Project Goals

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the diverse communities that visit, work at, or near, and enjoy the 16th Street Mall. The panel is looking to commission artwork that will be beacons or gateways to the City of Denver and draw visitors to the Mall. Artworks should enhance the experience and engage multiple senses, harnessing tactile, light, and/or sound components to achieve these aims. Ground space on the Mall is limited and must remain open for public activity; therefore, works that utilize vertical, overhead, or other space-conserving strategies are encouraged. The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials suitable for outdoor display. However, the panel is not looking for two-dimensional artwork. Artists are asked to be mindful and respectful of the Mall's functionality, programs, and users.

The 16th Street Mall

The 16th Street Mall is Denver's premier public space and is the connective tissue that brings all walks of life together, serving as the public commons that anchors the City in a shared and inclusive space. Since its establishment in 1982, the Mall has served as a nationally recognized symbol of Downtown Denver's vitality and civic identity. As one of the world's longest pedestrian and transit malls, the 16th Street Mall is the backbone of the center city and the main attraction for a rapidly growing number of visitors and conventioneers. The Mall has received accolades for its visionary design. It continues to draw national attention as cities worldwide look to create a sense of place that encourages community growth and economic development.

 Today, the 16th Street Mall is on the verge of being reimagined, with extensive redevelopment plans underway and construction set to begin in 2022. The new 16th Street Mall will build on the strengths of Denver's main street by enhancing the pedestrian and retail experience, growing the tree canopy, and continuing the free shuttle mall bus ride. The redesign and reconstruction will consolidate amenity zones, create larger, more accessible areas for people of all ages and abilities, and enhance technology for a better 21st-century experience. 

 The 16th Street Mall - HISTORY

The 16th Street Mall opened in 1982 and has been the centerpiece of Downtown Denver since. It dramatically revitalized 16th Street, which was the premier retail destination in the Rocky Mountain Region since the 1890s but had begun to lose some of its lusters starting in the 1960s. The redesign of a city street into a street focused on walking and transit was led by the internationally-renowned firm of I.M. Pei and Partners, in collaboration with landscape architects Hanna/Olin Ltd., and opened in 1982 to pedestrians and shuttles only. Today, the 16th Street Mall serves as a live/work/play destination for the Denver metro area. 

 Mobility

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) FreeMallRide carries 40,000 passengers each weekday and is directly connected to seven light rail lines and three commuter rail lines. It serves as a critical connection between Denver's two regional transportation hubs of Civic Center Station and Denver Union Station and connects to eight bike lanes, three of which are protected.

Tourism

The 16th Street Mall is the number one visitor destination in the metro area. Annually, more than 1.5 million visitors stay near 16th Street in the 8,759 hotel rooms located within two blocks of 16th Street (80% of the total number of hotel rooms downtown).

 People

More than 100,000 people work in the 24 million square feet of office space within two blocks of 16th Street (2/3 of downtown's employees); 10,000 people live within two blocks of 16th Street (1/3 of downtown residents), and 500,000 people live within five miles of 16th Street (70% of the City of Denver's population and 17% of the metro area's population).

 An average of 20,000 people walked on each block of the 16th Street Mall every day before the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, pedestrian traffic has been reduced but remains higher than any other street in Downtown Denver.

Maintenance & Durability

All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects are located in the public realm and may therefore be exposed to weather and physical stresses, as well as be subject to vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts 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 ADA standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved time frame.

Application Requirements

Who May Apply

This project is open to all artists internationally. Denver Public Art is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad diversity of artists based on race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion, or affiliation, or mental or physical disability. The selection panel is especially interested in artists who can demonstrate a deep understanding of pedestrian transitways in the heart of cities (the local, regional, and international draw), as well as the area's history, urban landscape, surrounding neighborhoods, and current social and cultural events which fill Denver's main street with the sounds of community and connection.  

 Can a team apply?

Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé for the team, with no more than one page per team member.

 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™). The selection panel will choose three to five finalists who will create site-specific proposals and be interviewed in a virtual format from these applications. Artists will be paid an honorarium for this work. Artists/teams selected as finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form 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. Based on the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission. The selected artist or artist team will work with the Public Art Program staff and the Downtown Denver 16th Street Mall design and executive teams when finalizing their designs for installation.

Diversity and Inclusiveness

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, among other things, 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 variety 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

This commission's budget is $700,000.00 USD, allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver's 1% Percent for Public Art Ordinance resulting from the Downtown Denver 16th Street Mall renovation. This 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, any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, a contingency to cover unexpected costs, and any other expenses. For all work done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline

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

 Monday, October 18 - 11:59 P.M. MST                                   Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

November 2021                                                                                Finalist Selection

December 2021                                                                                 Selected Artist or Artist Team Notification

Project Selection Panel

According to Denver's Public Art Policy, the project selection panel plays an active role in acquiring public art for Denver. The 16th St Mall selection panel is comprised of 13 voting members and additional non-voting advisors. The selection panel is responsible for reviewing the site, establishing criteria for a request for qualifications, reviewing applications, selecting and interviewing finalists, and selecting an artist or artist team for the commission. 

Selection Process

Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the site and have the opportunity to meet with the 16th Street Mall design/construction representatives and Public Art staff.  The finalists will receive an honorarium to prepare and present the proposal in a virtual format. The selection panel will review the proposals, interview the finalists and recommend an artist/artist team for the commission. The selection panel's final recommendation will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and the mayor of Denver for final approval. All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Apply

This project is open to all artists internationally. Denver Public Art is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad diversity of artists based on race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion, or affiliation, or mental or physical disability. The selection panel is especially interested in artists who can demonstrate a deep understanding of pedestrian transitways in the heart of cities (the local, regional, and international draw), as well as the area's history, urban landscape, surrounding neighborhoods, and current social and cultural events which fill Denver's main street with the sounds of community and connection.  

 Can a team apply?

Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé for the team, with no more than one page per team member.