2022 Pollinator Habitat Project

The City of Thornton in collaboration with the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO) is seeking to commission public art in the form of two new pollinator habitats, structures, or spaces that provide shelter for a specific pollinator species. These habitats will be installed in pollinator gardens. The selected artist will research, design, build and install species-specific habitats. The City of Thornton's Parks and Open Space Divisions will work with the selected artist to identify native species of plants that support the design of each pollinator habitat. This work is intended to be a permanent addition to the Thornton public art collection and parks environments. The city reserves the right to remove any artworks for any reason, at any time.

Successful proposals must demonstrate functional value by being well-researched to meet the biological needs of a specific pollinator species, educational value that engages residents on themes such as the importance of pollinators and environmental protection, cohesive and forward-thinking design, dynamic use of color and composition, interdisciplinary practice with emphasis on creativity and innovative materials, experience with large-scale fabrication and installation, and strong understanding of audience engagement and outdoor public art durability. Applicants must ensure visitor safety and security, use durable materials requiring minimal maintenance, account for external factors affecting artwork condition (sunlight, weather, temperature, wind, animal and human interaction), and provide detailed maintenance guidelines. Designs cannot contain business promotions, advertisements, intellectual property breaches, or illegal depictions, and must be family-friendly.

The project budget is $77,000, inclusive of artist's fee, materials, fabrication, equipment rentals, licenses, permits, and insurance. The selection process includes five rounds: Portfolio Review, Semi Finalist Deliberation, Design Presentations (via Zoom), Final Deliberation, and Council Recommendation and Final Approval. Semifinalists will receive a modest honorarium to create a site-specific proposal. Work samples must include a minimum of 3 and maximum of 15 images, 0-5 videos, for a total of 3-20 samples. International artists are eligible.