With 1% of all public improvement project budgets in the city going towards public art — over $40 million so far, Denver is a great place to be an artist.
Artist Information
The Public Art Program has worked extensively with regional, national and international artists and artist studios, as well as fabricators, engineers, photographers and consultants.
A complete listing of artist opportunities, guidelines, and resources is available in the Artist Information section. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to call and speak with a member of the Public Art Program staff by emailing publicart@denvergov.org or calling 720-865-5575.
Denver Public Art hosted a virtual pre-application meeting on Wednesday, September 25th, 5:30-6:30 p.m. for applicants interested in the Civic Center Park Artworks and Monuments Research Project. Please find a recording of this meeting available here.
Public Art Opportunities
BUDGET: Approximately $50,000.00 USD
ELIGIBILITY: Open to researchers and research teams residing in the United States
DEADLINE: October 14, 2024 11:59pm MST
Denver Public Art seeks to work with an individual, organization or team of art historians, researchers, public historians, or community archivists to research the historical background and untold stories of approximately 20 public artworks and monuments in Civic Center Park. The researcher or research team will conduct the research including potential interviews with people connected to the artworks or monuments and produce a report.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONSBUDGET: Up to $10,000.00 USD per project ($70,000 total)
ELIGIBILITY: Open to Denver-based applicants
DEADLINE: October 7, 2024 11:59pm MST
P.S. You Are Here (PSYAH) is a creative placemaking program from Denver Arts & Venues supporting short-term, collaborative and community-led projects that transform Denver’s outdoor public spaces. PSYAH projects build civic engagement, honor heritage, beautify neighborhoods and enrich communities to bring vibrancy to our neighborhoods and downtown.
A PSYAH project must be led by an individual, entity or organization that is connected to the neighborhood where the project will be implemented, and PSYAH projects should be physical in nature and be on display in a public space. Applicants should clearly respond to the following question: Why is your proposed project relevant to the community and public space for which it was conceived, and what do you hope to achieve?
LEARN MOREHave you ever looked at the Big Blue Bear or the blue Mustang at the airport and wondered, “Who decided to put that there?” Answer: a selection panel made up of community members just like you!
The Public Art Program is seeking interested community members, artists, and arts professionals who live or work in Denver to be involved in this exciting process*.
Each Selection Panel is comprised of a minimum of eight voting members with additional members added depending on the scope of the project. It is the role of the voting panelists to make decisions as a group concerning the final selection of the artist or artist team.
Denver Arts & Venues is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all our programs, initiatives, and processes. For this reason, we request demographic information as it is important that we ensure a diversity of voices are represented in our programs and decision-making committees. We value your time and offer an honorarium to our participants (excluding City employees and representatives from the Commission on Cultural Affairs). Thank you for sharing information about yourself.
*Participation in this survey does not guarantee you will be asked to serve on a selection panel.
Submit an ApplicationResources
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Sample Artist Contract
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Sample Insurance Documents
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Sample Art Budget
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Prevailing Wage Overview
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Copyright Information
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Helpful Websites for Artists
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Funding Sources for Individual Artists
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Presentation - Public Art 101: Applying for a Commission
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Presentation - Public Art 201: Creating a Winning Proposal
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Presentation - Public Art 301: After the Commission is Granted
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Public Art Program Guidelines for City Managers
APPLY FOR COMMISSIONS
If you are an artist seeking a commission to create a piece of public art in Denver, we want to hear from you. Please email publicart@denvergov.org for information on program guidelines, selection processes and deaccession and relocation guidelines. If you would like to apply for a commission, create an account on CafE (Call for Entry).
PUBLIC ART PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR CITY MANAGERS
Denver Arts & Venues oversees the Public Art program and guides all activities. The guidelines below are intended to clarify public art procedures and answer questions Capital Improvement Project Managers and other City employees may have regarding the program. Contact publicart@denvergov.org.