Wellington Webb Municipal Building

Denver Public Art seeks to commission five artists or artist teams to create public artworks for the interior of the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building located at 201 W Colfax Ave., in Denver, CO. The goal of the project is to commission artwork that celebrates, illuminates and embodies the spirit of the work municipal employees do for the City and County of Denver, specifically the agencies currently housed in the Webb Building. Selected artists will have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with city workers and patrons of the building to inform the creation of the work. During the contracted timeframe, artists will have access to a shared clean studio space inside the Webb Building to use for their own artmaking, workshops, and meetings or collaborations with city employees and the public. The commission amount for each artist or artist team is approximately $25,000-$50,000.00 USD.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project: Wellington Webb Municipal Building  

Budget: Approximately $25,000-$50,000 (per commission) USD

Eligibility: Artists or Artist Teams residing in the United States

DEADLINE: Monday, August 19, 2024, 11:59 P.M. MST

Para español, pour le français, dành cho người việt, 对于中国人来说, Duìyú zhōngguó rén lái shuō, ለአማርኛ, le’āmarinya: https://denverpublicart.org/for-artists/webb-building-rfq/

Introduction

Denver Public Art seeks to commission five artists or artist teams to create public artworks for the interior of the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building located at 201 W Colfax Ave., in Denver, CO. The goal of the project is to commission artwork that celebrates, illuminates and embodies the spirit of the work municipal employees do for the City and County of Denver, specifically the agencies currently housed in the Webb Building. Selected artists will have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with city workers and patrons of the building to inform the creation of the work. During the contracted timeframe, artists will have access to a shared clean studio space inside the Webb Building to use for their own artmaking, workshops, and meetings or collaborations with city employees and the public. The commission amount for each artist or artist team is approximately $25,000-$50,000.00 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 artists or artist teams for this project. The selection panel has identified seven hallways in the interior of the building as potential locations for artworks. Six of the hallway locations are currently utilized by various city agencies and municipal workers, with differing levels of access from patrons and residents. The final hallway is located in the Clerk and Recorder’s office on the first floor, which the public utilizes to acquire marriage licenses and other public records. The panel is looking for artists who work in all mediums suitable for indoor walls and interior spaces (drawing, painting, videography, photography, printmaking, fiber, installation, performance, etc.) for this project.

The panel will select a minimum of five artists or artist teams for the allocated budget of a range of $25,000-$50,000, depending on the specific site and the scope of work.

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will cover project background and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Attendees will also receive information on CallForEntry.org through which artists may apply. This event will be hosted on Zoom. Interested applicants are asked to register to get 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 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 Webb Building

The 704,000 square foot, Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building houses more than 1,800 employees from 52 agencies and sub-agencies of the City and County of Denver. The building is a 12-story office tower with 571 underground parking spaces. The philosophy behind the building was to create a central location for city agencies at a prominent location near Civic Center Park, and a place for taxpayers to easily conduct business with a range of city departments. Currently, the building is occupied by agencies such as the City Auditor's office, the Clerk and Recorder’s office, the District Attorney's office, the Department of Transporation and Infrastructure, the Office of Special Events, the Department of Finance, and the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships to name a few.

About Wellington Webb

Wellington E. Webb (born February 17, 1941) served in the Colorado House of Representatives and was the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado, serving from 1991 to 2003. Under his administration, Denver International Airport was completed and opened, and downtown Denver was revitalized with vibrant residential and commercial foundations. Webb added more park and open space than any mayor in history, and oversaw the passage of numerous bond issues, which expanded the arts, culture and professional sports venues in the heart of the city. 

Source: Webb Group International, LLC (webbgroupintl.com)

Goals, Site, Media & Materials

The selection panel members have set forth specific goals for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and inspiring works of art for the users of the Webb Municipal Building.

Goals

• The artworks should creatively celebrate and illuminate the work of City of Denver employees and agencies (which does not have to be directly representational)
• The artwork should enhance the experience of the city workers and patrons who utilize the Webb Building interior spaces day to day
• Artists will be required to collaborate or engage with city employees as a part of the commission. Artists may conduct workshops or interviews, or engage with the free studio space and the building’s employees in ways that are suitable to their own practice

The selection panel is interested in artwork that:

• Will provide color, excitement or liveliness to the interior spaces.
• Reflects Denver's rich and multifaceted history, capturing both its celebrated moments and its challenges.
• Takes risks, is multisensory, or provides a memorable space for patrons and city employees.
• Is designed for inclusivity and to be enjoyed by everyone, including people with disabilities.
• Highlights the employees potential to positively impact the community (voting rights, marriage rights, providing care for parks, venues, the environment, and infrastructure that connect us).

Artwork Site

The selection panel has identified seven hallways on the interior of the building as potential locations for artworks. Each hallway is currently utilized by various city agencies. The hallways are all very long and narrow and are similar in shape and appearance. The panel is looking for artists who work in all mediums suitable for indoor walls and interior spaces (drawing, painting, videography, printmaking, sound, installation, performance, etc.) for this project.

The dimensions of the hallways are as follows:

Level 1: ~93ft x 9ft

Level 5: ~164ft x 9ft

Level 6: ~211ft x 9ft

Level 7: ~239ft x 9ft

Level 9: ~191ft x 9ft

Level 10: ~148ft x 9ft

Level 11: ~146ft x 10ft

Media & Materials
The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials suitable for indoor display.

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 being subject to 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. 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 work in an approved timeframe.

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 five artists or artist teams for the commissions. If needed, the selection panel will schedule interviews with a short list of applicants to make final selections (in person or virtually). Artists/teams selected as finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form 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 Public Art staff can guide you in filling out this form. The selected artist or artist teams will work with the Denver Public Art Program staff, and Denver Arts & Venues staff when finalizing their designs for installation.

Budget

The budget for each of the five commissions is $25,000.00-$50,000.00 USD which will be allocated to each artist/team selected depending on the specific site, and the scope of work. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance resulting from Webb Municipal Building renovation project. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the art project including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering consultation, 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 associated costs. For all work done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

Timeline

(Except for the online application deadline, the timeline is subject to adjustments)

August 19, 2024 11:59 P.M. MST      Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)  

September/October 2024                   Finalist Selection  

December 2024                                 Artist Selection and Notification 

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 Webb Building selection panel is comprised of 13 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 finally for selecting artist or artist teams for the commission. 

Selection Process

1. Five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists for the commissions. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the sites and have the opportunity to meet with community members from the selection panel and Denver Public Art staff.
2. The selection panel will review the submission materials (résumé, artist statement, portfolio images), and recommend artists/artist teams for the commissions.
3. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and the mayor of Denver 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.

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) 515-5768 to make arrangements 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 characters maximum) outlining the following:

• Why the Webb Building public art project is of special interest to you.
• Your relationship to or interest in city government and/or the work the City of Denver and its employees do.
• Your interest in collaborating with and getting to know City employees and their work as a part of the project’s artistic process.
• Your design approach and experience working on public art projects.
• Please also include information on your experience working with diverse communities and stakeholders.

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.

Please direct all questions about the project to:

Hannah Leathers, Public Art Program Administrator, Hannah.Leathers@denvergov.org, (720) 515-5768

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 to 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.

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 in solicitations for City services or goods when legally permitted. Diversity and Inclusiveness means inviting values, perspectives and contributions of people from diverse backgrounds, and integrating diversity into 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, disabilities, appearance, and 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.

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

Denver Arts & Venues complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, gender, or language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations if needed. Please contact Denver Arts & Venues at DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org and these services will be provided to you free of charge.

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