Denver Arts & Venues Requests Qualifications for a New Public Art Project for Colfax Bus Rapid Transit Stations

Denver Arts & Venues is now accepting qualifications for a new Denver Public Art project for 15 separate stations along the future East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Denver. 

The locations for artworks will include new BRT stations from Pennsylvania Street eastward to Uinta Street along the Colfax Avenue corridor. Five selected artists or artist teams will be responsible for designs for the glass canopies. Each artist or team will design artworks for three stations. The fabrication and installation of the glass will be the responsibility of the project construction team.

“The Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project provides a unique opportunity to integrate two-dimensional artwork into the glass canopies above each station platform, for the entire length of the route from Pennsylvania Street to Uinta Street,” said Michael Chavez, manager for the Denver Public Art program. “This is a design-only commission, so artists interested in the project do not need to demonstrate previous experience with public art fabrication or installation.”

Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Public Art Project - Budget: Approximately $90,000 per selected artist or artist team. Open to artists or artist teams residing in the United States.
After years of studying East Colfax Avenue and gathering significant community input, the City and County of Denver will implement a center-running bus rapid transit (BRT) service from Broadway to Yosemite with a dedicated transit lane in each direction. The project includes new and enhanced transit stations, service amenities, improved pedestrian and bike connections, and placemaking opportunities. West of Civic Center Station to Denver Union Station, the BRT line will operate in the side-running transit lanes along 15th and 17th Streets. East of Yosemite to I-225, the BRT line will be side-running in mixed flow traffic with potential enhanced stations that will be coordinated with the City of Aurora. The panel is looking for artworks that highlight and bolster the history and diversity along the corridor and demonstrate an understanding of the spirit of Colfax Avenue. Works should be designed to be enjoyed by a diverse group of people, including people with disabilities, immigrants, commuters, and pedestrians who congregate along Colfax Avenue for entertainment and shopping. The Colfax Bus Rapid Transit stations will be very visible, and artworks should highlight the history and uniqueness of the stations and the neighborhoods in which they reside. Interested artists may submit qualifications at https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=12885 through Feb. 12, 11:59 p.m. MST.

Denver Public Art is also hosting a virtual pre-application meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 5:30 p.m. MST for interested applicants. The meeting will cover project backgrounds and goals, and the application process for this Request for Qualifications. Attendees will also get information on CallForEntry.org through which artists may apply. This event will be hosted on Zoom. Interested applicants are asked to register on Eventbrite to get information on how to join prior to the event.

More information on these and other Denver Public Art calls is available at www.DenverPublicArt.org/For-Artists/#opportunities.