Parker Town Hall: Exterior Entrance Sculpture

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Town of Parker 

Town Hall Entrance Exterior Sculpture

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Town of Parker Colorado requests qualifications from artists or artist teams interested in creating a larger-scale site-specific public sculpture for the exterior area in front of the newly completed Parker Town Hall. This opportunity is open to sculptors living and working in the United States. Colorado artists and/or artist teams or artists/artist teams residing in Colorado’s neighboring states of Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, or Arizona are highly encouraged to apply.

 DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Tues. Sept. 8, 2026 5:00 pm MST

TOTAL BUDGET: $100,000 (all inclusive)

Request for Qualifications

Town of Parker 

Town Hall Entrance Exterior Sculpture

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Town of Parker Colorado requests qualifications from artists or artist teams interested in creating a larger-scale site-specific public sculpture for the exterior area in front of the newly completed Parker Town Hall. This opportunity is open to sculptors living and working in the United States. Colorado artists and/or artist teams or artists/artist teams residing in Colorado’s neighboring states of Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, or Arizona are highly encouraged to apply. 

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL: Tues. Sept. 8, 2026 5:00 pm MST

TOTAL BUDGET: $100,000 (all inclusive)

PUBLIC ART IN PARKER

The Town of Parker has elevated the importance of public art in the community through the development and adoption of a Public Art Master Plan in 2024. The Plan provides a comprehensive framework to guide the Town of Parker with a plan for the siting and staging of art in any media in the public domain. Parker’s new Town Hall is an important public space for the community, and this new artwork will be an investment for the entire community to enjoy.

DESCRIPTION OF TOWN HALL PROJECT

The Town of Parker recently completed an over 32,000 square-foot expansion and renovation to its Town Hall in downtown Parker. The original Town Hall opened its doors in 2002, when the Town’s staff level was less than half of those today. Town Council adopted a Facility Master Plan in 2021 that identified the Town Hall project as an important future need. The addition and renovation project began in summer of 2024 providing modernized additional workspaces for employees, safety and security enhancements, accessibility improvements, technology and systems upgrades, and spaces for additional community services. The style of the building is contemporary but is complementary to the existing building with similar colors and exterior materials, such as red brick, blonde brick and stone, as well as metal. Please click here to see the project page.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL EXTERIOR ART FOR PARKER TOWN HALL

The Town of Parker has designated $100,000 in public art funding for the commission of a new, site-specific larger-scale work of art outside the new Town Hall. The site chosen for the new sculpture is in a planted area near the entrance of the new building, and is surrounded by plants, trees, and mulch. The public is not meant to be able to touch or climb on the artwork. This new sculpture should be at least 12 feet in height so that it will be scaled properly to the building and become an iconic marker at the entrance. The artwork area has access to electricity, so it is expected that the artist can also provide simple lighting for the sculpture for evening and nighttime enjoyment.

PROJECT CRITERIA

There are no restrictions regarding specific themes or materials for this project. The Town seeks artwork that makes a connection to the site and complements the new Town Hall architecture but provides a contrast to the angular and solid construction of the building.

Other considerations:

●      Parker is undergoing large-scale growth and development throughout the town. This is especially true for the eastern side of downtown where Town Hall is located. The community is looking for a sculpture that is unique to Parker, which is rooted in its rural western history and heritage, but very proud of its bright future.

●      The project team has indicated a desire for sculpture that provides some contrast and color (curves, delicacy, lightness, airiness, softness, colorful) from the new Town Hall building.

●      Sculptures created may have kinetic components.

●      The sculpture is in a public right of way; subject matter should be appropriate for all ages and for a site outside a civic building.

●      The project selection panel has indicated that the sculpture should incorporate lighting where feasible and appropriate.

●      The Art Selection Committee has indicated that they will not consider figural bronze works, animals, or historic figures, for this commission. However, contemporary, less-literal interpretations of natural and historic subject matter are encouraged.

This project is open to US artists and/or artist teams or artists/artist teams. Colorado artists and regional artists from states neighboring Colorado are highly encouraged to apply.

Artists will be integrating their sculpture into the existing landscape design, so artists with experience working on projects of similar scale and integration will receive preference for this project. Emerging artists will be considered if they identify experienced team members to assist. 

MAINTENANCE AND DURABILITY

All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term preservation and maintenance of public art, along with the timeline and budget. The selected artwork will be in a central location at a civic facility and will be exposed to extreme weather, temperature fluctuation, UV damage and subject to vandalism. Artwork should be fabricated of highly durable, low maintenance materials. All artwork and foundations installed for this project will require a structural engineering stamp approved by an engineer licensed in the state of Colorado.

PROJECT BUDGET

The total project budget for Town Hall Sculpture Project shall not exceed $100,000. The budget shall be inclusive of all costs associated with the sculpture including, but not limited to: artist design fee, sculpture base & materials, structural engineering, electrical engineering (if needed), lighting instruments & controls, permitting costs, insurance, materials, fabrication, transportation, equipment rentals, installation, site modifications, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs related to the project.

INSURANCE

The selected artist will be required to meet the Town’s minimum insurance requirements plus other liability insurance that may be required for this unique scope of work.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Digital Images. Up to eight (8) digital images of relevant, previously completed artworks. Please give preference to work that is in the public realm and of the scale that is desired in this RFQ. 

Résumé or Bio: A current résumé that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist. If your resume is longer than two pages, proposals are required to include an Executive Summary.  If applying as a team, please submit a resume for each artist, with the lead artist first and an Executive Summary not to exceed two pages. Please include links to artist’s websites if applicable.

Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 300 words or less briefly outlining the artist’s interest in this specific opportunity in Parker. Please include a brief account of the artist’s experience working on projects of this scope and complexity. 
 

Responses to Questions: Please also include answers to the following questions in your application. 

1. In which state do you live?
2. Please provide reference information and brief project descriptions for at least two (2) current/recent clients for similar projects to the one described in this RFP Please provide:

o   Name of client and role in the project

o   Brief description of the project (within the past 5 years)

o   Client telephone number and email address 

SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

The Art Selection Committee will only review completed submittals. A short list of semifinalists may be invited to prepare and present a design proposal. A finalist may be selected from the semifinalists’ proposals and recommended to the Public Art Commission for approval. Upon the Public Art Commission’s approval, the finalist’s proposal may be presented to the Town Council for final approval. Public input may be solicited during the process as well.

Design proposals shall include images and descriptions of proposed art project, timeline for installation/completion, and proposed budget. A site orientation can be arranged if semi-finalists desire. 

The tentative schedule is as follows (subject to change):

Tues. August 4, 2026                      Call for Entry Open

Tues. Sept. 8, 5:00 pm MST           Deadline for Qualification Applications

Week of Sept. 14, 2026                   Review of Applications / Semi-Finalists Selected

Sept. 2026 TBD                               Virtual Q&A for Semi-Finalists 

Week of Oct. 12, 2026                     Deadline for Semi-Finalists Design Proposals

Week of Oct. 12, 2026                     Design Proposal Review / Finalist Selected

Week of Oct 26, 2026                      Present Finalist Concept to PAC & Town Council

November 2026                              Execute Artist Contracts

Late Spring/Summer 2027              Expected Installation

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Digital Images. Up to eight (8) digital images of relevant, previously completed artworks. Please give preference to work that is in the public realm and of the scale that is desired in this RFQ. 

Résumé or Bio: A current résumé that outlines your professional accomplishments as an artist. If your resume is longer than two pages, proposals are required to include an Executive Summary.  If applying as a team, please submit a resume for each artist, with the lead artist first and an Executive Summary not to exceed two pages. Please include links to artist’s websites if applicable.

Statement of Interest: A statement of interest of 300 words or less briefly outlining the artist’s interest in this specific opportunity in Parker. Please include a brief account of the artist’s experience working on projects of this scope and complexity. 
 

Responses to Questions: Please also include answers to the following questions in your application. 

1. In which state do you live?
2. Please provide reference information and brief project descriptions for at least two (2) current/recent clients for similar projects to the one described in this RFP Please provide:

o   Name of client and role in the project

o   Brief description of the project (within the past 5 years)

o   Client telephone number and email address 

This project is open to US artists and/or artist teams or artists/artist teams. Colorado artists and regional artists from states neighboring Colorado are highly encouraged to apply.

Artists will be integrating their sculpture into the existing landscape design, so artists with experience working on projects of similar scale and integration will receive preference for this project. Emerging artists will be considered if they identify experienced team members to assist.