Request for Qualifications:
Rubey Park Public Art Installation 2024
Overview
As part of its new Aspen Public Art Plan, the City of Aspen is commissioning an artist/team to create and install a work of public art and community engagement serving local residents, transit riders, and visitors at Rubey Park Transit Center in Aspen, Colorado. We are seeking bilingual projects that celebrate the diverse community of transit users; that are participatory in nature (engaging public participation in the creative process); and that add visual art to the Transit Center building and its platforms. We encourage artists to envision a highly imaginative approach. The project will be on display and activated for two months during summer of 2024.
Community
Aspen, Colorado is a small resort town in the Rocky Mountains that is crisscrossed by local residents, workers commuting from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, second-homeowners, and visitors. The year round population of 7,000 is estimated to increase five fold during the summer high season. Rubey Park Transit Center serves as a hub for the community who are moving in, out and around Aspen for work, errands, and recreation via the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority, known affectionately as RFTA (pronounced “raf-tah”)
The Roaring Fork Valley community is made up of a diverse population, primarily of “Anglo” and Latino residents. English and Spanish are the two primary languages spoken in the Valley and that will be represented in the bilingual campaign.
Rubey Park
Located in the heart of Aspen, Rubey Park is the main hub for the City of Aspen and RFTA bus services. Regionally, buses operate from Aspen to Rifle, serving up to five million riders a year. Used by visitors and locals alike, the bus system is known for its quality service, robustness of use, affordability, sustainable practices, and wide service area. The mission of the City of Aspen’s robust transportation program is to preserve Aspen’s character by keeping traffic congestion and pollution at a minimum.
Project We Are Looking For
We are seeking a project that engages, entertains and inspires riders while they await their bus (a timeframe that can be up to 20 minutes) and meets them where they are — geographically, linguistically and culturally. The ideal project will engage community members in the creative process, inviting them to become co-authors, editors and observers of the work. Equally important, the artwork should create a large visual imprint on the building exterior and platforms, stimulating both users of the system and passersby.
Eligibility
The call is open to all artists and designers. Applicants do not need to be bilingual to submit but should take an inclusive approach to the project. The City of Aspen will provide translation services and support on bilingual/bicultural outreach.
Project budget: Up to $15,000, inclusive of all fees and costs, from design through deinstallation
*possibility for installation budget support
Application deadline: May 20, 2024
Notification: by June 1, 2024
Exhibition dates: July 29 - September 16, 2024
Installation of artwork: week of July 22, 2024
Deinstallation of artwork: week of September 17, 2024
How to apply: Select below the CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT button.
We’re Here to Help!
Questions about the overall opportunity? Contact: Sarah Roy, sarah.roy@aspen.gov or call 970-429-2777. Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Request for Qualifications
We are seeking qualifications from individuals or teams of artists and designers who are interested in participating. Qualifications must demonstrate successful work at a similar scale and scope. Submissions should include a letter of interest, optional preliminary sketch, work samples, and a resume. Applicants must be able to carry out the scope of work in its entirety, from design through deinstallation. Artists are encouraged to consider the interactive and visual elements and how they relate to one another and to the community.
● Letter of Interest should be no more than one page in length and describe why this project is of interest and how it relates to the Aspen Public Art mission statement: “Aspen Public Art creates community by connecting people to each other and to place through art experiences that build upon Aspen’s legacy of innovation, creativity, and spirited independence.” If the artist/team has an idea of what they would like to produce for the site, we encourage a simple conceptual description and preliminary sketch (think: back of napkin). Please do not develop a full conceptual rendering at this time. Please also note your availability, or any exceptions, to produce the work within the provided timeline. Artists should note if they are proposing an existing work or the creation of a new work.
● Work Samples should include at least five, and no more than 10, images with titles and descriptions. Samples will ideally show works of similar scope and scale and demonstrate the artist's body of work. We would like to gain a sense of the artist’s methods, style and/or process that they would like to pursue for this project.
● Resumes or CVs should be included for all artists or team members and identify any professional creative endeavors, gallery shows, public art commissions, or other relevant work.
Selection Process
The Aspen Public Art Plan Visioning Committee and representatives from the City of Aspen Transportation Department and RFTA will serve on the selection committee. Additional review members with insight and expertise related to the goals of the project may be added. Select applicants will be invited to give a brief overview presentation of their proposed project. This could be in person or held virtually.
Review Criteria
● Artistic Merit: The artist has produced work of high quality and offers a creative approach, process and style that will be a fit for Aspen.
● Ability to Deliver: The artist has completed works of similar scope and scale and demonstrates professionalism.
● Relevance to Aspen and Rubey Park: The artist’s style, process, or body of work could address or enhance the character of our community.
Artist Expectations
A few select artist/teams will be invited for an interview (in person or virtual) where they will be asked to expand on their proposed project for the site. The finalist will be invited to develop the design for final approval. Selected artist/team will be required to sign an agreement.
Safety is a top priority for Rubey Park operations; therefore, artwork elements must be durable and adhere to safety and accessibility guidelines, including Title VI and ADA. As this is a temporary installation, when the exhibition concludes, elements must be easily removable and not cause damage to permanent structures. The City of Aspen and RFTA are not liable for artwork damage or loss. Any works that are damaged will be removed. The City of Aspen has the right to remove the art installation and elements at any time during the exhibition period.
Compensation
Selected artist/team will receive up to $15,000, to include all design, material, equipment, transportation, and installation/deinstallation fees.
We’re Here to Help!
Questions about the overall opportunity? Contact: Sarah Roy, sarah.roy@aspen.gov or call 970-429-2777. Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Addendum A
Rubey Park is a one-acre park that serves as the bus transit center in downtown Aspen. It offers a variety of outside surfaces and structures may be used as “canvas” for this project:
Wooden rafters on roof overhang encircling the building
Plant trellises (15 panels approx 4’ x 8’ on each side of the building)
Platform areas on east and west sides of the building
Various poster placement areas:
Two 3-panel areas against building on east and west sides
Two freestanding triangular structures on east and west sides
Magnet board on west side
Multiple 8.5”x11” plexiglass spaces on signage blades throughout area
Several object or station placement opportunities:
Under 3-panel areas
Under freestanding triangular structures
City of Aspen bus stops (optional)
There may be an opportunity for window clings to be installed on the plexiglass dividers at various City of Aspen bus stops throughout town. Visual elements must be applied to the plexi and be removable at the end of the project.Webpage on Red Brick Center for the Arts website (to link to a QR code, for example)
All artwork will be placed outside the building, with the possible exception of an interior brochure rack within the facility.
