Introduction

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for the West Jewell Ave. Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge, in Southwest Denver, District 7. The goal of the project is to commission an artwork that captures the spirit of connection and motion—linking people, places, and stories along the corridor. The piece should acknowledge the layers of history in the area and create an inviting experience for all who encounter it, from cyclists and commuters to nearby residents and trail users.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is approximately $230,000.00 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 Thursday, November 20th, 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 Vimeo channel.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that the land on which Denver’s Public Art Collection works stand; land where we stand, live, 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 West Jewell Ave. Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge

The West Jewell Ave. Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge will create a safe, ADA-accessible crossing over South Santa Fe Drive and the adjacent rail and light rail corridors in Southwest Denver. Funded by the 2017 Elevate Denver Bond, the project will connect several neighborhoods (Ruby Hill, Overland, and Platt Park) to the South Platte River Trail, Pasquinel’s Landing Park, and Evans Station, which will close a long-standing gap for people walking, biking, or using mobility devices.

The South Platte River and its banks were historically Indigenous trade routes and later segments of the South Platte/Trappers’ Trail network. South Santa Fe Drive, which follows along much of the river’s run through Denver, has long served as a major north-south artery—once a 19th-century wagon road and later part of U.S. Highway 85. As traffic grew, U.S. 85 became a physical barrier between east and west Denver neighborhoods. The new bridge addresses that divide, crossing over S. Santa Fe Drive and advancing the city’s pedestrian, bike safety and mobility equity goals.

About the Surrounding Neighborhoods

Ruby Hill, Overland, and Platt Park each bring unique histories and character to the area. Ruby Hill, named for garnet-like stones found there, is now a hub for outdoor recreation. Overland was the site of Montana City (1858), the region’s first euro-american settlement along the South Platte River. Platt Park, founded in the late 1800s, evolved from Denver’s streetcar suburbs and is now known for its vibrant South Pearl Street district.

Together, the art project and the new bridge will tell the story of connection—linking people, places, and history through thoughtful design and public art. The bridge will be more than a crossing—it will be a civic hinge between parks, transit, and three historic neighborhoods with distinct identities. Art integrated with this project has the opportunity to reflect movement and connection across river, rail, and roadway; acknowledge the corridor’s layered histories; and welcome a broad public, who will experience the work at multiple speeds and vantage points.

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 that will use the West Jewell Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge in Denver.

Goals:

·   The panel is interested in artworks that tie into themes of connectivity and movement and consider ways to unite the east and west sides of the bridge.

·   The artwork should add color, celebration, and vibrancy to the area—transforming an industrial setting into a place that feels lively, welcoming, and inspiring.

·   The panel is interested in artworks that incorporate elements of interactivity—through light, sound, movement, or other creative approaches that invite public engagement and create a dynamic experience.

·   The panel encourages artists to learn about the Indigenous history of the area, as well as the more recent history of redlining and social and economic inequities. Artists are invited to consider how their work might thoughtfully, respectfully, and inclusively engage with these histories.

·   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 multi-sensory cues and designs that exceed ADA minimum requirements.

·   The panel encourages local and emerging artists to apply and welcomes a wide range of perspectives and creative voices and is interested in incorporating aspects of community engagement in the creation of the artwork.

·   The panel invites proposals that respect the South Platte riparian ecosystem (bird-friendly lighting, dark-sky principles, limited glare for cyclists, and strategies that avoid disturbing bat/bird movement along the corridor).

Artwork Site

The panel has identified a few preferred locations on or near the bridge, including the interior span, the east helix ramp, the west ramp, or the plaza area on the east side- with the goal being to enhance the experience for pedestrians and cyclists utilizing the bridge. 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 structure, including (but not limited to) painting, sculpture, mosaic and artworks engaging with light and sound. Finalist artists will be provided with additional information on location, material and safety information for artwork on the bridge.

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. Note: This artwork must be installed and finalized by December 31, 2027.

Budget

The budget for this commission is approximately $230,000.00 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 bridge. 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, contingency 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)

November 30, 2025: Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

January 9, 2026: Finalist Selection

Feb 20, 2026: Finalist Presentations*

March 2026: Selected Artist or Artist Team Notification

 *Finalists must be available on this date

Note: This artwork must be installed and finalized by Dec 31, 2027.  Please ensure you can meet this deadline before applying.

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 West Jewell Ave. Bicycle and Pedestrian selection panel is composed of 11 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, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Denver Public Library 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.

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

Application Requirements

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 Denver Public Art Program staff, Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR), and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) when finalizing their designs for installation.

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.

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 West Jewell Avenue Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge Public Art Project is of particular interest to you.

·       What might an equitable public art experience look like in the context of this project?

·       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). Résumés that are more than two pages will not be downloaded. 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Who May Apply

This project is open to artists residing in the United States. 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 careers and applicants that practice 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.