University of Colorado Colorado Springs - Ent Center for the Arts: Public Art Request for Qualifications

Qualifications are requested from artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific public artwork(s) for the new Ent Center for the Arts at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Ent Center for the Arts is a new visual and performing arts center on the North Campus of UCCS, with construction slated to be completed in late 2017 or early 2018. The building will house Visual and Performing Arts programs, several performance spaces including a 750-seat main theater, a 250-seat recital hall, the 250-seat Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre, the Osborne Theater, and the Gallery of Contemporary Art. The thematic approach of the building's design is "art connected by light," intended to create an indoor/outdoor connection and serve as a beacon to visitors.

The Art Selection Committee is seeking an interior artwork to activate the lobby and/or hallway space of the building. Potential sites include a two-story wall in the reception area, which could be engaged with a graphic mural or 2D installation piece extending to the lobby ceiling, and a two-story hallway that would provide an opportunity for a suspended artwork. Artworks can be of any media as long as they are appropriate to the potential sites and do not block the carefully crafted views from the building. The public art budget is $174,720, covering all costs including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and project documentation. Semi-finalists will receive $1,000 (in-state) or $1,500 (out-of-state) as an honorarium for design proposal creation.

All applicants must be legal residents of the United States with skills and experience commensurate with completing a major public art installation. The Committee will review submissions and select semi-finalists to prepare and present final proposals in person. Final selection will be made from semi-finalists' proposals. Applications must be submitted through CaFÉ™ with six digital images of previously completed artworks, a resume, and a statement of interest (250 words or less). There is no application fee. For questions, contact Ruth Bruno, Public Art Program Manager, Colorado Creative Industries at 303-892-3813 or [email protected].