Wadsworth Boulevard Improvements: Public Art Commission

The City of Wheat Ridge and the Wheat Ridge Cultural Commission seek to commission public art to enhance major improvements for Wadsworth Boulevard, from Interstate 70 to 35th Avenue in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Qualifications are requested from qualified artists and/or artist teams interested in creating site-specific public artworks for this project. A total of $475,000 USD is available for various sites along the project site. These projects are open to all qualified artists residing in the US; however, preference will be given for artists who reside in Colorado or neighboring states.

The Art Selection Committee has recommended the creation of site-specific artworks at several possible locations along the new streetscape. Locations include a gateway sculptural element at the north end where Wadsworth meets Interstate 70, medians and tree lawns (10' wide expanded landscaped green areas providing a buffer from the roadway), and a 405' sound wall at the southern end that buffers noise for a retirement community. Electrical can be provided for sculptural elements in median areas to provide nighttime presence. The commission may be granted to one artist to provide a vision for the entire corridor, or it could be split into discrete commissions with multiple artists or artist teams depending on the locations.

The established budget of $475,000 USD is inclusive of all costs associated with the public art project including artist design fee, structural engineering, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, site modifications, travel, per diem expenses, project documentation, and contingency. All applicants must be legal residents of the United States and must have skills and experience commensurate with successfully completing a public art installation. All artwork must be fabricated of highly durable, low maintenance materials and designed to comply with traffic engineering, public works planning, and Colorado Department of Transportation guidelines. Semi-finalists will be paid an honorarium of $750-1500 (depending on artists' residence) for design and presentation of proposals. The tentative schedule includes application deadline April 2, 2022; committee review and semi-finalist selection week of April 11, 2022; semi-finalist proposals May 2022; City Council approval June/July 2022; artist contracts July 2022; and installation in 2023. An optional site visit will be offered once semifinalists are selected.