Rosamond Park

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create public artworks for Rosamond Park. The goal of the project is to celebrate Rosamond Park’s identity by drawing from its natural landscape and lively community activities, appealing to all ages and reflecting the park’s diverse users. It should offer year-round visual interest, especially brightening the park in winter, while incorporating playful, delightful elements that spark curiosity and encourage moments of joy and discovery.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is $95,000.00 USD.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Public Art Project: Rosamond Park  
Budget: Approximately $95,000.00 USD
Eligibility: Artists or Artist Teams residing in the United States 
DEADLINE: Monday, August 17, 2026, 11:59 P.M. MST

Introduction 

Denver Public Art seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create public artworks for Rosamond Park. The goal of the project is to celebrate Rosamond Park’s identity by drawing from its natural landscape and lively community activities, appealing to all ages and reflecting the park’s diverse users. It should offer year-round visual interest, especially brightening the park in winter, while incorporating playful, delightful elements that spark curiosity and encourage moments of joy and discovery.

The commission amount for an artist or artist team is $95,000.00 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 exterior spaces.

Denver Public Art is hosting a virtual pre-application meeting for interested applicants on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 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 receive information on how to join prior to the event. If you cannot attend, a recording will be available on the Denver Arts & Venues YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@denverartsandvenues/

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 Hamden South Neighborhood

The Hampden South neighborhood sits in southeast Denver near the county line. Annexed and largely developed in the 1960s and 1970s, it is now a primarily residential area known for its spacious lots and welcoming feel. The community is served by three large parks—Southmoor, Rosamond, and Eastmoor—with Cherry Creek State Park close by, giving residents easy access to abundant parks, trails, and open spaces.

About Rosamond Park

Rosamond Park is a beloved neighborhood green space in southeast Denver, covering about 35 acres along the scenic, tree‑lined Goldsmith Gulch. It offers a modern playground, full basketball court, lighted tennis courts, open fields, and a paved walking loop. Recent improvements through the Elevate Denver and Rise Bond programs refreshed the playground, upgraded court surfaces and lighting, and added 30,000 square feet of water‑wise native landscaping. With its family‑friendly atmosphere, easy paths, and flexible open space, the park provides a peaceful, welcoming spot for everyday recreation and community enjoyment.

Goals, Site, Media & Materials

The selection panel members have set forth goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating unique and seamlessly integrated artwork(s) for those who visit the park.

Goals

     - Create artwork that expresses and strengthens Rosamond Park’s identity, drawing inspiration from both its natural environment and the activities that take place there.

     - Ensure the artwork appeals to all ages and reflects the diversity of the park’s users, fostering a sense of inclusivity and belonging.

     - Provide visual interest year‑round, with particular emphasis on enhancing the park’s vibrancy and appeal during the winter months.

     - Incorporate elements of playfulness and delight, encouraging moments of joy, curiosity, and discovery for visitors.

Location

The selection panel has chosen one location where the artwork could be sited. It is visible from several vantage points, surrounded by accessible paths, and centrally located. Refer to the attached document for maps and photos of the location.

Materials & Media

The selection panel is open to all media and materials as long as they are suitable for outdoor 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.

Budget

The budget for this commission is $95,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver’s 1 percent for Public Art Ordinance resulting from construction of the new Rosamond Park. 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)

Monday, August 17, 2026 11:59 P.M. MST           Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)  
September 2026                                                   Finalist Selection  
November / December 2026                                 Artist Selection and Notification

Artists must be available to attend two meetings, a community meeting with representatives from the selection panel and a technical meeting with representatives from the Denver Public Art Program and Denver Parks and Recreation. These two meetings will take place in September / October 2026, and may be virtual, if necessary. The finalist presentation meeting will take place in November and all artists must be available to present their concept proposals during this time.

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 Rosamond Park selection panel is comprised of 9 voting members. 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 an artist or artist team for the commission.  

Selection Process

     - Three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as finalists for the commissions. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the park and potential sites and have the opportunity to meet with community members from the selection panel, and staff from Denver Public Art, and Denver Parks and Recreation.

     - The selection panel will review the proposals, interview the finalists and recommend an artist/artist team for the commission.

     - The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs and the Executive Director of Denver Arts & Venues for final approval.

*All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.

Please direct all questions about the project to:
Megan Deffner, Public Art Program Administrator, Megan.Deffner@denvergov.org, (720) 365-9326.

Applying for these opportunities

In response to this RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit the following items via www.CallForEntry.org (CaFÉ™). 

     - Six to eight digital images of past work

     - Résumé

     - Statement of interest (no longer than 2,000 characters)

From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five finalists who will be invited to 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 Public Art staff can guide you in filling out this form. The selected artist or artist team will work with the Denver Public Art Program staff, Bethesda Park staff, and Denver Mountain Parks staff 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 to eight 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:

     - Describe your interest in the Rosamond Park project and how your artistic practice could reflect or enhance the park’s identity.

     - Explain how your work engages a broad range of people, including diverse communities and multiple generations, and how you incorporate elements of joy or playfulness that enrich the visitor experience. Feel free to reference past projects.

     - Share how you create artwork with strong year‑round presence, including your approach to maintaining visual impact through Denver’s seasons.

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.

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, 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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