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.
On Aug. 10, 5:30 p.m., the Denver Public Art Team will host a virtual pre-application covering three Requests for Qualifications: The Urban Farm, Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center Mural, and Federal Boulevard and 25th Avenue. Please register for more information.
Public Art Opportunities
Apply to be a part of a Denver Public Art Selection Panel
Have 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.
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Request For Qualifications Schlessman Family Library Public Art Project
Budget: $30,000.00 USD
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the state of Colorado
DEADLINE: Oct. 18, 2022, 11:59 pm MST
The City of Denver’s Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original public artwork, or series of artworks, for the Schlessman Family Library located at 100 Poplar St., Denver, CO 80220.
The Schlessman Family Library is the second most visited branch in the Denver Public Library system and serves a multigenerational, diverse and broad subset of the community. As such, the panel is interested in artwork that appeals to the library’s many users. The panel is very invested in celebrating the community that visits Schlessman Family Library and creating artwork that is inclusive and accessible. The panel is interested in artwork that is interactive and playful, and that invokes a sense of excitement for those who view it. The panel is also interested in artwork that could provide opportunities for members of the community or nearby schools to be included in its creation.
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Request For Qualifications Bear Valley Park Public Art Project
Budget: $17,000.00 USD
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the state of Colorado
DEADLINE: October 18, 2022, 11:59 P.M. MST
The City of Denver’s Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original public artwork, or series of artworks, for Bear Valley Park located at 6802 E. Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80224.
The panel is very invested in celebrating Bear Valley Park and creating artwork that appeals to all ages, particularly younger audiences. The panel is interested in artwork that engages multiple senses and that provides a tactile component. Bear Valley Park is considered by residents and park users to be a gateway to nature and the panel sees an opportunity for the artwork to enhance this characteristic.
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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.