City of Westminster - Public Art Installation - New Municipal Court Complex

The City of Westminster is seeking qualifications from experienced artists or artistic teams for the design, fabrication, and installation of a permanent, three-dimensional sculpture to be installed at the new Municipal Courthouse, located in Historic Westminster.  This artwork will serve as a prominent civic landmark and provide a strong sense of place on the fully renovated courthouse site. 

 Submitted artwork(s) may be

A.     Existing artwork from an artist’s or a team of artists’ portfolio

OR

B.     A new concept for a commissioned artwork specifically designed and fabricated for this site.

The total budget for the project is $75,000 which is inclusive of design, fabrication, engineering, materials, delivery, and installation.  The City will provide an installation pad for the sculpture and lighting based on requirements established by the artist/artistic team, their engineers and fabricators.

Introduction:

The City of Westminster invites artists or artistic teams to submit qualifications for a signature public artwork at the City’s new Municipal Courthouse. This new building will serve as a major civic anchor within Historic Westminster’s redeveloped justice campus.

Interested artists/artistic teams should submit qualifications, examples of past work, and, if desired, existing artwork(s) they believe could be suitable for this site. A shortlist of up to five artists or artistic teams will be selected to develop a concept proposal. If shortlisted, artists submitting existing artworks will still be required to demonstrate how the work fits the site, including any necessary modifications. Shortlisted artists/artistic teams will receive a $1,000 stipend. One finalist will be selected to fabricate, modify (if applicable), deliver, and install the artwork.

Project Goals:

1.       Create a strong civic presence appropriate to a courthouse environment.

2.       Contribute to placemaking and support the values of justice, community, and public service.

3.       Reflect the history and character of Historic Westminster and the evolving identity of the surrounding neighborhood.

4.       Be distinctive, memorable, and site-specific to the Municipal Court’s role and location.

5.       Harmonize with the contemporary style of the new Municipal Court Building.

6.       Be designed for longevity, safety, and durability in Colorado’s climate.

The artwork will be installed on the sculpture pad identified on the site plan during the final phase of construction which is anticipated for summer 2027. 

Artwork Design and Safety Guidelines:

The artwork should:

• Be durable, safe, and require minimal maintenance.
• Be fabricated with permanent, weather-resistant materials.
• Be family friendly and provide consistent messaging with the City’s adopted plans and polices.
• Have all necessary engineering certifications to ensure safety requirements are met.

The Municipal Court Campus is scheduled tor completion in the summer of 2027.  The artwork should be ready for installation concurrently with the final completion of Municipal Court project.

Budget:

The project budget is $75,000 which must cover all expenses including artist fees, materials, tools, travel, transport, installation, and other associated costs. 

Selection Process:

The selection process will follow the guidelines established in the Westminster Public Art Policy and Arts and Culture Master Plan:

1. Artist and Art Selection Panel: The City of Westminster will use an Artist and Art Selection Panel for selection of the artist/artistic team and the selection of the artwork.  This panel will include a diverse group of stakeholders including project management staff, construction team members, community members, and elected officials.  The Artist and Art Selection Panel will review submissions based on qualifications and artist statements that are provided through submissions via Café.
2. Shortlisting: The Panel will identify a shortlist of five artists/team of artists to develop concepts for the public artwork.
3. Concept Development: Shortlisted artists/artistic teams will be provided with additional project details and asked to develop one or more proposed concepts. Artists/artistic teams will receive a $1,000 stipend for proposal development and will be required to present concepts to the Artist and Art Selection Panel in person or via a virtual meeting platform.  Shortlisted artists/artistic teams may also be asked to meet with the construction team and landscape architects to understand important integrations of the artwork into the overall site design.  Staff will be available to meet onsite or virtually to further explain the site and project.
4. Final Selection: After interviews, presentations, and input from the community at community events, the Artist and Art Selection Panel will select a finalist and their proposed artwork design.
5. Final Artwork Design: The artist/team of artists will work with the city’s project management team to finalize the design specifics, associated logistics, and fabrication and installation schedule.

The City of Westminster reserves the right to make no selection if no suitable candidate is identified.

Timeline

• Café Call for Entry Opens:  April 27, 2026
• RFQ Deadline:  May 26, 2026
• Shortlist Notification: June 8, 2026
• Concept Proposal Development: June 8, 2026 - July 12, 2026
• Concept Proposals Due:  July 13, 2026
• Presentation of Concepts to Artist and Art Selection Panel:  Weeks of July 13, 2026 and July 20, 2026
• Final Selection & Concept Approval: July 29, 2026
• Installation Deadline: Summer 2027

Please note: While we strive to adhere to this timeline, dates are subject to change based on project needs and review processes. Updates will be communicated promptly.

The City of Westminster looks forward to seeing your qualifications and collaborating on this exciting project!

 Application Requirements

Interested artists should submit an application through Café to be comprised of the following: 

1. Professional Resume/CV: Limit 3 pages, including name, address, phone number, and email.
2. Letter of Interest: Provide a brief statement (approx.. 1,000 words) outlining your interest in this project and relevant experience with large-scale public art. Highlight your ability to create impactful, site-specific work and collaborate with the City and design/construction teams.
3. Preliminary Vision Statement: Provide a brief statement (approx. 500 words) sharing your initial thoughts or creative vision for this project. This is not a formal concept but an opportunity to share how you would approach creating a unique, monumental piece of art. Highlight how your ideas would contribute to making this piece a memorable landmark.
4. Portfolio: Provide 3-12 images of past projects relevant to this scale and scope. Include an annotated image list with titles, dimensions, materials, date, location, project budget, and commissioning entity if applicable.
5. References: Provide contact information for three professional references for similar commissioned work.

Eligibility Criteria

This opportunity is open to experienced artists/artistic teams aged 18 years or older. Applicants must have a proven track record of executing public art projects of similar scale.