REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Wadsworth Improvements

Public Art Projects

Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Qualifications are requested from qualified artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific public artworks(s) for their Wadsworth Improvements/Widening project, located in city of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Friday, April 2, 11:59p.m. MST

SUBMITTALS ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY: www.callforentry.org

TOTAL ART BUDGET: $475,000 USD for multiple sites along roadway

PROJECT SUMMARY

The City of Wheat Ridge and the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission seek to commission public art to enhance major improvements for Wadsworth Boulevard, from Interstate 70 to 35th Avenue in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. A total of $475,000 USD is available for various sites along the project site. These projects are open to all qualified artists residing in the US; however, preference will be given for artists who reside in Colorado or neighboring states.

ABOUT WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO

While Wheat Ridge is a relatively newly incorporated city, it has a rich history based on agriculture and the community’s location along regional travel routes. It began as a popular rest stop for travelers during the Gold Rush of the late 1850’s. As unsuccessful miners returned to the area, they began farming the rich, fertile soil and an agricultural community began to grow. Wheat fields were converted to fruit orchards and vegetable fields, attracting buyers from across the Denver area. Eventually in the 1900’s the fruit and vegetable farming gave way to greenhouses and the world’s largest production of carnations, earning Wheat Ridge the designation of “Carnation City.”

As the residential areas of unincorporated Jefferson County grew to provide housing to the Denver workforce during the 1950’s, the major transportation corridors extending from Denver developed with commercial services. Eventually, due to the increasing annexation pressure from nearby municipalities, Wheat Ridge incorporated in 1969.

Currently Wheat Ridge is home to approximately 31,000 residents – making it one the smaller cities in the Denver metropolitan area. Today Wheat Ridge embodies the deep roots of a city with a rich history and a strong sense of community. But Wheat Ridge is a forward-looking community, with its central location providing short commutes to major interstate highways, the majestic Rocky Mountains, and the amenities of the large metropolitan City of Denver. With easy access from I-70, you can be skiing, hiking or participating in a wide range of mountain sports in less than an hour.

 ABOUT THE WADSWORTH IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

In 2016, Wheat Ridge voters supported the improvement of Wadsworth Boulevard to relieve traffic congestion, improve business access, and provide better options for pedestrians and cyclists. Last improved in 1950, this project includes modernizing and improving Wadsworth from 35th Avenue to I-70 with efficient and safe intersection designs at 38th and 44th Avenues, safer entrances and exits for vehicles accessing businesses, and a continuous sidewalk on the west and a bike/pedestrian path on the east side of Wadsworth from 35th Avenue to the Clear Creek Trail. With a total cost of approximately $60 million, this project will transform Wadsworth into a multimodal roadway that enhances traffic operations, improves access, and supports the vision of a livable, walkable mixed-use corridor.

For more information:

https://ci.wheatridge.co.us/1517/Wadsworth-Blvd-Improvements

https://whatsupwheatridge.com/Improve-Wadsworth

EXTERIOR SITE-SPECIFIC ARTWORK FOR WADSWORTH BOULEVARD

The seven-person Art Selection Committee for Wadsworth Improvements has recommended the creation of a site-specific artworks at several possible locations along this new streetscape. This commission may be granted to one artist to provide a vision for the entire corridor, or it could be split into discrete commissions with multiple artists (or artist teams) depending on the locations.

Locations include, but are not limited to:

• NORTH END/GATEWAY: the project area begins at the entrance of Wadsworth and Wheatridge from Interstate 70. To the north is the City of Arvada. There is a confluence of multimodal trails in this area as well. This area could be a site for a “gateway” sculptural element or elements.
• MEDIANS & TREE LAWNS: expanded landscaped green areas (10’ wide) will align the length of the project area, providing a buffer from the roadway for pedestrians and multimodal travelers. The median in this area will be raised and widened (to 17’ wide) in areas. These spaces could locations for a sequence of artwork(s) to extend the length of the project area. Electrical can be provided so that these sculptural elements provide nighttime presence as well.
• SOUND WALL: a 405’ sound wall will be constructed to buffer noise for a retirement community along Wadsworth at the southern end of the project. This wall could be a space for two-dimensional or relief artwork (at specific sections) or perhaps artwork that extends the length of the wall.

PUBLIC ART BUDGET and ARTIST CRITERIA

The established total art budget for artwork for Wadsworth Improvements is $475,000 USD. This budget could be used to commission one artist/artist team or be divided between multiple artists/artist teams depending on their expertise and proposals/presentations.

The budget for each site shall be inclusive of all costs associated with the public art project including, but not limited to artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, site modifications, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the project. 

All applicants must be legal residents of the United States. Preference will be given to artists who reside full-time in Colorado or in neighboring states of Colorado. The artists or artist teams must have the skills and experience commensurate with the responsibility of successfully completing a public art installation.  The City of Wheat Ridge and Cultural Commission will comply with all federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws in the administration and implementation of the public art master plan.

The artwork should be complementary to the streetscape designs and make connections to the site and community. 

MAINTENANCE AND DURABILITY

All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term preservation and maintenance of public art, along with the timeline and budget. Public art projects are in the public realm and will therefore be exposed to extreme weather, temperature fluctuation, UV damage and subject to vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low maintenance materials. Semi­finalists will be encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal.

 All artwork installed for this project will require engineering approval by an engineer licensed in the state of Colorado. In addition, due to the location along a major state road, artist must design artwork to comply with traffic engineering, public works planning and Colorado Department of Transportation guidelines. 

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The Art Selection Committee will review only completed applications. A short list of semi­finalists will be invited to prepare and present a design proposal. A finalist or finalists may be selected from the semi­finalists’ proposals and recommended to Cultural Commission for approval. Upon the Cultural Commission’s approval, the finalist proposal will be presented to City Council for final approval.

 Semi-finalists will be paid an honorarium of between $750-1500 (depending on artists’ residence) for the design and presentation of the proposal. Because of ongoing pandemic restrictions, proposals may be delivered virtually via an online interview/presentation meeting.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

SITE VISIT: Once the semifinalists are selected, an optional site visit will be offered for the group of selected artists.

 ABOUT THE WHEAT RIDGE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
As a community attentive to its cultural life, the City of Wheat Ridge recognizes the importance of art. Public art enhances the quality of life in Wheat Ridge and benefits its citizens and the community at-large. The City established the groundwork for an expanded public art program in 2002. This program has enabled the city to implement the acquisition of artwork for interior and exterior locations accessible to the public.  Public art acquisition and selection is coordinated through the Cultural Commission.

LEGAL COMMENTS

The Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission reserves the right to reject any or all applications, proposals, applicants, and projects, to waive any informalities or irregularities, and to modify or terminate the application process or the selection process for any reason and without prior notice. The issuance of this Request for Qualifications and the receipt and evaluation of applications do not obligate Wheat Ridge to select any proposal or applicant or enter into any agreement.  The City will not pay any costs incurred in responding to this Request for Qualifications except as expressly stated. 

Applicants are cautioned not to undertake any activities or actions to promote or advertise their submittal, other than discussions with City staff as described.  Proposers are not permitted to make any direct or indirect contact with members of the Art Selection Committee, the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission, the City Council, or media on the subject of this Request for Qualifications, except in the course of City-sponsored presentations or to submit questions.  Violation of these rules is grounds for disqualification.

QUESTIONS

Questions regarding this Request for Qualifications must be submitted by e-mail only to Kendall Peterson, Public Art Consultant no later than 5:00 p.m. MST, March 28, at Kendall.Peterson@theresquareddenver.com. 

Application Requirements

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications for this project must be submitted through CaFÉ™ (www.callforentry.org) no later than the deadline for submission identified above. No hard copy or e-mail submissions will be accepted. There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system. 

The applicant must submit the following:

 1.     Digital Images. Up to eight digital images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic may submit video content with their CaFÉ™ application. Digital images are required even if videos are also submitted.

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.

2.     Résumé: A current résumé that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist. Your resume may be any length, but the committee members are only required to read to the first two pages.  If applying as a team, please submit a resume for each artist, with the lead artist first.

3.     Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 250 words or less briefly outlining the artist’s interest in this specific opportunity at Wadsworth Improvements and the artist’s experience working on projects of this scope.

4.     Responses to questions: Please also include answers to the following questions in the CaFÉ™ application. 

• In which state do you reside full-time?
• Have you completed at least one public art commission for a municipality or state agency?
• For which of the three primary locations are you applying?

1. North End/Gateway
2. Medians and tree lawns
3. Sound wall
4. Multiple locations

Eligibility Criteria

 ARTIST CRITERIA

All applicants must be legal residents of the United States. Preference will be given to artists who reside full-time in Colorado or in neighboring states of Colorado. The artists or artist teams must have the skills and experience commensurate with the responsibility of successfully completing a public art installation.  The City of Wheat Ridge and Cultural Commission will comply with all federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws in the administration and implementation of the public art master plan.

The artwork should be complementary to the streetscape designs and make connections to the site and community.