Swansea Recreation Center Public Art Commission

The City of Denver's Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for the Swansea Recreation Center located at 2650 East 49th Avenue, Denver, CO 80216. The budget for this commission is approximately $200,000.00 USD, which will be allocated to the selected artist/team. These funds come from the City of Denver's 1% Percent for Public Art Ordinance resulting from improvements made to the Swansea Recreation Center. The contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including the artist's design fee, consultation fees, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and any other costs. For all work performed on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

The selection panel has identified the outdoor plaza or landscape bed as the two preferred locations for artwork. Artworks could be created using diverse media, including stone, metal, plastic, concrete and/or fiberglass; sculptural applications are preferred. The panel is invested in local history, cultural diversity, community pride and resiliency, and hopes to see artwork(s) that reflect the rich cultures of the area, both current and historical. Artists should demonstrate a connection to the community and/or the recreation center, and the panel encourages artists to incorporate a community engagement component that prioritizes youth engagement. While not required, the artwork could be functional, offering a dual purpose such as seating. Electricity to the site is available, providing lighting and/or kinetic opportunities for the artwork. The selection panel encourages artists who have yet to receive a public art commission to apply for this opportunity.

Eligibility is open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States. Applicants must submit 6-8 images and up to 1 video (6-9 total samples). The deadline for entry is Monday, February 5, 2024, 11:59 P.M. MST. Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Finalist selection is expected in March 2024, with notification of the selected artist or artist team in May 2024. A virtual pre-application meeting was held on January 24, 2024, covering project background, goals, and the application process.