City of Denver: 14th Street Corridor Public Art Commission

The City of Denver is seeking an artist or artist team to create public artwork for the 14th Street Corridor, a twelve-block stretch from Market to Colfax that will serve as downtown Denver's cultural spine. The redesign includes 19' sidewalks on the north side and 16' sidewalks on the south side, permanent parking lanes, bike lanes, new lighting, signage, raised granite planters, seating, and areas for outdoor programming.

The public art selection panel seeks artists accustomed to working on projects of significant size and scope who can collaborate with the design team. The panel encourages a holistic approach that links and enlivens the entire corridor rather than concentrating attention in a single area. Artwork should create a destination, have both day and night presence, help identify the street as a cultural district, account for the scale and complexity of urban surroundings, and complement existing architecture. Artwork incorporating light, sound, or new media is encouraged. Possible locations include sidewalks, exterior ground-level areas, building walls, spaces above sidewalks, or the street itself.

Applicants must submit eight digital images of previously completed artworks via the CaFÉ system, a statement of interest (500 words/2,000 characters maximum), and a one- to two-page résumé. Artists working in kinetic, sound, or media formats may submit a supplemental DVD of no more than five minutes. Up to five artists or artist teams will be short-listed as semi-finalists and invited for interviews or to prepare proposals. Semi-finalists will receive an honorarium of $1,000-$1,500 to prepare and present proposals in person. The budget for the commission is approximately $180,000, inclusive of all project costs including design fees, consultation, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and documentation. Artists are not required to have previous public art experience; emerging artists are encouraged to apply. A pre-submission meeting and site visit will be held on March 8, 2010 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO, Room 6.G.7.