The Boulder Office of Arts + Culture is seeking an artist, or artist team, for a site-specific public art commission for North Boulder. This commission will complement reconstruction of the North Broadway corridor and visually acknowledge the NoBo Art District. The project’s location parameters – roughly .8 miles from Violet Avenue to US-36 – boasts the city’s only formal Arts District, serves as a gateway to Boulder, and is a mix in density of residential and commercial spaces.
Possible locations and themes for the North Boulder Public Art Project have been identified by the technical review committee and selection panel, with specific emphasis of the corridor character change that occurs near the intersection of Broadway and Violet. A creative response to the other key corridor nodes as defined in “Public Art: Parameters and Goals,” will also be considered. The project must be sited within the public right-of-way. Roughly $80,000 of the allocated funds are restricted, federal funds. The artist will be integrated in early with the Broadway Reconstruction Project design team to help identify locations and refine project art scope.
Eligibility
This project is open to all artists, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation or mental or physical handicap. Artists working in any media are eligible to apply. Artists are not required to have previous experience in public art. Preference will be given to regional artists in considering semifinalists.
Deadline
October 19, 2017
Budget Description
The budget for this commission is approximately $165,000 USD which will be allocated to the artists/team selected by the selection panel. $85,000 from the Community, Culture and Safety Tax; $80,000 1% Restricted Transportation Capital Project. Transportation Capital Project Funding is identified for urban design and architectural improvements integrated into the roadway reconstruction, to maintain reimbursement ability under the federal transportation grant awarded to the project. This budget 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; small tools; materials; fabrication; transportation and installation; including 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 of any kind. The artist(s) should be aware the project may warrant he/she/they enter into a design-only contract. The project timeline reflects a project that will be integrated within the Broadway Reconstruction Project construction. Budget will need to include all foundational and infrastructural supports.
Project Description:
The selection panel identified specific goals for this public art with the hope of creating a unique work of art that complements the Broadway streetscape and character of north Boulder:
Appropriate & Unique: The selection panel seeks a one-of-a-kind artwork.
Artwork Goals
Materials & Media: The project is currently open to artwork of any media. The final project’s location may be sited within the floodplain (pending details and permitting approvals), in the City of Boulder’s Broadway right-of-way, or within Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) right-of-way at the intersection with US 36, and may require specific permitting and approaches, and regard for proximity, safety and public exposure in a public right-of-way.
Durability & Maintenance: All public art projects in Colorado are exposed to weather, physical stresses, and subject to vandalism and should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Semi-finalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator or fabricator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the selection panel, the Office of Arts and Culture, the Technical Review Committee (a project-specific technical group comprised of city staff and Broadway Reconstruction Project design professionals), the Boulder Arts Commission, and the City Manager’s Office to ensure conformity with city standards of construction, maintenance and durability, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved timeframe, integrated with the overall Broadway Reconstruction Project.
Artwork Location Description
The North Broadway Corridor (Violet Avenue to US 36) is roughly a one-mile stretch through the northern-most segment of Boulder. Specific site opportunities within this corridor are reflected below in the selection panel’s preferential order, however the selection panel is open to site opportunities identified by the artist(s):
· The transition zone at Broadway and Violet Avenue
· Nodes/key intersections with Broadway (Violet Avenue, Yarmouth Avenue, Lee Hill Road)
· Underpass at Fourmile Canyon Creek
· North and south approach (or gateways) into the corridor
The selection panel is aware that, within the budget parameters, the project will result in a concentrated focus in one of these areas. However, the panel is interested in the possibility of a small-scale gateway work that encourages movement through the various locations included in the above bullets, and/or work that has presence in multiple locations, if even just hints of a larger experience.
Site History
Since its founding, Boulder has attracted visual artists, poets, performers, writers, musicians, designers, and creative people of all kinds as a beautiful, inspiring, and supportive place to live, practice their craft, and prosper in the business of their art. The residents, workers, and business owners of the neighborhoods of north Boulder have consistently demonstrated support for the activities and impacts of a creative district, the recommendations for culture in the North Boulder Subcommunity Plan, and the Community Cultural Plan.
North Boulder has a long history, starting as an agricultural destination and later developed into a neighborhood after WWII, by offering tracts of land to returning soldiers. North Boulder is unique to Boulder development in that it boasts a mix of density (both residential and commercial spaces). Additionally, the nearby Holiday Neighborhood was designed with sustainability and affordability in mind, providing a walkable neighborhood, public parks and many different types of residential units.
North Boulder is described as “mixed, diverse and unexpected. The old quirky Boulder with the new and young, all mixed together.”
The North Broadway Reconstruction Project will reconstruct the street infrastructure and make improvements to the multimodal facilities where possible. The planning and design phase began in 2016, with construction planned to start in 2019, and is anticipated to take 18 months to complete. The city’s Transportation Division of Public Works will manage the reconstruction project, and has a long history of integrated public art implementation into their projects. A key factor in the success of this project is the early and successful integration of public art design development into the overall reconstruction project design, recognizing that public right-of-way and public infrastructure have unique requirements related to transportation function, safety and liability.
The NoBo Art District is a grassroots, artist-run organization dedicated to promoting the 200+ artists and creative businesses located along Broadway and the adjoining neighborhoods in north Boulder, Colorado. The district is characterized by upscale, mixed-use new urbanism, high-end restaurants and shops, and a mix of funky, artist-friendly warehouses. The NoBo Art District, formalized through acknowledgement of the Boulder City Council in May 2017, creates opportunities for artists to connect with each other and the broader community promoting engagement through art, education and events. The NoBo Art District Mission is to enrich and advance the arts in Boulder through educational activities and engagement that promote the role of artists and creatives in our community.
Applicants are encouraged to review a sample public art contractual agreement prior to applying for any public art opportunities. The draft contract can be found here: https://boulderarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Sample-Public-Art-Contract-2016-2220.pdf
Selection Information
Between three to five artists/artist teams will be selected as semi-finalists, and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the site and will have the opportunity to meet with the selection panel and technical review committee during a site visit. The selection panel will interview and/or review proposals from the semi-finalists and recommend finalists for the commission.
Additionally, community engagement is a vital component in Boulder's decision-making process. Semi-finalists should be prepared to present or have their proposals presented to the public in some fashion during the decision-making process. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Boulder Arts Commission and the city manager for final approval.
Application Requirements
Artists are allowed to apply in teams. Artists applying as a team must split the allotted number of work examples between themselves.
In response to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), applicants will be asked to submit up-to eight digital images of existing work samples, up-to two video or audio samples, a résumé or CV, and a statement of interest in the North Broadway/North Boulder Public Art opportunity no longer than 2,000 characters via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™). From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five semi-finalists who will be brought in for an interview with the panel. If a formal proposal is requested, the artist will be provided an honorarium to prepare and present the proposal in person. Semi-finalists are strongly encouraged to conduct a site visit, and will be expected to pay for travel expenses from the honorarium. From the interview or proposal, artist(s) will be selected for this commission.
Timeline
(Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments):
Submission Instructions
Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered without exception. 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.
QUESTIONS? Contact Mandy Vink, 303-441-4342 or vinkm@boulderlibrary.org
