University of Northern Colorado Campus Commons: Public Art Request for Qualifications

The University of Northern Colorado is requesting qualifications from artists and artist teams interested in creating site-specific, exterior public artwork(s) for the Campus Commons building. The public art budget is $255,000, which covers all costs including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and project documentation.

The Art Selection Committee is seeking an outdoor artwork or series of artworks for the exterior of the Campus Commons that embraces a sense of journey and discovery. The building features multiple public spaces from its exterior approach through the main entrance to the open lobby. Artworks should consider both day and night presence, as the building will be open frequently for performances and events. The committee is interested in selecting an artist who can create artwork with multiple components in various exterior locations, including the main entry, a triangular grass quad to the southeast, and a quad area between the Campus Commons and the existing University Center. Artwork should be experienced on a pedestrian scale and consider the thematic goals of the building, including its role in facilitating a layered experience.

The Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based on artistic excellence, conceptual and thematic compatibility, technical competence, scale, material, form and content, appropriate relationship to site function, contribution to diversity of the state's public art collection, resistance to wear and vandalism, ease of maintenance, and compliance with public safety codes. All applicants must be legal residents of the United States with skills and experience commensurate with completing a major public art installation. The committee reserves the right to give preference to artists residing in Colorado. Semi-finalists will be invited to prepare and present final proposals in person. Out-of-state semi-finalists will receive $1,500 and in-state semi-finalists will receive $1,000 as an honorarium for design proposal creation. Applicants must submit six digital images of previously completed artworks, a resume, and a brief statement of interest through the CaFÉ online application system. There is no application fee.