Denver Zoo/City Park Public Art Commission

The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create artwork that will replace, hide, or integrate with a new 275-foot stretch of 10-foot chain-link fence at the southwest corner of the Denver Zoo, north of Duck Lake. The artwork should activate and soften the existing boundary between the Zoo and City Park, serving as a civic gesture and means to connect with the neighborhood and tourists who frequent the park. This area faces a large children's playground and picnic area, and the artwork could engage and interact with children and families in the area.

The Project Evaluation Panel is open to artworks in all media, materials, and formats, including landscape art, kinetic/3D artwork, 2D artwork, interactive art, and sustainable art. Artwork can relate to zoological or nature themes, but broader interpretation of the site is encouraged. All artwork must be durable and sustainable. Approximately $380,000 USD is available for this commission, allocated to cover the artist's design fee, consultation fees, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, travel, and project documentation.

Applicants must submit eight digital images, a résumé, and an artist's statement of no longer than 250 words via www.callforentry.org. Between two and five artists or artist teams will be selected as semi-finalists and will receive an honorarium of $1,000-$2,000 to prepare and present a final proposal in person. The entry deadline is May 4, 2007 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Semi-finalist selection is scheduled for May 15, 2007, with finalist selection on July 2, 2007, and finalist notification on July 30, 2007. There is no application fee. Artists working in any media are eligible to apply, and previous experience in public art is not required.