Denver Arts & Venues and Art Students League of Denver Request Qualifications for Two New Denver Public Art Projects: Westwood Recreation Center and Morrison Road Plazas

Denver Arts & Venues is now accepting qualifications for two new Denver Public Art projects: Westwood Recreation Center and Morrison Road Plazas. The Morrison Road Plazas project is in collaboration with Art Students League of Denver.

“The Westwood community is an amazing self-sustaining and creative ecosystem, and artists awarded for the project will have the opportunity to enhance and celebrate that creative spirit,” said Denver Public Art program administrator Hannah Leathers. “The art selection panel and the Westwood community are looking for artists who are locally involved in Westwood, or artists who are willing to prioritize community needs and concerns around displacement and gentrification. The two projects will be intentional, exciting additions to the neighborhood.”

Morrison Road Plazas
Budget: Approximately $100,000 USD for each of two locations ($200,000 total)
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States
Two artists or artist teams will be selected to create outdoor public artwork at two pedestrian plazas along Morrison Road (one at Newton Street and one at West Custer Place). These artworks should enhance the cultural vibrancy of the neighborhood. 

​​Funding for the south plaza at West Custer Place comes from the City and County of Denver’s ordinance allocating 1% of the Morrison Road Improvement Project construction budget for the creation of new public art. Art Students League of Denver is funding the artwork at the north plaza at Newton Street through a National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant.

Interested artists may submit qualifications at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=13800 through Monday, Aug. 19, 11:59 p.m. MST.

“We are really looking for artists with roots in the Westwood community, who are locally involved or willing to engage and collaborate with community members,” explained Rachel Basye, Art Students League of Denver's Executive Director. “These projects should uplift the existing identity of Westwood and build on themes that emerged during an open neighborhood meeting that we hosted with Denver Arts & Venues in March.”

Westwood Recreation Center
Budget: Approximately $250,000 USD
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States
Artwork should celebrate the culture and people of the Westwood neighborhood and welcome and enhance the experience of those visiting the future Westwood Recreation Center.

Interested artists may submit qualifications at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=13799 through Monday, Aug. 19, 11:59 p.m. MST.

Denver Public Art and the Art Students League of Denver are hosting a hybrid information session on Monday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m. MST for interested applicants of both projects. The meeting will cover project backgrounds and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications. Attendees will also receive information on CallForEntry.org through which artists may apply. This event will be hosted in person at Westwood Community Center, 1000 S. Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80219 and on Zoom. Childcare and light refreshments will be provided for those attending in person. Interested applicants are asked to register on Eventbrite to get information on how to join prior to the event.

Spanish interpretation will be provided. Other interpretation services will be available upon request, as well as American Sign Language (ASL). Attendees are asked to please email DAVLanguageAccess@denvergov.org to request services at least five business days in advance. More information on these and other Denver Public Art calls is available at www.DenverPublicArt.org/For-Artists/#opportunities.