The Louisville Cultural Council seeks to commission an original art work to commemorate the Marshall Fire that began on December 30, 2021. The sculpture must be an original creation by the artist(s) and must have a Louisville community participation or engagement component to it.

The town seeks an artist or an artist team to install an outdoor sculpture in the Louisville Historic Downtown District. Site to be determined by the artist and Louisville Cultural Council, but must be a location that is owned by the City. Potential locations include but are not limited to 717 Main Street, Louisville, Colorado. 

APPLICATION PROCESS AND MATERIALS:

Louisville Cultural Council is using the online CAFÉ application and selection process. Artists may submit up to three separate, unique entries. 

Each application must be submitted with one sculpture, with a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 photos or renderings of the proposed art and previous sculptures. Each application must be submitted via the CAFÉ website at www.callforentry.org and must include the following:

• Resume (teams of artists to submit one resume with one page representing each artist)
• Images and descriptions of previous public art sculptures
• Photos or renderings of the proposed artwork
• Sculpture information including: title, material, size (height, weight, depth), and special installation requirements
• Artist statement including your interest in this project and how this commission relates to and/or will build on your body of work (2,500 characters max.)
• Description of previous sculpture installations projects that are site specific and what are some of your past successes in developing work of this nature (1000 words max.)
• Itemized budget

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ specifications can be found at https://www.callforentry.org/uploading-images-audio-and-video-files/

Assistance in using the CaFÉ system is available here: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/

Applications must be submitted through www.callforentry.com; mailed or emailed submissions will not be considered.

BUDGET:

The budget for this commission is up to $22,000 USD, which will be allocated to the selected artist/team. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited to: the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees, insurance, tools, materials, transportation, installation, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, and any other costs.

SCULPTURE SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Artistic excellence: The consideration of highest priority is the inherent artistic excellence of the art. All art must be an original creation of the artist(s).
• Permanence: Sculpture shall have structural and surface soundness, be resistant to theft, vandalism and weathering, and require minimal maintenance and withstand time.
• Compatibility: Works of art should be compatible in style, scale, material, form and content with the historic downtown area, and have a broad range of appeal to the general public.
• Public Safety: Works of art shall not create inordinate safety problems or liability for the general public, the Louisville Cultural Council or the City of Louisville
• Theme: Art work must include a community participation or engagement component and address the theme of commemorating the Marshall Fire: for instance, loss, hope, rebuilding, and community.

The selection committee will make recommendations to the Louisville Cultural Council Public Art Committee, who will forward the final recommendation to the full Cultural Council for approval. Following Cultural Council approval and a period of public comment, City Council will vote on the project at the next available city council meeting. 

DEADLINE:

The application and images must be submitted electronically by 11:59pm (MST) October 28, 2022.

ELIGIBILITY:

This project is open to artists residing within a reasonable driving distance of Louisville, Colorado, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical disability. 

Application is not open to anyone who is or whose family is employed by the City of Louisville or is a current member of a City Board or Commission.