2023 Public Arts Request for Proposals

The Town of Pagosa Springs in collaboration with the Pagosa Springs Arts Council, is commissioning an art piece for a public sculpture. This public sculpture would become the latest installation of public art, as part of the Town’s Public Arts Plan (mypagosa.org/pagosa-public-arts-program).

The commissioning of a unique public sculpture is being sought by the Town of Pagosa Springs to be in the Pagosa “uptown” area, in a highly visible location. Uptown Pagosa Springs does not have Town-owned public space and a trail segment was recently completed adjacent to the sculpture site. This site would serve a large portion of the population including through-visitors as well as locals.

Pagosa Springs has a unique history with the name “Pagosa” variously translated as a Ute word for “healing or boiling water”. The springs were considered sacred ground drawing generations of Navajo and Ute Indian People. Pagosa Springs evolved as a lumber, agricultural, and eventually a tourist town. The small population (about 1,600, and 14,000 in Archuleta County) is home to a wide variety of cultural, recreational, tourism, and wellness activities. Pagosa has something for almost everyone. While considered the gateway to Wolf Creek Ski Area and the San Juan Mountains, Pagosa is far from the sleepy town it resembled when it was “discovered” in the 1970s and has grown in sophistication while maintaining the quintessential charm the mountain town has embraced.

The public arts selection for 2023 will seek a single prominent sculpture that is appropriate for the site and reflects the community’s shared values well. The sculpture should be completed ideally by 12/31/23, but completion may be extended to 6/30/24, depending on the proposal.

Selected pieces will:
- Be unique, reflecting the site, setting and the greater community context
- Create interest and deepen connection to the community
- Be an original expression or piece of work
- Artwork that seeks to honor untold stories, or represent those who have historically lacked a voice, or other special representation will receive special consideration depending on the piece, the artistic composition and overall expression.

Submittals may, but are not required to:
- Incorporate a mix of mediums, new or used
- Be an existing work (created within the last 5 years)
- Represent a subject of the artist’s choice either whimsical or serious in nature

Timeline:
- December 12, 2022 - Request for Proposals/Call to Artists published.
- January 13, 2023 (5 p.m.) - Submittals due
- January 23-27, 2023 - Public Arts Committee (PAC) meeting and recommendations. - February 16, 2023 - PAC recommendations to Town Council.
- February 20, 2023 - Notification of awards and contract negotiations. 
- March 17, 2023 - Final artist contract deadline; commissioned work authorized to begin
- First round of payment issued: After contract execution; final payment upon project completion. - Initial completion – work expected approximately 50% complete by September 30, 2023.
- Final completion – TBD during contract negotiation.

RFQ/Call Questions: Inquiries regarding the project should be submitted by 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on Friday December 30, 2022 directed to Cindy Schultz, AICP, Planning Manager, Town of Pagosa Springs cschultz@pagosasprings.co.gov Responses to all questions received by the deadline will be posted on MyPagosa.org, under the 2023 Arts Request for Proposals tile.

Eligibility: Professional visual artists at least of 18 years of age are eligible to apply. There is no geographic limitation, however, proposals must include transportation of the piece which is the responsibility of the artist. Colorado, SW U.S. artists and artists of

Submission Requirements:
Complete Submission: Submission must be e-mailed to cschultz@pagosasprings.co.gov by the deadline in the Timeline.

1. Response Transmittal Form completed.

2. Letter of interest/description: Include a letter of interest and a written description of the piece (500 words maximum). Please explain why you want to be considered for this project. Describe how your interpretation of your art would fit the Pagosa Springs community and align with community values and aesthetics.

3. Artist Statement of Qualifications which: 
   o Includes artist’s current resume, bio, and statement of qualifications. Include information and details about previous work, gallery showings, and past experience in public art exhibits and installations.
   o Demonstrate that the artist has the ability to execute a public art project, including planning, fabrication, transportation, and installation 
   o Ability to address engineering constraints, fabrication expertise, and quality construction 
   o Describe the artist’s experiences with similar projects including scope, budget, and concept. 
   o Include three professional references with phone and/or e-mail contact information, of who can speak to your ability to complete a project of this scale and budget.

4. Proposal: describe the concept, proposed medium, size/dimensions, location, installation, operation, long-term durability, and periodic maintenance required. Address in your description how the piece will fit in with the Pagosa Springs community and align with community values and aesthetics.

5. Maintenance: The artist’s recommended maintenance plan including recommended action and frequency.

6. Digital images: Include 2-3 concept renderings in a high-resolution digital format (jpg or png)

7. Budget: Include a detailed budget not to exceed $50,000; must include details (not a lump sum)

   including:
   a. artwork materials/supplies and fabrication costs
   b. installation costs, foundation, hardware, preparation for installation c. insurance and administrative costs
   d. transportation if applicable
   e. artist fee, other expenses

The Town of Pagosa Springs cannot award more than the $50,000, however the artist may seek additional funding, donations, in-kind, etc. The Town staff will collaborate with the artist on technical questions, but can not contribute engineering, site work or preparation. For questions, please submit them under the RFP Questions section below.

RFP Questions: Inquiries regarding the project should be submitted by 5 p.m. (Mountain Time) December 30, 2022, to Cindy Schultz, Planning Manager, Town of Pagosa Springs cschultz@pagosasprings.co.gov

Timeline:
- December 12, 2022 - Request for Proposals/Call to Artists published.
- January 13, 2023 (5 p.m.) - Submittals due
- January 23-27, 2023 - Public Arts Committee (PAC) meeting and recommendations.
- February 16, 2023 - PAC recommendations to Town Council.
- February 20, 2023 - Notification of awards and contract negotiations.
- March 17, 2023 - Final artist contract deadline; commissioned work authorized to begin

Compensation:

Payments expected to be made to the selected artist in quarters (or approximately 25% each disbursement), with the final payment upon successful completion of the piece.

- After contract execution, initial payment of up to 25% of the total award amount.
- First round of payment issued (25% of award): after initial progress has been completed
- Initial completion (25% of award): approximately half of the project complete (anticipated by September 30, 2023).
- Final payment (25% of the award) – to be determined during contract negotiation; anticipated no later than June 30, 2024.
An honorarium of up to $500 each will be awarded to eligible second and third place artists in honor of their effort.

Awards will be based on:
- The artists’ demonstrated abilities to achieve the program
- Overall creativity and originality of proposal
- Scale of the piece in relation to the proposed location, visibility and budget
- Ability to connect with a diverse audience or to raise awareness of an uncommon understanding
- Aimed toward engaging underrepresented groups or communities
- Timeline and budget and perceived overall investment value of the piece
- Pagosa Arts Committee may give special consideration to proposals that seek to achieve the intent of “connecting with a diverse audience”, “raising awareness of an uncommon understanding”, or “engage underrepresented communities”, and their recommendation and sole determination is subject to Town Council’s final approval. Some examples of these focus topics might include: community-involvement/interactive art, multi-cultural or historic depictions, Native American, American Indian, or Indigenous art, medium or placement that encourages interaction particularly with under-represented groups, among others.

Other considerations:
1. Media: Materials and designs need to be durable enough to withstand severe and hazardous weather (high winds, snow, ice, extreme sun and heat) without extensive maintenance. The piece should be designed to anticipate low-to moderate human interaction. Artwork should be constructed to reasonably discourage theft and vandalism.

2. Planning: Artwork installation should consider the location, the terrain, any necessary engineering for the structure. Approval of the artwork will be contingent on satisfactorily addressing liability issues and assuring structural integrity. Artwork should be appropriate in size, height, and scale, in relation to the site, and planned for appropriate illumination that complies with the Town’s stringent lighting standards.

3. Installation: Artists are responsible for transportation and installation of the artwork. Artist is also responsible for supervising installation in coordination with the Town Community and/or Public Works Departments. All submittals may be subject to additional considerations and possible modifications prior to final approval.

4. Coordination: Town of Pagosa Springs staff will assist in coordination to complete the project, but in no event assume responsibility or management of installation, transportation, engineering, of the artwork or any portion of the process.

5. Other works: Please explore other public arts projects1 which includes a mix of publicly and privately funded pieces. https://mypagosa.org/pagosa-public-arts-program/news_feed/arts-map

6. Ownership: All artwork becomes property of the Town of Pagosa Springs; as such, the maintenance component in the proposal is a key piece in the selection of the recommended piece.

Location information:

To view the selected location for the 2023 sculpture installation in GIS, click the link below that also shows the locations of the 4 2022 public arts installations, visit mypagosa.org/pagosa-public-arts- program.

The site is in the area referred to as “uptown”, or west of downtown Pagosa Springs. The site is in the open space for the Aspen Village, and governed by the Aspen Village Masters Association. The overhead view shows the open space is mostly wetlands, but the site selected is somewhat upland from the wetlands, and between the highway and the paved trail to maximize visibility of the selected sculpture. The open space is adjacent to the Pagosa Peak Open School, which is a K-8 project-based public charter school. Aspen Village is a developing commercial subdivision which includes a mix of commercial and residential, with the Walmart adjacent to the open space to the south. As this area continues to develop, the art piece will serve as an important focal point for the uptown arts community.

The Town of Pagosa Springs has 8 public arts installations completed under the Public Arts Plan and most locations are geared toward both vehicular and pedestrian visitors. All are in our downtown core area, and the goal of this RFP is to create a single, large sculpture in an uptown location. The selected site is in private open space, adjacent to a charter school, near the largest retailer in the area, it is also part of a subdivision that is rapidly developing and has been identified as needing additional public spaces, and public art is one perfect way to garner positive attention.