Experiments in Public Art: Pearl Street Mall 50th Anniversary Call for Artists

The City of Boulder Office of Cultural and Economic Development’s Experiments in Public Art program is an ongoing, community-based laboratory for short-term creative projects and experiences.

Unlike a traditional public art commission, Experiments in Public Art projects are as much an experiment for the community as they are an opportunity for artists to work within unconventional parameters. Artists are selected, in part, for concepts and materials that extend beyond traditional public art.

In 2027, the City of Boulder and the Downtown Boulder Partnership will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Street Mall. To prepare, the city is carrying out the Pearl Street Mall Refresh project, investing in maintenance, improvements, and art and activation. The anniversary is also a moment to reflect on what makes the Mall special, what it represents, and what it should become over the next 50 years.

This year’s projects should focus on the Pearl Street Mall and its 50th anniversary. Artists and artist teams may apply for up to $9,500.

Learn more: Pearl Street Mall Refresh | 50th Anniversary celebration

• The lead applicant (artist or artist team) must live in Colorado and meet the city’s general eligibility criteria.
• The project must take place along the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.
• Each artist may apply only once, with one project idea.

The program’s goals are broad and align with city-wide initiatives. In your proposal, identify which goals your project supports (you may choose more than one), and consider any sensitivities your project may raise for specific communities.

• Advance cultural equity by prioritizing access, inclusion, and representation in the public realm.
• Promote environmentally sustainable practices in public art creation, materials, and implementation.
• Strengthen community cohesion by activating underused spaces and connecting to neighborhood identity.
• Support resilience through creative responses to social, environmental, and economic challenges.
• Engage the community across the City of Boulder in enriching arts experiences.
• Showcase local and regional talent and cultivate the spirit of Boulder.
• Promote Boulder as a vibrant and authentic place to live, work, learn, and recreate.
• Support the creative community’s new, thought-provoking, and innovative ideas.
• Foster collaboration between government, creatives, community members, neighborhoods, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
• Create a sense of place and spaces that promote play, innovation, and imaginative risk-taking.
• Honor the history, heritage, and identity of our community.

All projects must:

• Run for at least one weekend and no more than three months. Experiential projects (performances, pop-ups, flash mobs, etc.) should occur at least three times within a period of no more than three months.
• Be in a free, publicly accessible or viewable space along the Pearl Street Mall. Multiple locations may be used. Suggested sites for pop-up temporary artworks are shown at the end of this document; Art Program staff and Downtown Boulder Partnership staff will determine final placement.
• Comply with all city policies, neighborhood plans, and ADA standards (see Resources).
• Be conceptually clear and include implementation and permitting details as far as possible (e.g., insurance needs, precise location, design qualifications, and time needed for permitting). The review committee will provide additional guidance, but applicants should plan ahead for these details.
• Include one public event where the artist or team speaks about the project, such as a lecture, opening, party, or Q&A.
• Attend celebrations for the 50^th anniversary to discuss the work with the public.
• Report back at the end of the project: submit media (images, video, audio, etc.), answer a three-question form about the project’s impact, and attend an informal interview with staff.

Funds may cover expenses directly related to the project, such as:

• Professional consultant time and labor (project manager, administrative support, volunteer coordinator, community organizer, designer, engineer, artist, translator/interpreter, etc.)
• Permits (parks, construction, etc.)
• Insurance (see Insurance and Liability Coverage)
• Art supplies and materials (paint, printing, etc.)
• Equipment rental (audio/visual, tents, tables, etc.)
• Installation, de-installation, and maintenance
• Contingency

Working in public space comes with its own challenges. Some ideas may require additional permitting, design, engineering, or approvals. The review committee can help with these needs, but applicants should do as much pre-planning as possible to show the project is feasible.

• Parking space/parklet projects may be challenging due to street cleaning occurring April through November.
• Plan for waste disposal if your project generates trash or uses materials that may leave residue on city surfaces.
• You are responsible for any maintenance while the project is on display.
• Plan for the end of the project: How will it be de-installed? Will your group or another organization adopt it? Who will maintain it?
• Safety first: projects must be well designed and structurally sound for the full display period.
• City utilities, such as water, cannot be used for the project.

See past Experiments in Public Art projects on the city website. The hypothetical examples below are meant as starting points.

Ideas that work

• Collaborate with a local performance collective and youth group to stage an improvised movement piece on Pearl Street that responds to live sound from the street.
• Design a mobile art lab with interactive, artist-led workshops and experimental materials.
• Create large-scale video projections or live-streamed performances on building facades every Friday night in June and July, featuring collaborations with local artists. This would require a partnership with private property owners and a letter of support with the application.
• Develop an interactive sound installation that remixes recorded stories from Boulder community members into an evolving audio collage on the Mall.
• Install a sculpture that speaks to the history of Boulder and the Pearl Street Mall.

Ideas that don’t work

• Building a new structure (requires an extensive permitting process)
• Producing a paid, ticketed event (not free and publicly accessible)

If your project doesn’t fit this program, see the other grant programs offered by the Office of Arts and Culture.

Submit all materials as one PDF to publicart@bouldercolorado.gov by November 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MT. Use the subject line “Pearl St. Mall 50^th Anniversary Experiments in Public Art – [First and Last Name].” Your name must appear on all materials. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Your PDF must include:

1. Project statement (one page maximum). Describe your project and why it’s a good fit, addressing:
   • How the project is relevant to the community and celebrates the Pearl Street Mall’s 50^th anniversary
   • What is innovative about your approach and artistic output
   • Who you hope to engage, and how you will activate or connect the corridor
   • Which program goals the project advances, and how
   • Where on the Mall and when the project will take place, and when you will speak publicly about it (tentative details are fine)
   • Your personal connection to and history in Boulder, if any
   • Your artistic process and personal aesthetic
2. Project requirements. List the permits and standards that apply to your project (see Resources), and answer the insurance questions (see Insurance and Liability Coverage).
3. Four media items showing the proposed concept and/or past work that demonstrates your aesthetic and artistic style. Media can be images, audio, or video. Embed images in the PDF and include links to any audio or video. List the title and completion date for past work.
4. Budget. Request up to $9,500; smaller budgets are welcome. Your budget must be detailed and all-inclusive, with design, materials, and installation as separate line items.
   • Income: your Experiments in Public Art request (up to $9,500); any other funding, such as crowdfunding, sponsorships, or in-kind donations (these may bring your total budget above $9,500); and volunteer hours, valued at $20/hour.
   • Expenses: see Eligible Expenses. Staff, artists, contractors, and gig workers must be paid a livable wage (see MIT’s living wage calculator). The Boulder Arts Commission recommends the Better Business Bureau standards for charity accountability and the National Endowment for the Arts guidelines.
5. Résumés or CVs for each artist involved (one to two pages each), highlighting professional accomplishments as an artist.

Applications are reviewed by City of Boulder staff, including representatives from Parks and Recreation, Risk, and Arts and Culture, along with a representative from the Downtown Boulder Partnership. This review committee will guide selected artists through city processes during implementation. Final awards are determined by the Standing Public Art Selection Panel and approved by the Boulder Arts Commission.

Insurance requirements depend on your project’s scope, and our team will help you through the process. To determine what’s required, be prepared to answer:

• What is the scope of work (medium, materials, weight, size)?
• How many people are involved from start to finish? Are they employees or contractors?
• Does the project require specialized or certified expertise, such as engineering studies or architectural renderings?
• How and where will the work be installed, and who will install it?
• Will the public have access to the space during installation?
• What special equipment, if any, is needed to install the work, and who will operate it?

Depending on scope, the following coverage may be required:

• Business Auto Liability: Covers third-party negligence claims related to operating a vehicle. Required for any contractor who operates a vehicle as part of their city contract. The standard limit is $1,000,000. If you use a personal vehicle, your personal auto insurance may substitute; notify the city if this applies to you.
• General Liability: Covers third-party negligence claims for bodily injury or property damage. Limits vary by scope of work; the minimum is generally $1,000,000.
• Professional Liability: Covers claims of professional error in judgment, planning, or design (e.g., architectural designs and engineering studies). If you hire a third party for this work, that party may carry the insurance.
• Workers’ Compensation: Required by Colorado law for any business with one or more employees. Sole proprietors with no employees are exempt; notify the city if this applies to you.

Important: Your contract with the city includes indemnification, meaning you are responsible for any claims arising from your work with the city. Even if insurance is waived, it is in your best interest to assess your risks and consider purchasing coverage.

Below are photos of the proposed locations on the Pearl Street Mall. Artists are welcome to propose other sites. Final placement will be decided after artist selection.