City of Denver: Buchtel Boulevard

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for Buchtel Boulevard, in Southwest Denver, District 6. The goal of this public art project is to enhance the Buchtel Boulevard corridor with a creative, engaging artwork that complements the Neighborhood Safer Streets improvements and contributes to a more welcoming and visually compelling environment. 

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is approximately $120,000.00 USD.
 

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project: City of Denver: Buchtel Boulevard

Budget: Approximately $120,000 USD

Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States

DEADLINE: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 11:59 pm MST

Introduction

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create original public artwork(s) for a new public art opportunity along Buchtel Boulevard, between University Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, in Southeast Denver’s University Neighborhood (District 6). This project is part of the City’s University Neighborhoods Safer Streets initiative, a transportation improvement effort focused on increasing safety and accessibility for people walking, biking, and traveling through the area.

The goal of this public art project is to enhance the Buchtel Boulevard corridor with a creative, engaging artwork that complements the Safer Streets improvements and contributes to a more welcoming and visually compelling environment. The artwork will be experienced by a wide range of users—including neighbors, commuters, students, cyclists, and visitors—and should thoughtfully respond to a highly active, outdoor thoroughfare.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is approximately $120,000.00 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 hosted a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Monday, March 9, at 5 p.m. (MST) via Zoom. The meeting covered project background and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Click here to watch a recording.

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 Buchtel Boulevard & the University Neighborhoods Safer Streets Project 

The University Neighborhoods Safer Streets project includes a series of transportation and safety upgrades along Buchtel Boulevard, such as protected bike lanes, new and improved crosswalks, and upgraded traffic signals. Together, these improvements aim to reduce conflicts between vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians, encourage active transportation, and create a safer, more comfortable experience for people of all ages and abilities.

Buchtel Boulevard runs through the University Neighborhood of Southeast Denver, near the University of Denver campus. This residential area was shaped over time by changing transportation systems and patterns of movement. From early rail lines and electric streetcars to the eventual arrival of light rail connecting nearby neighborhoods to downtown Denver, transportation investments have played a significant role in shaping the area’s growth, connectivity, and character. Today, Buchtel Boulevard functions as an important east–west corridor, linking residential neighborhoods, educational institutions, and major north–south routes.

The selected artwork will be integrated into an active right-of-way area and experienced at multiple speeds and from different vantage points—by people walking, biking, driving, and passing through daily. The project presents an opportunity for artwork to contribute to the identity of the corridor while supporting the broader goals of safety, connectivity, and placemaking.

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 within the University Neighborhoods and commuters along Buchtel Boulevard.

Goals:

The selection panel encourages artists to propose creative responses that feel authentic to their practice and meaningful to the site. Rather than prescribing a single theme or approach, the panel is interested in artwork that thoughtfully engages with the corridor and its users.

In general, the panel is interested in artwork that:

• Enhances and beautifies the Buchtel Boulevard streetscape, contributing to a more inviting and visually engaging environment
   
• Encourages people to walk and bike along the corridor, helping to reinforce the goals of the Safer Streets improvements
   
• Responds to the site’s role as a place of movement, transition, and connection
   
• Is welcoming and accessible to a broad and diverse public, including neighbors, commuters, students, and visitors
   
• May draw inspiration from the history of transportation and connectivity in the area, while remaining contemporary and forward-looking
   

Artists are encouraged to interpret these goals creatively and are not required to address all themes. Proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of the site, the public nature of the project, and the varied ways people will encounter the artwork over time.

Artwork Site

The panel has identified a preferred location in or near “Prairie Park”, the greenspace that runs parallel to this section of Buchtel Boulevard, between University and Colorado Boulevards. The goal is to encourage pedestrian and cyclist activity in the area and beautify this section of Buchtel Boulevard, while respecting 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 all mediums suitable for outdoor display. Durability and ease of maintenance are important at this location.  They are open to a range of media & materials appropriate for the outdoor environment, including (but not limited to) painting, sculpture, mosaic and artworks incorporating natural or recycled materials.

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 $120,000.00 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 related to the University Neighborhoods Safer Streets program. 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)

March 19, 2026: Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

April 16, 2026: Finalist Selection

June 8, 2026: Finalist Presentations*

July 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 Buchtel Boulevard 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, 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 Project Manager, lauren.hegge@denvergov.org, 720-505-0494. 
 

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: 
1) What experience do you hope public art could offer for people at this site?

2)How does your art practice relate to a place primarily experienced through movement and travel (such as walking, biking, or driving past)? 

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. 
 

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.

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

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