The City of Boulder Public Art Program and its supporting policy is to commission a wide variety of artworks representing the most innovative approaches to contemporary practice in the arts, commission works of enduring value and cultivate a diversity of artists and arts experiences within the city of Boulder.
The city will acquire works of art which encourage creativity, contribute to a sense of place, spark conversation, tell our shared stories and capture our moment in time, foster the enjoyment of diverse works of art, and are thoughtfully designed contributions to the urban environment of our vibrant city.
Acquisition Criteria
The following criteria shall be used by all review bodies when considering acquisition of artwork by purchase, commission or donation, and additional criteria may be established at the discretion of the Office of Arts and Culture to meet the needs of individual projects.
- Inherent Artistic Quality – The assessed aesthetic merit of the piece as an artwork, independent of other considerations.
- Context – The compatibility of the artwork in scale, material, form and content with its surroundings. Consideration should be given to the architectural, historical, geographical and social/cultural context of the site.
- Ability to Install and Maintain - The anticipated ability of the artist to complete the artwork and considerations towards the city’s ability to provide maintenance and conservation to maintain the asset over time. Considerations shall also apply to temporary projects.
- Time Horizon of Artwork – The anticipated lifespan of the project and/or its host site.
- Diversity – The city is committed to commissioning and acquiring artworks that reflect diverse perspectives and approaches to art. To that end, the city shall seek opportunities accessible to a broad audience. The city shall seek artwork from artists of diverse racial, gender and cultural identities, and strive for diversity of experiences through a variety of styles, scales, narratives, and media. The city shall also encourage both experimental and established art forms.
- Uniqueness – To ensure that the artwork will not be duplicated, the city shall require the artist to warrant that the work is unique and limited to an edition of one unless stated to the contrary in a contract.
- Collection – The review of how the proposed work fits into the collection as related to the program’s mission (above).