™). Applicants will also be required to fill out a short demographic survey that will be sent to the email on file via the Survey Monkey website.From these applications, the selection panel will choose between three and five finalists who will create site-specific proposals and be brought in for an interview with the panel. Artists will be paid an honorarium of $500 for this work. Artists/teams selected as finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form in order 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. Finalists will be expected to pay for travel expenses from the honorarium. From the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission. The selected artist or artist team for the commission will collaborate with the Public Art Program staff and the design team when finalizing their designs for installation.
Diversity and Inclusiveness:
As directed by Denver Executive Order 101, artists/teams selected as semifinalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness form which will be provided upon notification. Denver Executive Order No. 101 establishes strategies between the City and private industry to use diversity and inclusiveness to promote economic development in the City and County of Denver and to encourage more businesses to compete for City contracts and procurements. The Executive Order requires the collection of certain information regarding the practices of the City’s contractors and consultants toward diversity and inclusiveness and encourages/requires City agencies to include diversity and inclusiveness policies in selection criteria, where legally permitted, in solicitations for City services or goods. Diversity and Inclusiveness means inviting values, perspectives and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, and integrates diversity into its hiring and retention policies, training opportunities, and business development methods to provide an equal opportunity for each person to participate, contribute, and succeed within the organization’s workplace. “Diversity” encompasses a wide variety of human differences, including differences such as race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical disabilities, appearance, historically underutilized and disadvantaged persons, as well as social identities such as religion, marital status, socio-economic status, lifestyle, education, parental status, geographic background, language ability, and veteran status.
Budget:
The budget for this commission is approximately $35,000 USD. These funds come from the City of Denver’s One Percent for Public Art Ordinance which allocates 1% of capital improvement project budgets of more than $1m to be set aside for the commission of new public artworks. The final 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 consultation, insurance (including Colorado Workers’ Compensation), tools, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, permits, 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 done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.
Tentative Timeline:
(Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments)
Monday, July 1, 2019 11:59 p.m. MST Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)
July Semifinalist Selection
August Finalist Selection
September Finalist Notification
Art Selection Panel:
According to Denver Public Art policy, the art selection panel plays an active and crucial role in the selection and commissioning of public art for Denver. The Hentzell Park public art selection panel is comprised of voting members and additional non-voting advisors. The art selection panel is responsible for reviewing the site, establishing project criteria, writing a call for entry, reviewing applications, selecting and interviewing finalists, and recommending an artist or artist team.
Selection Process:
Up to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the project. The selection panel will interview finalists and/or review proposals from the finalists and recommend an artist/artist team for the commission. The finalists will receive an honorarium of $500 to prepare and present the proposal in person. Finalists will be required to supply three professional references at this step to be considered. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and Mayor Michael B. Hancock for final approval. All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.
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. If an artist does not have access to a computer, s/he/they may call 720-865-5562 to make arrangements to use a computer at Denver Arts & Venues.
Digital Images - The applicant must electronically submit six digital images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or media works must submit a complete CaFÉ™ application and include links to the work uploaded online, such as YouTube or Vimeo.
Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications may be found at www.callforentry.org/imaging_tips.phtml. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303-629-1166 or 888-562-7232, or via email at cafe@westaf.org.
Statement of Interest - Please submit a statement briefly outlining your interest in the Hampden-Havana Pedestrian Safety Public Art project and experience working on projects of this kind (2000 character maximum).
Résumé - Submit a one to one page current résumé 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 one page per team member.
Survey--Applicants will also be required to fill out a short demographic survey that will be sent via the Survey Monkey website to the email on file from the CaFÉ™ application.
Please direct all questions about the project to Public Art Program Administrator Rudi Cerri at 720-865-5562 or rudi.cerri@denvergov.org.