City of Denver: Decatur/Federal Public Art Project

Arts & Venues Denver announces a public art commission opportunity for a 3-dimensional artwork at the newly constructed Regional Transportation District (RTD) Light Rail Station at Decatur Street and Federal Boulevard in Denver, Colorado. The West Rail Line is a 12.1-mile light rail transit corridor between the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver and the Jefferson County Government Center in Golden. The Decatur/Federal Station is the first station on the West Rail Line east of Downtown Denver and will serve the surrounding community as well as Invesco Field to the north, with more than 4,000 riders expected to utilize this station daily once light rail opens in May 2013.

The Project Selection Panel seeks to commission an artist or artists' team to create a 3-dimensional artwork for one of two identified locations. The selection panel has suggested the artwork be noticeable to people traveling by car on Federal Boulevard (north or south bound lanes) and/or traveling by foot to the Light Rail platform, functioning as a beacon or way-finding artwork. Artworks should draw people into the site and can be stand-alone sculptures, kinetic sculptures, or include light or sound components. The surrounding community houses a diverse group of families and businesses, and the artwork should reflect the multi-cultural diversity of the area. The project budget is approximately $22,000 (all inclusive). Eligibility is open to Colorado artists. Up to five artists or artist teams will be short-listed as semi-finalists and asked to return for an interview or prepare a proposal. Semi-finalists will receive an honorarium of $600.00 to prepare and present proposals in person. The selected artist(s) will be required to enter into a contract with the City and County of Denver and obtain insurance as required by the City.

Applications must be submitted online via the CaFÉ system. Applicants must submit eight digital images of previously completed artworks. Artists working with kinetic, sound, or media works must also submit a DVD of no more than five minutes. A statement of interest (maximum 2,000 characters) and a one- to two-page résumé must be included. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2011. The Project Selection Panel will meet in July 2011 to review materials and select finalists. Finalists will be notified in August 2011, with contract negotiation, preliminary and final design, and installation phases overseen by Arts & Venues Denver in September 2011. Fabrication is scheduled for Summer 2012, with artwork completion and installation in Fall 2012. Denver's Public Art 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. Artists working in any media are eligible to apply.