Donelson Park Sculpture - "Spirit of Play"

The City of Brighton, Colorado is seeking to commission a permanent public art sculpture that honors the spirit of play for Donelson Park. This area is primarily frequented by young people and their caretakers, so we’re looking for a piece that will celebrate the joy of children playing, while creating a sense of community and a focal point for the area. Pieces that are brightly colored, interactive but durable, or otherwise engaging for children will score highly in our juried process, but we welcome all submissions! We are seeking to complete this project by May 2026. Consequently, submissions are limited either to work that is complete and ready for installation, or work that can be completed in time for a May 2026 installation. There is no entry fee associated with this call and artists may submit up to three pieces.

The City of Brighton, Colorado is seeking to commission a permanent public art sculpture that honors the spirit of play for Donelson Park. This area is primarily frequented by young people and their caretakers, so we’re looking for a piece that will celebrate the joy of children playing, while creating a sense of community and a focal point for the area. Pieces that are brightly colored, interactive but durable, or otherwise engaging for children will score highly in our juried process, but we welcome all submissions! 

We are seeking to complete this project by May 2026. Consequently, submissions are limited either to work that is complete and ready for installation, or work that can be completed in time for a May 2026 installation. 

There is no entry fee associated with this call.  

Artists may submit up to three pieces. To submit multiple pieces for consideration, please fill out a new application for each piece.

The City of Brighton, Colorado is located in the northeastern corner of the Denver Metro Area and has a long history of vibrant artistic expression. At the city, we honor our agricultural heritage and embrace our cultural diversity. We value innovation and creativity in building a healthy, safe, active, and engaged community. 

More information about the City of Brighton and its outdoor art may be found by following this link.  

If you have any questions, please reach out to Hannah Wold, Public Art Coordinator, at hwold@brightonco.gov. 

Thank you so much and we’re looking forward to reviewing your submissions! 

Application Requirements:

Applicants may submit up to three different pieces for consideration. Applicants will be asked to submit: 

• Artist CV
• Artist Bio
• For each piece, applicants may submit up to five pictures and up to one video of the piece. Artists must also submit a brief artistic statement about the piece, the piece's dimensions, materials, and weight, and any special installation requirements.

Artists may submit up to three pieces. To submit multiple pieces for consideration, please fill out a new application for each piece.

Selection Process:

All submissions will be reviewed by a committee of community stakeholders. After reviewing submissions, the committee will identify three to five finalists and city staff will conduct interviews with finalists to ensure installation feasibility. Finalist pieces will then be presented to the public for their votes. The voting process will be administered by the City. The piece that receives the most votes from the public will be selected for installation.  

Timeline:  

Submissions Deadline: November 30, 2025 

Finalists Notified: December 5, 2025 

Public Voting Period: December 19, 2025 to January 18, 2025 

Final Selection: January 19, 2025 

Installation Period (dependent upon weather): March-May 2026 

• This call is limited to artists based in the United States.
• Due to the nature of Colorado’s weather cycles, we unfortunately cannot accept pieces made from wood, plastics or bioplastics, or pieces that are mosaics.
• Maximum weight of the selected piece must not exceed 1,000 pounds.