Broomfield Art in Public Places | Call for Student Artists (Request for Proposals)

Community-Initiated: Commuter Art

“Celebrating Everyday: Art that Inspires Hope, Connection, and the Beauty of Life” 

About the Broomfield Art in Public Places Program

The Broomfield Art in Public Places (AIPP) program enlivens public space, nurtures community identity and contributes to a vibrant city through reflecting community spirit, enriching conversations, engaging community and elevating a sense of belonging. AIPP projects are prioritized by the Arts, History and Cultural Council (AHCC) with City staff and funded through the Broomfield 1% for Public Art.

Project Description

• The AHCC has selected Commuter Art as a 2026 community-initiated project. This project was submitted by Kate Fitzpatrick as part of the 2024 call for community ideas for public art. Katie imagined transforming overlooked places into small moments of beauty: illustrated quotes or thoughtful affirmations that quietly highlight the everyday goodness of life and humanity. 
• The City and County of Broomfield is seeking youth artists to create digital artworks to be temporarily installed at commuter locations in Broomfield. 
• The temporary artwork installations are intended to spark small moments of connection, encouragement, or clarity for passersby. These pieces should add beauty to the environment while offering a quiet boost to the spirit, reminding viewers of the simple yet profound qualities that make life and community meaningful.
• The selection process will utilize a Request for Proposal for a panel of community representatives to select up to five proposals.

Artist Opportunities & Compensation

Up to five selected youth artists or artist teams will receive a $350 stipend to create original commuter art. The selected artworks will be displayed on bus stop shelters in September.

 Project Goals

The Community-Initiated Art Project: Commuter Art program goals are

• To connect community members together through art experiences in unexpected places
• Expand the reach of visual art in the community and provide a sense of belonging
• Provide a broader reach for artists to display their work, including professional, non-professional and student artwork
• Incorporate an element of community engagement
• Align and meet goals as outlined in the Art in Public Places Plan 

           1) Accessible: Artwork or engagements should be designed to be experienced by as many people as possible.

           2) Diverse: Artwork or engagements should pull from a diverse pool of artists and be diverse in medium, subject matter and application.

           3) Placemaking: Artwork or engagements should help define and/or enhance public spaces.

           4) Unexpected: Artwork or engagements should be innovative, experimental or surprising.

           5) Vibrant: Artwork or engagements should provide an enriching experience and bring meaning to residents.

Eligibility

• This call is open to 9th-12th grade students: individual artists, artist groups or teams. 
• Open to all 9th -12th grade students.
• All artists must reside or work in the Denver metro area.
• A representative Legal Guardian must sign an agreement with the City and County of Broomfield.

Submission Materials

• A proposal that meets the design guidelines and submission specifications
• Artist statement of no more than 500 words
• Contact information (summer time)

Design Guidelines

• Artists are invited to create works that offer subtle, thoughtful reflections on the beauty found in daily life. These pieces should add beauty to the environment while offering a quiet boost to the spirit, reminding viewers of the simple yet profound qualities that make life and community meaningful.
• Artwork may incorporate gentle affirmations or meaningful quotes—illustrated or integrated visually—in ways that feel sincere rather than sentimental. 
• Artists are encouraged to explore uplifting imagery and themes that highlight hope, community, and connection.
• Given the desire for high visibility from passing traffic, we should strongly advise artists to consider submitting larger designs that are colorful and uncluttered.
• The design must be suitable for viewing by all ages in a public space. 
• Design should be pleasing and add beauty to the community.
• Designs cannot contain business promotions or advertisements. Artwork submitted that can be interpreted as advertising or self promotion (beyond the artist's signature) will be declined.
• Designs must not defame or invade the rights of any person or people, living or dead. 
• Designs must be original works of the artist and in compliance with all existing copyright laws, intellectual property, brands or trademarks. Any submissions that include these elements will not be reviewed for selection unless legal permission has been obtained by the owner.
• Designs must not use generative AI in their work beyond the scope of insignificant background extension. Work should only consist of human creative input and be original to the artist. 
• Artists may include their signature in the final design.
• Designs should refrain from using the City and County of Broomfield logo.
• An acknowledgement box, which will include the artist's name, the title of the artwork, and the City and County of Broomfield logo, will be placed in the bottom right corner of the finished artwork.

Submission Specifications

• Accepted File Formats: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, PDF, EPS, TIFF, JPEG
• Embed or provide all linked file and fonts
• CMYK COLOR ONLY
• Do Not Build Bleeds
• Do Not Provide Printer Marks
• Files must be under 2 GB
• Note: Staff are unable to provide technical support.

Application Information

• Application Deadline: May 31, 2026
• The application is available online at https://broomfield.submittable.com/submit
• The application will include: Contact information, Artwork file submission, Brief narrative description on concept and inspiration

Selection Process

• City and County of Broomfield staff will review all initial submissions for completeness and compliance with submission requirements.
• A selection panel will review and score the submissions.
• Notification of selection results will be sent to all submitters by June 30, 2026.

Selection Criteria

• All calls utilize selection criteria incorporating the mission, vision and values of the Broomfield Art in Public Places program. 
• This project will also include selection criteria based on the goals of the specific project.
• The theme invites artists to create thoughtful, uplifting works—through imagery, gentle affirmations, or meaningful quotes—that celebrate hope, connection, and the simple, profound joys of daily life, adding beauty and quiet encouragement to the community.

Artwork selection criteria for this call includes:

Quality

• The work of art demonstrates high aesthetic standards, the creative and technical capabilities of the artist(s), and is of original design.
• The thematic content engages the general public, expands the realm of ideas, perceptions or points of view, encourages civic dialogue, and illustrates robust thinking.
• Proposed artwork meets the intent of the project description in the Call to Artists or commission

Site Compatibility and Appropriateness

• The proposed work is appropriate in scale, material, form, and content for the community and physical environment and honors Broomfield’s commitment to sustainability in use of resources.
• The proposed work enhances the surrounding environment by establishing focal points, defining spaces or reinforcing cultural identity.
• The placement or selected site considers the geographic diversity of the collection and appropriate distribution within Broomfield city limits.
• Aesthetics of the work serve to establish focal points, define spaces or establish a cultural identity, among other things.

Balance

• Does this work support the value of diversity and inclusivity, striving for breadth in style, scale, media and perspective.
• Artwork will be sought from diverse artists including professional and emerging artists.

Project Schedule

•  April 1 - May 31: Call to Student Artists (RFP) Open for Submissions
• May 31: Deadline for Submission
• June: Selection Panel Review 
• June 30: All submitters will be notified the selection results
• August: Contract with finalist and coordinate install schedule
• September: Bus Stop Art Installation

Selected Artist(s) Information & Requirements

• All selected finalists will receive a $350 stipend for each selected final design, regardless of how many artists contributed to the single design.
• Selected artist(s) will be required to provide artwork in format: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, PDF, EPS, TIFF, or JPEG.
• Selected artists will be required to sign an agreement, provide a W-9 and other contractual requirements and/or documentation. 
• Artist’s name, photo, selected artwork, biographical information and other requested items may be featured on City website, social media or other promotional materials

Installation Information

• The final selected artwork will be printed on paper and installed directly in the Commuter signs at the schedule determined by the City. The intent is to install for 4 weeks in the summer and 4 weeks in the fall.
• Final artwork that deviates from design description and/or rendering(s) submitted as part of the application process, and/or direction provided as part of the review and selection process shall be subject to approval of the City’s sole discretion. 
• The City will be responsible for coordinating with Outdoor Promotions
• The Commuter Art signs will be displayed for up to a month in favorable conditions.

Other Information

• Artists are not employees of the City and County of Broomfield and shall not be eligible for any benefits, entitlements or incidents of City employment. 
• Artwork created as part of this program will be considered temporary artwork and the sole property of the City and County of Broomfield. As such, the City retains the right and sole discretion to remove, modify or replace the artwork. Situations in which the City may exercise this right include, but are not limited to, damage to artwork or vandalism.
• All submissions will be kept on file for future calls or commissions, unless the artist indicates that they do not want to be included in future calls or commissions.
• The City and County of Broomfield reserves the right to modify any aspect of this program at any time or request additional information from any or all participating artists, to re-open the call and/or to accept or reject, at any time prior to the execution of contracts, any or all design proposals.

Questions? We are here to help!

• ArtsAndHistory@broomfield.org

Busing Subsidy for Education Grants (BSE)

Purpose: 

Provide partial funding to offset transportation costs for students attending off-site arts, culture, science, and humanities programs.

Background:

The Library, Arts, History, and CSU Extension (LAHE) Department recognizes that transportation costs are often a barrier to accessing educational experiences beyond the classroom. 

The Busing Subsidy for Education (BSE) Grants are designed to help offset transportation expenses, enabling Broomfield students to participate in arts, culture, science, and humanities programs and events that may not otherwise be available at school. 

These grants are supported by a one-time funding source and will conclude once all funds have been distributed.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

Applicants must be one of the following:

• A teacher or staff member at a Broomfield school or Broomfield homeschool organization. 
• A nonprofit organization applying on behalf of a specific Broomfield school or homeschool organization to support bus transportation for one of their presented programs.

Program Requirements:

• Focus on arts, culture, science, and/or the humanities.
• Typically be offered by a nonprofit organization; requests from other organizations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Fund future programs only; reimbursement for past expenses or completed programs is not allowed.
• Priority will be given to programs in Broomfield County
• Account for a 30-day review period in your timeline.

Grant Amount: 

Up to $500 per grant. Maximum of $1,000 per school.

Funding Period:

 January 1 to December 31, 2026 

Grant Schedule:

Application opens: January 1, 2026

Priority: Given to programs in Broomfield County

Deadline: Rolling deadline through October 31, 2026 or until funds are exhausted

Notifications: Within 45 days of application submission

Final Report: Submission is required within 30 days of project completion.

Dates are subject to change.

Application Information

To apply, all applicants must first create a free Submittable account. For assistance with the application process, please refer to this guide. Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2026, or until all funds have been distributed.

Include the following information:

• Description of the program
• Number of participants
• Goals and expected outcomes
• Areas of curriculum or standard included in program
• Evaluation component and determination of success
• Budget

Grantmaking Process

City and County of the Broomfield staff will review requests for completeness and eligibility, and then reviewers will score pass/fail based on the following criteria. Each criterion serves as a prioritization guide, rather than an exhaustive list.

Each application receives a vote of “Fund”, “Decline” or “Need More Information.” All applications with a majority vote of “Fund” will be awarded in full as there will be no partial grant awards.

Priority will be given to grant applications planning to attend programs in Broomfield County.

Past Examples:

• Attend the Opera Colorado or Colorado Symphony at the Broomfield Auditorium
• Field Trip at the Broomfield Depot Museum or Broomfield Veterans Museum
• Attend the Denver March Powwow
• Attend BVSD Choir Festival

Ineligible Requests:

• Travel requests outside of the Denver Metro Area, including out of state travel
• Requests over $1,000 maximum per school
• Grants may not be used to reimburse past expenses or prior programs; funding applies to future programs only.

Ineligible Applicants:

• Non-Broomfield-based schools

Grant Awards:

For Teachers and Schools

• Principal Signature Required: A grant agreement must be signed by the school principal.
• Reimbursement Limit: Reimbursement for the grant will not exceed the amount of funding requested.
• Award Payment Options:
  • Reimbursement: Payments are made based on submitted receipts.
  • Direct Vendor Payment: The City and County of Broomfield (CCOB) can pay vendors directly upon receipt of an invoice.
• W-9 Requirement: All vendors must provide a W-9 form for payment processing.
• Processing Time: Please allow 45 days for award processing.

Public Acknowledgement Requirements

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the City and County of Broomfield. The acknowledgement: "This program is funded in part by the City and County of Broomfield," along with the City and County of Broomfield logo, must be included in printed, electronic, and/or broadcast promotions. 

Final Report Guidelines

• Submission Method: All reports must be submitted through Submittable at broomfield.submittable.com.
• Submission Deadline: The deadline for submission of the final report is 30 days after the program's conclusion or January 30, 2026, whichever comes first.
• Photos: Please include photos from the program for use in future city grant reports and city marketing materials.
• Eligibility: Grant recipients with outstanding final reports will be ineligible for future grant cycles until the final report is resolved.

Arts, Culture and Science Grant 2026: School Applicants

Purpose: 

Support specific arts, culture, or science-based programs that directly benefit Broomfield residents.

Background:

Each year, the Broomfield City Council allocates funds for the Arts, Culture, and Science Grants (ACS) program. These grants specifically aim to assist Broomfield-based groups, organizations, and educators who are not currently receiving SCFD funding. The primary objective is to ensure Broomfield residents have access to impactful arts, culture, and science programs.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

• 501(c)(3) nonprofits not receiving SCFD funding in the current SCFD grant cycle
• Individuals or non-incorporated groups with a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be located in Colorado.
• Broomfield teachers (with principal approval)

Program Requirements:

• Focus on arts, culture or science programs and experiences
• Schools: Must occur in Broomfield or primarily benefit Broomfield residents 
• Provide public benefit or educational outcome

Grant Amount:

 Up to $2,000 per grant. Maximum of $4,000 per organization.

Funding Period: 

January 1 to December 31, 2026

Grant Schedule:

Application opens: December 1, 2025

Deadline: Rolling deadline through October 31, 2026

Notifications: Within 45 days of application submission

Final Report: Submission is required within 30 days of project completion.

Dates are subject to change.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2026, or until all funds have been distributed.

Include the following program information:

• Description of the specific program (not general operations or overall mission)
• Goals and expected outcomes
• Evaluation component and determination of success
• Timeline for the program
• Budget (template)
• If applicable, who you will serve and how you will reach them (marketing/outreach plan)

Grantmaking Process

City and County of the Broomfield staff will review requests for completeness and eligibility, and then reviewers will score pass/fail based on the following criteria. Each criterion serves as a prioritization guide, rather than an exhaustive list.

Each application receives a vote of “Fund”, “Decline” or “Need More Information.” All applications with a majority vote of “Fund” will be awarded in full as there will be no partial grant awards.

Grant Review Criteria

Does the application:

• Provide specific, detailed answers to the application questions?
• Is the program timeline reasonable for funding?
• Has the organization or applicant received maximum funding this year?

Does the program provide at least one of the following:

• Provide creative art, culture and science-based experiences for residents within Broomfield?
• Provide art, culture and science-based experiences for Broomfield students?
• Support opportunities to enrich and expand residents’ intellectual and cultural horizons?
• Provide the Broomfield community with avenues to express itself or learn about others through arts, culture and science?

Does the program:

• Use resources wisely and convey the activities and outcomes of the program?
• Does the program offer unique experiences not readily available elsewhere?

Past Examples:

• STEAM-based programs including robotics
• Original choreography with student engagement and performance
• Original composition with student participation
• Graphic Novel genre study
• World of Difference cultural experiences
• Connecting community through Chorus

Ineligible Requests:

• General operations requests
• Scholarships, sponsorship or pass-through requests
• Capital campaigns
• Travel requests
• Grants may not be used to reimburse past expenses or prior programs; funding applies to future programs only.

Ineligible Applicants:

• Any organization that received SCFD funding in the corresponding fiscal year.
• Any friends organizations affiliated with the City and County of Broomfield.
• Organizations with standing agreements with the City and County of Broomfield are subject to review.

Award Funding Requirements

For Organizations

• Signature: A grant agreement requires the organization's representative to sign.
• W-9 Form: All vendors must submit a W-9 form for payment.
• Award Payment: A check for the awarded amount will be issued after the grant agreement is complete.
• Processing: Please allow 45 days for award processing.

For Teachers and Schools

• Principal Signature Required: A grant agreement must be signed by the school principal.
• Reimbursement Limit: Reimbursement for the grant will not exceed the amount of funding requested.
• Award Payment Options: 
  • Reimbursement: Payments are made based on submitted receipts.
  • Direct Vendor Payment: The City and County of Broomfield (CCOB) can pay vendors directly upon receipt of an invoice.

      

• W-9 Requirement: All vendors must provide a W-9 form for payment processing.
• Processing Time: Please allow 45 days for award processing.

Public Acknowledgement Requirement

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the City and County of Broomfield. The acknowledgement: "This program is funded in part by the City and County of Broomfield," along with the City and County of Broomfield logo, must be included in printed, electronic, and/or broadcast promotions. 

Final Report Guidelines

• Submission Method: All reports must be submitted through Submittable at broomfield.submittable.com.
• Submission Deadline: The deadline for submission of the final report is 30 days after the program's conclusion or January 30, 2026, whichever comes first.
• Photos: Please include photos from the program for use in future city grant reports and city marketing materials.
• Eligibility: Grant recipients with outstanding final reports will be ineligible for future ACS Grant cycles until final report is resolved.

Arts, Culture and Science Grant 2026

Purpose: 

Support specific arts, culture, or science-based programs that directly benefit Broomfield residents.

Background:

Each year, the Broomfield City Council allocates funds for the Arts, Culture, and Science Grants (ACS) program. These grants specifically aim to assist Broomfield-based groups, organizations, and educators who are not currently receiving SCFD funding. The primary objective is to ensure Broomfield residents have access to impactful arts, culture, and science programs.

Eligibility: Who Can Apply

• 501(c)(3) nonprofits not receiving SCFD funding in the current SCFD grant cycle
• Individuals or non-incorporated groups with a fiscal sponsor. Fiscal sponsors must be located in Colorado.
• Broomfield teachers (with principal approval)

Program Requirements:

• Focus on arts, culture or science programs and experiences
• Must occur in Broomfield 
• Provide public benefit or educational outcome

Grant Amount:

 Up to $2,000 per grant. Maximum of $4,000 per organization.

Funding Period: 

January 1 to December 31, 2026

Grant Schedule:

Application opens: December 1, 2025

Deadline: Rolling deadline through October 31, 2026

Notifications: Within 45 days of application submission

Final Report: Submission is required within 30 days of project completion.

Dates are subject to change.

Application Information

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2026, or until all funds have been distributed.

Include the following program information:

• Description of the specific program (not general operations or overall mission)
• Goals and expected outcomes
• Evaluation component and determination of success
• Timeline for the program
• Budget (template)
• If applicable, who you will serve and how you will reach them (marketing/outreach plan)

Grantmaking Process

City and County of the Broomfield staff will review requests for completeness and eligibility, and then reviewers will score pass/fail based on the following criteria. Each criterion serves as a prioritization guide, rather than an exhaustive list.

Each application receives a vote of “Fund”, “Decline” or “Need More Information.” All applications with a majority vote of “Fund” will be awarded in full as there will be no partial grant awards.

Grant Review Criteria

Does the application:

• Provide specific, detailed answers to the application questions?
• Is the program timeline reasonable for funding?
• Has the organization or applicant received maximum funding this year?

Does the program provide at least one of the following:

• Provide creative art, culture and science-based experiences for residents within Broomfield?
• Provide art, culture and science-based experiences for Broomfield students?
• Support opportunities to enrich and expand residents’ intellectual and cultural horizons?
• Provide the Broomfield community with avenues to express itself or learn about others through arts, culture and science?

Does the program:

• Use resources wisely and convey the activities and outcomes of the program?
• Does the program offer unique experiences not readily available elsewhere?

Past Examples:

• STEAM-based programs including robotics
• Original choreography with student engagement and performance
• Original composition with student participation
• Graphic Novel genre study
• World of Difference cultural experiences
• Connecting community through Chorus

Ineligible Requests:

• General operations requests
• Scholarships, sponsorship or pass-through requests
• Capital campaigns
• Travel requests
• Grants may not be used to reimburse past expenses or prior programs; funding applies to future programs only.

Ineligible Applicants:

• Any organization that received SCFD funding in the corresponding fiscal year.
• Any friends organizations affiliated with the City and County of Broomfield.
• Organizations with standing agreements with the City and County of Broomfield are subject to review.

Award Funding Requirements

For Organizations

• Signature: A grant agreement requires the organization's representative to sign.
• W-9 Form: All vendors must submit a W-9 form for payment.
• Award Payment: A check for the awarded amount will be issued after the grant agreement is complete.
• Processing: Please allow 45 days for award processing.

For Teachers and Schools

• Principal Signature Required: A grant agreement must be signed by the school principal.
• Reimbursement Limit: Reimbursement for the grant will not exceed the amount of funding requested.
• Award Payment Options: 
  • Reimbursement: Payments are made based on submitted receipts.
  • Direct Vendor Payment: The City and County of Broomfield (CCOB) can pay vendors directly upon receipt of an invoice.
• W-9 Requirement: All vendors must provide a W-9 form for payment processing.
• Processing Time: Please allow 45 days for award processing.

Public Acknowledgement Requirement

Grant recipients are required to acknowledge the City and County of Broomfield. The acknowledgement: "This program is funded in part by the City and County of Broomfield," along with the City and County of Broomfield logo, must be included in printed, electronic, and/or broadcast promotions. 

Final Report Guidelines

• Submission Method: All reports must be submitted through Submittable at broomfield.submittable.com.
• Submission Deadline: The deadline for submission of the final report is 30 days after the program's conclusion or January 30, 2026, whichever comes first.
• Photos: Please include photos from the program for use in future city grant reports and city marketing materials.
• Eligibility: Grant recipients with outstanding final reports will be ineligible for future ACS Grant cycles until final report is resolved.