Downtown Westminster Signature Artwork

The City of Westminster is seeking to commission a permanent, significant public artwork to be placed in the newly emerging downtown area at Westminster Center Park, which is currently under construction. The artwork will serve as a signature element of the downtown and be positioned at a prominent location. The goals for this public artwork are to foster a sense of place, create a unique identity for the area, and strengthen community connections. The anticipated installation date is Spring/Summer 2026.

The City seeks a forward-thinking, unique, and monumental piece of public art that will serve as a symbol of the city's progress, inspire community pride, and become a community and regional landmark. The artwork should be welcoming and vibrant with a commanding presence visible from all approaches to the downtown. It should reflect Westminster's future and past, embodying energy, progress, and innovation while incorporating elements of flight and a shared community gathering place. The artwork must be durable, safe, and require minimal maintenance, fabricated with permanent, weather-resistant materials. It should be large enough to dominate the central space of the downtown, encourage pedestrian interaction, be family friendly, and include an integrated lighting plan that enhances visibility and aesthetic appeal at night. All necessary engineering certifications to ensure safety requirements must be included.

The project budget is $250,000, which must cover all expenses including artist fees, materials, tools, travel, transport, installation, and other associated costs. The City will provide up to an 8' 8" diameter concrete pad and perimeter lighting. The selection process will use an Artist and Art Selection Panel to identify a shortlist of three artists/teams to develop concepts. Shortlisted artists will receive a $1,000 stipend for proposal development and will be required to present concepts to the panel in person or via Zoom. Applicants must be experienced artists aged 18 or older with a proven track record of executing public art projects of similar scale. Applications should include a professional resume/CV (limit 3 pages), letter of interest (approximately 1,000 words), preliminary vision statement (approximately 500 words), portfolio of 3-12 images of past projects with annotated image list, and contact information for three professional references.