Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway: Artist Call for Public Artworks

The Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway, led by the Office of Governor Polis, is a public-private partnership project connecting the Capitol Complex to Lincoln Veterans Park in Denver, Colorado. The project celebrates Colorado's 150th anniversary and will serve as a highly functional structure of public art weaving the state's rich heritage into a safe and vibrant pathway. History Colorado acts as the fiscal agent, with the Department of Personnel and Administration's Public-Private Partnership office contracting with the design and construction team.

Up to 20 artists or artist teams will be selected to create projects depicting or celebrating one of Colorado's pre-determined historical narratives, including civic, cultural, and industrial stories. Up to $2 million is dedicated to public arts spending for this project, including design stipends and final budgets for each artwork, allocated on a case-by-case basis. Creatives of all mediums are encouraged to apply, including visual artists (steel, bronze, carpentry, mural/painting, illustration), literary arts, musicians, lighting specialists, vocalists, and digital artists.

Applicants must be Colorado residents, with exceptions for artists affiliated with tribes with ties to Colorado land. Existing public arts experience is not required. Applications must include a resume or CV, a statement of interest (500 words or less), and 6-10 digital portfolio files (up to 2 video and 2 audio files). The artist selection process will be complete by June 1st, 2025, with ideal walkway completion in August 2026. The application deadline is April 1, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MDT.