Colorado Creative Industries seeks to acquire public art through direct purchase of existing artworks – original artworks that have already been completed – for Otero Junior College’s (OJC) renovated space for their Agriculture Science programs. The total amount of funding available for artwork(s) is $8,000. Funding for this project is provided by the state of Colorado’s Art in Public Places Program. This opportunity is open to Colorado artists only.  The deadline for applications for this project is July 19, 2019.

ABOUT LA JUNTA AND OTERO JUNIOR COLLEGE
Established in 1833 as a trading post for Native Americans, Bent’s Fort became the Southwest’s most important outpost and a stopping place along the Santa Fe Trail for travelers, trappers and explorers. Prior to 1846 and the war with Mexico, the fort was the last outpost of the United States along the Santa Fe Trail before crossing the Arkansas River into Mexico. In late 1875, as the railroad pushed further west along the Old Santa Fe Trail, a small settlement was established along the south bank of the Arkansas River. On May 15, 1881, the residents of this small railroad supply town incorporated and formed "The City of La Junta." The name "La Junta" is Spanish for junction or meeting place. La Junta is located on historic U.S. Highway 50, the "Coast to Coast Highway," in the heart of Southeast Colorado's farming and ranching country. Some of the finest melons in the world are grown in Otero County - the Rocky Ford cantaloupes. During the summer months, the Farm Markets in the La Junta area offer fresh produce from their stands along Highway 50. Between the La Junta Livestock Commission and Winter Livestock, La Junta is the second largest market for feeder cattle and calves in the country behind Oklahoma City.

In 1939, the residents of the La Junta School District Number 11 voted that bonds be used to partially finance a junior college building to be administered by the Board of Education. On September 15, 1941, "La Junta Junior College" opened its doors to the first class. In 1967, the 46th General Assembly of the State of Colorado passed the Community College Act, a law creating a state system of junior colleges to be governed by the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education. In 1968, the voters of Otero County Junior College District voted overwhelmingly in favor of Otero Junior College joining the state system and the college officially became a state two-year college in July. With the creation of the state system of community colleges, funds for establishing and expanding occupational programs were increased, and Otero Junior College became a more comprehensive junior college.  In the fall of 1969, Otero Junior College was designated as an area vocational-technical school, expanding its offerings in vocational education to public schools in the college’s tri-county service area as the Central Arkansas Valley Occupational Center. The college supports vocational and academic transfer programs, as well as certificate programs that ready students to step into the world of work or engage appropriate exams for specific external certifications. Otero Junior College offers its approximately 2,500 students a full college experience in a rural community that has many amenities and a safe environment. The college provides students with guarantee-transfer courses that will transfer on to all Colorado public universities.

ABOUT THE AGRICULTURE SCIENCE PROGRAM
The Agriculture Science program at Otero Junior College serves approximately 50 students with an array of courses to build the skills to allow for successful careers in a variety of agriculture fields. The program offers associate degrees in soil and crop science, agriculture business, animal science, agriculture production and livestock production. The program also offers a range of certificates in this area of study. Many of the two year degrees will transfer seamlessly to nearby 4 year institutions if the student wants to pursue a bachelor’s degree. This construction project is to renovate and add an addition to the existing McDivitt Hall on OJC’s campus. The new space will be for use by the Agriculture Science program and will include a new lab space, lecture classroom, computer lab, and student lounge. The lab will feature updated resources, including an indoor greenhouse, where students can learn practice applicable skills. The construction on this addition is currently underway and should be completed by the fall 2019 school semester.

 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ART
Otero Junior College is looking to acquire one or more artworks for display in the new Agriculture Science addition. The Public Art Selection Committee would like artworks that embrace the agriculture focus of the program. The committee is also interested in artworks that spark curiosity in students, while speaking to the history of La Junta and/or the region or the agricultural history of the area. The area is home to a diversity of agriculture and agriculture practices, so works that reflect this diversity would be welcome,  including those that demonstrate the influence and impact of migrant populations in providing a work force for the agriculture community.

 Due to the building’s design and usage needs, 2D works are the main type of artwork that will be considered. Works may be sculptural in nature, as long as they are wall-mounted and do not protrude more than 4”.  The Art Selection Committee will consider artworks of all media, including but not limited to, paintings, photography, mixed media, and fabric. There are a couple different areas available to hang artwork in the building, so artworks of various sizes will be considered. Work will be hung in the corridor between the lab, computer lab and classroom, and possibly the student lounge. The height of the corridor ceiling is 9’6”, artists should take that into consideration for the sizes of the works submitted.

 The Art Selection Committee will consider the following:

• Artist’s location – artist must be based in Colorado
• Thematic relevance (work’s connection to an expression of the diverse peoples on campus and the local community and connection to the agricultural focus of the building)
• Artistic excellence
• Technical competence
• Scale, material, form and content
• Ease of maintenance, minimal and low cost maintenance

 Additional requirements:

• Artists are required to deliver selected artworks to Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado in fall 2019 – please account for this delivery requirement when listing the cost of the artwork in the application
•  Artwork must be ready to hang and framed, if applicable. Frame must be in good condition.

 Submissions are limited to artists residing in Colorado. Artists from the southeastern region of Colorado are strongly encouraged to submit artworks for consideration.

BUDGET: $8,000 total
Artworks below, or up to, the budget of $8,000 will be considered for purchase.  Any artworks with a listed budget of more than $8,000 will be ineligible. As the school would like to purchase more than one artwork, artworks with a budget less than $8,000 are preferred.

 COLORADO ART IN PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM
All works of art purchased pursuant to this request are owned by the State of Colorado via Otero Junior College. De-accession of the public art, if necessary, will follow the policies and procedures established by the Colorado Creative Industries.

 ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must be residents of the state of Colorado. Any applications with addresses outside of Colorado will be disqualified and not reviewed. The Program 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.

 SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE
The Art Selection Committee will review all complete and eligible submittals of artworks in consideration for acquisition of artworks for the building.  The projected schedule is as follows:

 July 19, 2019 - Deadline for receipt of applications via CaFÉ™ system
August/September 2019 – Selection panel meets to select artworks for purchase
August/September 2019 - Notification of purchase selections
September/October 2019 - Drop off of artworks at OJC in La Junta, CO.

 APPLICATION PROCESS
All applications for this project are being accepted through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org ). No hard copy submissions will be accepted. The applicant will be asked to submit digital images of available artwork (see below for more information), a resume, and a statement of interest. There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system.

Digital Images. In order to be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit digital images of available artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists may submit 1-3 images of the same artwork within the same application, in order to show various details. Please include images that show the frame, if applicable. Artists may submit up to 3 available artworks for consideration. The maximum amount of images for all artworks submission allowed is 9 (3 per artwork). Each artwork must be submitted as its own application.

Instructions on how to use CaFÉ™ and format images/video can be found at www.callforentry.org/image_prep.phtml. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available during regular business hours by calling 303­629­1166, 1­888­562­7232 or e­mail cafe@westaf.org.

Resume: Submit a current résumé that outlines professional accomplishments as an artist.

 Statement of Interest: A statement of interest in 250 words or less must be submitted via CaFÉ™.  It should briefly outline the artist’s interest and/or information on the available artwork, if explanation is relevant. Statement should also address how submitted artworks relate to the thematic specifications of this opportunity.

 QUESTIONS
For more information or clarification, please contact Ruth Bruno, Public Art Program Manager, Colorado Creative Industries at 303­892-3813 or ruth.bruno@state.co.us

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
https://www.ojc.edu/
https://www.ojc.edu/academics/academicprograms/agriculture.aspx
https://www.ojc.edu/academics/academicprograms/pdf/AgricultureBrochure_1819.pdf

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria