Skip to Main Content

LOCATION:
This will be a transportable mural when completed, no permanent location as of right now.

CATEGORY: Call For Artists

UPCOMING DATE AND TIME:

  • Tue, Jul 8, 2025 - Fri, Aug 1, 2025  

visit website

Compensation (Budget, Stipend, etc):
$25,000 to selected artist/$500 stipend to top finalists to create proposal

artist application

As part of Colorado’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2026, and the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) seeks to engage the art community in creating a large mural that showcases Colorado’s agricultural history: past, present, and future. CDA’s working theme for celebration in 2026 is “Setting Colorado’s Table: 150 Years of Agricultural Legacy”.

This project will serve as a visual complement to, and potential cover art for, a coffee table book that elevates the histories and stories of agriculture. The book will be written and produced by History Colorado in close partnership with CDA and will encompass five themes: Land, Water, Life, Resilience and Celebration. The mural should incorporate these themes and present a vision that is bold, bright, and vibrant.

In addition, CDA will be hosting community events throughout the state in 2026, including long table dinners that connect people to their food and to one another. This open call for muralists is part of the larger campaign of community engagement and storytelling.

The goal is to unveil the completed mural at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver in January 2026. The piece may then travel around the state to various events, with its final celebration occurring at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in August 2026.

Please note: This is not a formal Request for Qualifications (RFP) that follows the competitive procurement process. This is a discretionary purchase request.

Scope
The selected artist(s) shall be responsible for designing and creating the mural and attending select events to share their inspiration and vision for the mural.

Desired Criteria for the Mural

  • The total piece will be at least 16 feet tall by 20 feet wide (i.e., made up of 10 panels that are 8’ by 4 ft’)
  • The piece should be able to be transported, have the ability to stand alone for future display in museums, and be mountable onto a larger, durable frame
  • Selected material must be durable, fit the size requirement and artist must be able to provide long-term maintenance plan

Budget
The total budget for this project is not to exceed $25,000 (twenty-five thousand dollars). Dollars must be expended prior to June 30, 2026 (end of the state fiscal year). The budget includes all expenses associated with, but not limited to, the design, labor, fabrication, project management, materials, tools, contracted services, operations and meetings, travel required to complete the artwork installation, installation, permits, licenses, taxes, insurance, and delivery of the artwork to the site.

Artist Eligibility
Eligible artists must:

  • Be Colorado resident(s); artists may apply as individuals or a team; cost and terms do not change.
    Have public mural experience, work in a relevant medium, and have experience engaging with the public.
  • Be available to complete the project by the end of December 2025 and be willing to participate in key community events such as National Western Stock Show (January 2026) and Colorado State Fair (August 2026).
  • Be comfortable promoting and having others promote the project through social media, press, in-person events, and other ways as needed.
  • Allow CDA to own the rights to use the art or its likeness for promotional purposes.

Mandatory Requirements
CDA intends to issue a Purchase Order to the selected artist(s) for the design and completion of the mural, as well as subsequent promotion through 2026 and beyond. The selected artist may not perform or deliver goods or services until such time as the Purchase Order is executed. The selected individual or organization must agree to the State of Colorado’s purchase order terms and conditions. If the artist intends to request exceptions to any of the terms and conditions, they must state so explicitly in their submission, the reason for such exception and any proposed alternate language. Such an exception is not guaranteed to be granted by the Department.
The artist must provide an insurance certificate documenting sufficient coverage or will work with CDA to obtain necessary coverage prior to award and issuance of a Purchase Order (PO).

How to Apply
Interested artists must submit the following as part of their application:

  • A completed Appendix A agreeing to the State of Colorado’s Purchase Order Terms and Conditions and providing contact information.
  • Please download the Appendix A file, fill it out, and attach to your application
  • Using your own template, please provide a portfolio of previous work designed and completed by the artist or team of artists
  • Four to six examples of past work similar in size and scope with listed materials (can be a referral to a website, pdf, jpg, or high-resolution photo submitted to a google drive upon request)
  • Resume (if the application is for a team of artists, please submit a resume for each artist)
  • Artist Statement of Intent - one-page maximum
  • Describe previous experience that makes you qualified for this type of project
  • Describe why you are interested in the project
  • Include an estimated time of mural design and completion based on the desired mural criteria above
  • Confirm your availability to promote the mural at various events across the state in 2026. The artist must be available, at minimum, for the following events:
    • 2026 National Western Stock Show, January 10 - 25, 2026
    • 2026 Colorado State Fair, August 28 - September 7, 2026
  • Professional references, including contact information
  • Please name all application files starting with the applicants last name

Applications will be accepted by close of business on Friday, August 1, 2025 MDT.

  1. Submit the application (may submit a ZIP file) via this box.com link https://colorado.app.box.com/f/9395942a7bfa41c9abb084733de35a5c
    • Registration for a box.com account is not required.
  2. Drag and drop or Select the file to upload.
  3. Click Submit.
  4. Once submitted, you’ll see “Success! Your file has been Submitted”.
    • Please note, you will not receive a confirmation email.

Selection Committee
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee made up of CDA staff, staff of Colorado Creative Industries at the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), members of the Governor’s Office, and CDA’s Artistic Advisor David Ocelotl Garcia.

Contact
Direct all questions and inquiries to the solicitation sole point of contact:
Tiffany Brigner
tiffany.brigner@state.co.us
303-869-9231

Estimated Selection and Design Timeline

  • Finalist Selection - Mid August 2025
    • Top finalists will be selected ($500 stipend awarded to each finalist, W-9 will be requested) and contacted via email provided.
  • Finalists Presentations - Early September 2025
    • Interview and initial design proposal presentation by the artist or team of artists.
    • Interviews preferred in person in the CDA Broomfield office if possible. Hybrid options may be available. CDA will finalize interview details with selected artists.
  • Artist Selection - Mid September 2025
    • Finalists will be notified of the selected artist or artist team.
    • Work may begin upon issuance of a Purchase Order.
  • Final Design Approval - Mid October 2025
    • The selected artist or team of artists will work with CDA to agree on a final design.
  • Mural Completion - end of December 2025, the mural will be installed and unveiled (with the artist in attendance) the week of January 12th, 2026 at the National Western Stock Show campus in Denver.

CDA will work with selected artist(s) for successful completion of the project.