Denver Arts & Venues seeks qualifications for two new Denver Public Art commissions
Denver Arts & Venues is pleased to announce calls for qualifications for two new Denver Public Art commissions.
“We are particularly excited about these two new public art opportunities,” said Denver Public Art Manager Michael Chavez. “On the surface, they seem very different. However, they both speak to the ability for art to promote safe, healthy experiences, whether the art is experienced by a patient visiting a medical facility or by a child traversing train tracks to get to school.”
47th and York Bike Pedestrian Bridge
The Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original work of art for the 47th and York Bike Pedestrian Bridge. The future bridge will be located over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, at 47th Avenue and York Street. This work should be an integrated project along the ramps and covered portion of the bridge, and use sound, light or mixed media in a two- or three-dimensional format. The commission amount is $65,000 USD.
Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center
The Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create a site-specific public art project at the newly constructed Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center (OMC). The artwork should create a safe and welcoming environment near the south elevators on the first floor, and provide a “positive distraction” by offering a calming, uplifting, inspiring and safe experience. The artwork for this call for entry must be installed prior to the OMC opening planned for June 2020. The commission amount is $175,000 USD.
Applications will be accepted for both calls at www.CallForEntry.org through March 18, 11:59 p.m.
Funding for these projects comes from the City of Denver’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance resulting from the construction of the 47th and York Bike Pedestrian Bridge and the Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center. Both calls are open to all artists and artist teams living in the United States.
For more information on this and other Denver Public Art opportunities, please visit www.DenverPublicArt.org/For-Artists/#opportunities.
###
About Denver Arts & Venues
Denver Arts & Venues’ mission is to amplify Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, arts and entertainment opportunities. Arts & Venues is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region’s most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum and McNichols Civic Center Building. Arts & Venues also oversees the Denver Public Art Program, Create Denver, SCFD Tier III granting process, Arts Education Fund and other entertainment and cultural events such as the Five Points Jazz Festival, Urban Arts Fund, P.S. You Are Here and implementation of IMAGINE 2020: Denver’s Cultural Plan. Denver Arts & Venues is committed to diversity, equity and inclusiveness in all our programs, initiatives and decision-making processes.
About Denver Public Art
Denver’s Public Art Program was established in 1988 as an Executive Order under Mayor Federico Peña. The order, enacted into Ordinance by Denver City Council in 1991, directs that 1% of any capital improvement project over $1 million undertaken by the City, be set aside for the inclusion of art. Over the past 30 years these artworks, along with the historic and donated works of art, make up the City’s Public Art Collection. The Public Art Collection has expanded the opportunity for Denver residents to experience art in public places.
www.DenverPublicArt.org
About 47th and York Bike Pedestrian Bridge
The project comprises the design and construction of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge with stairs and ramps crossing over the Union Pacific railroad line, south of the existing crossing at 47th Avenue and York Street. The bridge will be constructed on unoccupied property south of 47th Avenue. Improving this connection and crossing was identified as a top priority and transformative concept in the 2015 Elyria Swansea Neighborhood Plan and the community continues to champion this. The project is a critical mobility improvement focused on improving safe bicycle and pedestrian connections between Elyria and Swansea Neighborhoods, and between Swansea Elementary School and the Valdez-Perry Branch Library.
About Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center
The Denver Health Outpatient Medical Center (OMC) will significantly increase the hospital’s patient capacity to provide outpatient care, meeting the future needs of our growing, vibrant city. Once completed, the OMC will measure 293,000 square feet, centralizing numerous services under one roof in an easy-to-access downtown location. It will include a day surgery center, expanded pharmacy operations, lab services and radiology. The building will greatly enhance Denver Health’s ability to provide treatment for heart disease, cancer and diabetes. It will also be a center for behavioral health, dental and oral health, and offer expanded services for eye exams and physical therapy. Consolidating clinics will free up much needed space on campus, allowing the hospital to boost primary care services, increase the number of inpatient psychiatric beds and expand operating rooms.