Denver International Airport Seeking Qualified Artists to Create Art for Concourse Expansion

DENVER – Aug. 9, 2021 – Denver International Airport (DEN) is actively seeking four artists or artist teams to create original suspended public artworks for spaces within the airport’s new concourse expansion areas.

The $1.5 billion Concourse Expansion Program is extending all three concourses and building 39 new gates, adding new shops, restaurants and art. Four unique locations have been identified within the newly designed expansion areas for the artwork: Concourse A-West, Concourse B-West, Concourse B-East, and Concourse C-East.

The four project sites have been split between two Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that artists may apply:

• The A-West, B-West and C-East expansion sites are grouped together under a single RFQ open to artists
  internationally. The budget range is $800,000 to $2,500,000 per designated artwork location.
• The Concourse B-East expansion site is captured within a separate RFQ that is open to Colorado artists only with a budget range of $300,000 to $450,000.

A final budget and commission value will be awarded based upon the size of expansion site, scale of artwork, materials utilized, and complexity of site. Each expansion site will be awarded to separate artists. Funding for this  project comes from the City’s 1% for Public Art Ordinance designated by the Concourse Expansion Program’s construction budget at DEN.

Artists interested in applying for this opportunity should submit digital images of past public artwork, résumé and a statement of interest through CaFÉ™.

• Applications for the DEN Concourse Expansion Program Public Art RFQ: B-East will be accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, 11:59 p.m. MST; To apply to the DEN Concourse Expansion Program Public Art RFQ: B-East, CLICK HERE.
• Applications for the DEN Concourse Expansion Program Public Art RFQ: A-West, B-West, C-East will be accepted through Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, 11:59 p.m. MST; To apply to the DEN Concourse Expansion Program Public Art RFQ: A-West, B-West, C-East, CLICK HERE.

A selection panel of community representatives, arts and culture professionals, and civic leaders has been assembled to recommend artists for each expansion site. From these applications, the selection panel will choose three to five finalists per art location to prepare a more in-depth art proposal. Artist(s) will receive more site-specific information and supplementing documents to aid in the proposal process. Finalists will be invited to present their site-specific concept design to the selection panel in person. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Denver Public Art Committee and the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs as well as the Mayor of Denver and if applicable, Denver City Council for final approval.

The selection panel and DEN have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of
creating memorable, exciting, and inspiring artwork for the millions of passengers and international guests of the airport:

• To activate all three of DEN’s concourse expansion areas with dynamic site-specific suspended artworks
  DEN Campus Map, Concourse Expansion Site Locations
• Reflect the individual personality of each concourse
• Speak to the international audience of DEN while also highlighting the culture of the vibrant City of Denver
  and the unique State of Colorado
• Have the artwork act as a landmark or meeting point, and provide a sense of place
• Utilize and preserve the intentionally designed natural lighting within the concourse
• Preserve the new outdoor views that the project offers to passengers at gate waiting areas and observation
  decks
• Provide a sense of wonderment and relief to the environment
• Complement the iconic architecture of DEN
• For more information on this project and DEN public art opportunities, please visit
  www.flydenver.com/about/art_culture/public_art/art_opportunities.

Visit https://denverpublicart.org/for-artists/ for more information on artist resources and
public art opportunities within the City of Denver.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

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