REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project: Cook/Garland Park
Budget: Approximately $207,000 USD
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States
DEADLINE: Sunday, January 4, 2025, 11:59 pm MST

Introduction

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) in the Virginia Village and Washington Virginia Vale communities of Southeast Denver. Funded by the nearby construction of the S. Monaco Parkway Bridge over Cherry Creek, the goal of the project is to commission an artwork that encourages exploration and connection for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, while celebrating the local biodiversity of the area and creating an inviting experience for all who encounter it.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is approximately $207,000.00 USD.

A selection panel of community representatives, arts and culture professionals and civic leaders has been assembled to identify art opportunities and to select and recommend an artist or artist team for this project. The panel is seeking artists who work in mediums suitable for outdoor display for this project.

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Monday, December 15th, at 5 p.m. (MST) via Zoom. The meeting will cover project background and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Attendees will also receive information via CallForEntry.org, through which artists may apply. Interested applicants are asked to register to receive information on how to join prior to the event. If you cannot attend, a recording will be available on the Denver Arts & Venues YouTube channel.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land Denver’s Public Art Collection occupies – – land where we stand, live, work and learn — is the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary tribal nations that are historically tied to the lands that make up the state of Colorado. Our nation was founded upon and continues to enact exclusions and erasures of Indigenous Peoples. May this acknowledgement demonstrate a commitment to dismantling ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities as we intentionally honor and celebrate the Indigenous communities in our city and express our gratitude for their ongoing and significant contributions. Let’s not forget that this land was theirs long before we made it ours.

About the Cherry Creek Trail and Virginia Village/Vale neighborhood parks

This public art project is funded by the S. Monaco Parkway bridge replacement over Cherry Creek, which sits between the neighborhoods of Virginia Village and Washington Virginia Vale in Southeast Denver, an area largely developed during Denver’s post-war expansion of the 1950s and 60s. The bridge is bookended by Cook and Garland Park, which add to the area’s strong network of green spaces, offering athletic fields, a fishing lake, playgrounds, trail access, and large stretches of open lawn that connect residents to the Cherry Creek corridor. Together, these neighborhoods and parks reflect a blend of historic roots, recreation, and contemporary diversity. The new bridge project creates an opportunity for public art that responds to themes of movement, water, diversity (of human and animal alike), and community connection along Cherry Creek.

Cherry Creek is one of Denver’s most important natural and cultural landmarks. Long used by Indigenous peoples and early settlers, the creek became central to Denver’s founding following gold discoveries near its confluence with the South Platte River in 1858. Over time, major flood-control projects—such as the Cherry Creek Dam—reshaped the corridor and helped protect the growing city. Today, the Cherry Creek Trail is one of Denver’s most heavily used recreation and transportation routes, linking neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas throughout the metro area.

Residents in this area value the community’s diverse, multicultural, and multigenerational character. They describe the neighborhood as playful and family-friendly, with a balance of long-time residents and new arrivals, full of mid-century modern neighborhoods that create a sought after, welcoming environment. The area’s setting—where established neighborhoods meet the natural ribbon of Cherry Creek, blends city living with access to water, trees, and open space. Various wildlife is seen along the creek and parks, and the trail is used daily by runners, cyclists, and residents of all ages. Together, these qualities reflect a community that values connection—to one another, to nature, and to the broader city around them.

Goals, Site, Media & Materials

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the communities surrounding the S. Monaco Bridge over Cherry Creek.

Goals:

• The panel is interested in artworks that are interactive and encourage exploration, play and connection.
• The panel would like the artworks to be educational, to emphasize the Indigenous history* of the area and highlight the many uses of the parks and paths.
  *The panel encourages artists to seek education on the Indigenous peoples and history of the area from reliable, community-approved sources and consult with Indigenous-led organizations or cultural advisors if incorporating narrative or symbolic elements connected to Indigenous histories within their proposal.
• The panel encourages artists to learn about the local biodiversity of the area and consider how their work might safely and respectfully engage with local flora, fauna and wildlife in the area.
• The panel feels strongly that the artwork should incorporate principles of accessibility and universal design, ensuring it can be experienced by people of all abilities, including individuals with visual impairments.
• The panel encourages local and emerging artists to apply and is very interested in incorporating aspects of community engagement in the creation of the artwork.

Artwork Site

While this project is funded by the construction of the bridge, the panel has identified preferred locations within nearby Cook or Garland Park, with the goal being to encourage community connection and recreation in the area, while celebrating the surrounding natural environment. Finalists will have the opportunity to meet with community members as well as technical experts, to ask specific questions about potential locations prior to finalizing proposals.

Media & Materials

The panel is looking for artists who work in mediums suitable for outdoor display. Durability and ease of maintenance are vitally important at this location. They are open to a range of media & materials appropriate for the outdoor park environment, including (but not limited to) painting, sculpture, mosaic and artworks incorporating natural elements.

Maintenance, Durability & Accessibility

This artwork will become a permanent addition to the Denver Public Art collection. All applicants must consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects are in the public realm and will be exposed to physical stresses, as well as be subject to potential vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the City of Denver’s Public Art Committee to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete their work in an approved timeframe.

Who May Apply

This project is open to artists that reside in the United States of America. Denver Arts & Venues is committed to building a public art collection that represents a broad diversity of artists and encourages applicants from historically marginalized and underrepresented communities, including artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latino/x, People of Color (BILPOC), people with disabilities, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersexual, asexual, Two-Spirit+ (LGBTQIA2S+) communities. Denver Arts & Venues also encourages applicants at various stages in their career and applicants practicing a variety of artistic disciplines.

Can a team apply?

Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé for the team, with no more than one page per team member.

Applying for these opportunities

In response to this RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit the following items via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™).

1. Six digital images of past work*
2. Résumé
3. Statement of interest (no longer than 2,000 characters)

From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five finalists who will create site-specific proposals and be interviewed in person or virtually. Artists will be paid an honorarium for this work. Artists/teams selected as finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form for their proposals to be considered, which will be provided upon notification. As directed by Executive Order 101, this form must be submitted for all city solicitations of proposals. Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program staff can provide guidance on filling out this form.

Based on the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission. The selected artist or artist team will coordinate with community representatives, as well as Denver Public Art Program, Denver Library and Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) staff when finalizing their designs for installation.

*We encourage emerging artists without previous public art experience to apply.

Diversity and Inclusiveness

Denver Executive Order No. 101 establishes strategies between the City and private industry to use diversity and inclusiveness to promote economic development in the City and County of Denver and to encourage more businesses to compete for City contracts and procurements. The Executive Order requires, among other things, the collection of certain information regarding the practices of the City’s contractors and consultants toward diversity and inclusiveness and encourages/requires City agencies to include diversity and inclusiveness policies in selection criteria where legally permitted in solicitations for City services or goods. Diversity and Inclusiveness means inviting values, perspectives, and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, and integrates diversity into its hiring and retention policies, training opportunities, and business development methods to provide an equal opportunity for each person to participate, contribute, and succeed within the organization’s workplace. “Diversity” encompasses a wide variety of human differences, including differences such as race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, physical disabilities, appearance, historically underutilized and disadvantaged persons, as well as social identities such as religion, marital status, socio-economic status, lifestyle, education, parental status, geographic background, language ability, and veteran status.

Budget

The budget for this commission is approximately $207,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance resulting from the construction of the S. Monaco Parkway Bridge replacement over Cherry Creek. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering, insurance (including Colorado Workers Compensation), tools, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, ontingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. For all work performed on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline

(Except for the online application deadline, the timeline is subject to adjustments)
December 31, 2025: Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)
February 5, 2026: Finalist Selection
March 20, 2026: Finalist Presentations*
April 2026: Selected Artist or Artist Team Notification

*Selected Finalists must be available on this date to present their proposal.

Note: This project needs to be completed and installed by Dec. 31, 2027. Please keep in mind your ability to meet this deadline when applying for this call.

Project Selection Panel

According to Denver’s Public Art policy, the project selection panel plays an active role in the acquisition of public art for the City and County of Denver. The S. Monaco Parkway Bridge selection panel is composed of 10 voting members and additional non-voting advisors. The selection panel is responsible for reviewing the site, establishing criteria for a request for qualifications, reviewing applications, selecting and interviewing finalists, and selecting an artist or artist team for the commission.

Selection Process

1. Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the sites and have the opportunity to meet with community members from the Selection Panel, Denver Parks and Recreation, and Denver Public Art Program staff. The finalists will receive an honorarium to prepare the proposal and present it in person or virtually.
2. The selection panel will review the proposals, interview the finalists, and recommend an artist/artist team for the commission.
3. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee and the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs for final approval.

*All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.

Materials to be Submitted

Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. The applicant’s name must appear on all materials submitted.

All materials must be submitted online, via the CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system.

Digital Images—To be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit six digital images of previously completed artworks* through the online CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound, or media works must submit a complete CaFÉ™ application and will have the opportunity to upload one video file.

*Note: Previously completed artworks need not be public artworks. We encourage emerging artists to apply and ask that you submit images that give a clear impression of your work and indicate in the statement of interest how you might transition to public art. Examples of public artwork completed within a partnership, collective or apprenticeship may be submitted, but should be clearly identified in the image description.

IMPORTANT: If submitting audio or video files, do not use them as your very first image. They must be submitted last in your image sequence.

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at https://www.callforentry.org/uploading-images-audio-and-video-files/ . Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available here: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/ .

If an artist does not have access to a computer, s/he/they may call 720-865-5576 to arrange to use a computer at Denver Arts & Venues.

To request this RFQ in an alternate format (such as Braille, large print, or accessible electronic format) please contact DisabilityAccess@denvergov.org

Statement of Interest—Please submit a statement (2,000-character maximum) outlining the following:

• Why the Cook/Garland Park public art project is of particular interest to you.
• How might you collaborate with the local community, including but not limited to people, plants and animals that share the environment?
• How does your artistic practice align with the project goals listed in this call?

Résumé—Submit a one to two-page current résumé via CaFÉ™ that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. Please name your résumé file accordingly: Last name.First initial (i.e. Smith.J.pdf).

• NOTE: If applying as an individual, please ensure your resume is no longer than two pages in length. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé with no more than one page per team member.

Survey—Applicants will also be required to fill out a short demographic survey that will be part of the CaFÉ™ application.

References—Applicants who are selected to be finalists will be required to provide three professional references.

Please direct all questions about the project to:
Lauren Hegge, Public Art Program Administrator, lauren.hegge@denvergov.org, 720-505-0494.

Apply Now

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[1] City and County of Denver. (2014, December 1). Globeville Neighborhood Plan. City and County of Denver. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/planning/Plans/Globeville_Neighborhood_Plan.pdf