community recreation center story wall: call for artists

Project Description
The City of Grand Junction and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture (GJCAC) are seeking an artist to create original artwork for the Community Recreation Center (CRC). The artwork should tell the story and history of the CRC and should also utilize the color palette in the site details of this call. 
Grand Junction, the largest community on the Western Slope and the 18th largest in Colorado, stands as a sole city among the top 50 most populous in the state without a multi-purpose Community Recreation Center. Attempts to provide the necessary funding for this endeavor date back to 1979, with several grassroots efforts repeatedly falling short until a successful ballot initiative in April 2023. That proposal, emphasizing a diverse funding approach, earned resounding support. 60% of voters approved a modest sales tax increase and the necessary debt. When a community votes to tax itself to bring a project to fruition, it underscores a clear need.
40 years of grassroots advocacy have driven numerous planning efforts for a CRC. This includes several unsuccessful ballot proposals. Each attempt provided valuable lessons that contributed to the development of a stronger foundation.
The CRC is expected to serve the entire City and County population, totaling 156,830, as well as tourists and visitors, bolstering Grand Junction’s role as a hub for surrounding towns.

Composition
The artwork must be original and the context must be socially acceptable. The artwork’s appearance and visual relationships with the surrounding environment shall also be considered. Artwork which conflicts with local values or is determined to not be in the public’s interest will not be approved. The design of all parts of the artwork should be very durable, require minimal maintenance, and be resistant to theft and vandalism. The artwork should adhere to the highest standards of quality, timelessness, permanence, and general appeal, and should have relevance aesthetically to the community in the present and in future years.
Works in a variety of media and forms will be considered. Examples of media include, but are not limited to, metal, wood, plastics, and acrylic. Although the City and GJCAC do not endorse any restrictions on any particular artistic content, the project’s Artist Selection Panel will consider that hundreds of visitors and residents will see the artwork(s) on a daily basis when making decisions.  

Timeline

• July 1 - August 1, 2026 – Artwork installation window at the Community Recreation Center. Artwork must be installed by August 1, 2026.