City of Evans: Call For Traffic Cabinet Art

The City of Evans requests design submittals for the City’s new traffic cabinets. Artists should consider the City’s master plan theme, “Evans: Where Rivers and Opportunities Meet”, when creating their submittal.

Selected artists will be invited to have their design reproduced on a vinyl wrap and installed by a professional sign shop as public art murals. The City will select up to seven individual designs. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply; previous public art experience is not required. 

Proposals are requested by 5 pm on June 23, 2023.

Please direct all questions to Heather Utrata at hutrata@evanscolorado.gov or 970-475-1120

Proposal Requirements

Submissions must be sent via email OR saved to a flash drive. All submittals must be vector images to ensure the highest quality reproduction. Please include the following:

1. Artist Statement: Description of an artist’s style of work, what it means to them, inspiration, etc. An artist resume may also be included. 1-2 paragraphs.

2. Design Submission: Each artist may submit up to three different designs. All design submissions must be vector .eps files. Designs should be formatted as long rectangles so that if printed as a wrap, the four vertical sides of a traffic cabinet will be covered. Estimated dimensions are 48.5w x 30d x 66h. Please note: selected designs may need to be cropped or altered to fit varying dimensions of different traffic cabinet sizes-this is an estimate size only. 

Artist proposals must be submitted by 5 pm on June 23, 2023 via:

1. Email: (preferred method): hutrata@evanscolorado.gov 

2. Mail:
   City of Evans
   Attn: Heather Utrata 
   1100 37th Street
   Evans, Colorado 80620

3. Hand Delivery: Evans Community Complex (see above address)—using a large envelope clearly labeled
   to: Heather Utrata, Traffic Cabinet Wraps

Selected artists will be notified by June 7, 2023

These artists will sign a contract with the City, including a w-9 form in order to be paid. Payment will be requested after the final design has been approved. Please allow 3-4 weeks for payment to reach your mailbox. Incomplete or late entries will not be considered.

Budget and Scope of Work

Diverse designs are encouraged but need to be acceptable to a broad audience of all ages. The design must be picture-based (not word based), visually active (so not to invite tagging), and should cover four sides of the cabinet. Artwork should relay the artists’ representation of “Evans: Where Rivers and Opportunities Meet”. The use of dark colors is prohibited to avoid overheating problems for the utility cabinet. Artwork cannot include logos, copyrighted or trademarked images or be a form of signage or advertisement in any way. 

Artists who are selected to contribute a final design will be compensated a total of $550 for 1) the purchase of their design, 2) time required to make any requested changes to the design before the final acceptance. 

The required format for final designs is a vector .eps file. The City will contract with a sign company to print and install all vinyl wraps. The vinyl wraps will be CMYK printed.

Final artwork will be fitted to incorporate all existing official labeling on the cabinet and to avoid interference with any functioning parts such as vents, hinges, locks, handles and the legibility of any cautionary text.   

The artist shall not sell reproductions of this design to any public entity within one hundred (100) miles of the City of Evans. Once the final design is accepted by the City of Evans and payment is made for the design, the City will retain all rights to the final design. If artwork is in need of repair, due to age, damage, or company maintenance, a professional contractor may be hired to perform such repairs using the original artist’s design. If cost of repairs is significant (i.e. greater than 25% or one side of a mural or in excess of the original mural stipend) the design may not be repaired and the box may be included in the next utility cabinet wrap phase for a new design. The City retains the authority and right to destroy or paint over the image at any time, without notice, for any reason, including maintenance, replacement, safety, and vandalism. The average life expectancy of traffic cabinet art commissioned under this program is 3-5 years.

Selection Process

Proposals packets will be reviewed, and artist designs will be juried by a selection of City staff. Approval of the final designs selected will be based on design aesthetic, merit, originality, creativity, innovation, and appropriateness to the master plan theme “Evans: Where Rivers and Opportunities Meet”.  

Limitations to Liability

The City of Evans will not assume any responsibility or liability for costs incurred by artists in responding to this RFP or in responding for any further requests for interview, additional data, etc., prior to the written agreement to create a final design from an original work of art.

Rejection of Proposals

The City of Evans reserves the right to reject any or all applications or to award payment in whole or in part if it is in the best interest of the project.

Procedure if no Artist is Selected

Final selection of an artist to complete artwork will follow successful negotiations which satisfy the City’s concern that the selection committee’s recommendations, and the interest of the public are best served.  Should no artist be accepted, a subsequent advertisement and Request for Proposals may be issued.

This Request for Proposals is issued by the City of Evans as the sole of contact.