The Durango Creative Economy Commission will put out a call to artists for the design, creation and installation of art along three sections of the Animas River Trail.
Durango Economic Opportunity Manager Tommy Crosby said in an email to The Durango Herald that City Council approved an appropriation of $80,000 for the trail from its lodgers tax determination fund to the lodgers tax arts and culture fund, with the funding being split for the following three projects:
- $30,000 for a call to artists that is currently under review for art at the Schneider Park pickleball courts.
- $35,050 for the call to artists related to the design and installation of art along three sections of the Animas River Trail.
- $14,950 for the installation of sculpture art at Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility.
The city is scheduled to release its call to artists on Feb. 9, with applications due March 29.
The three sections of the Animas River Trail will undergo improvements over the next one to two years.
They include the trail section between the 29th Street river put-in and the Demons Bridge near the La Plata County Fairgrounds; a trail section stretching north from the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility to the DoubleTree Hotel; and a southbound stretch of trail from the reclamation facility to Nature’s Oasis.
The call to artists says the scope of work includes but is not limited to sculptures and installations, creative wayfinding or signage, pavement art, historical markers, light and sound installations and soundscapes that “incorporate the natural sounds of the river or create a serene auditory experience for the trail users.”
More examples mentioned include art inspired by local flora and fauna, geological formations and the Animas River; benches and seating; habitat structures that double as art and wildlife habitats such as birdhouses; and murals and painted works.
The call to artists says projects should be built for longevity and permanent outdoor exposure to the elements with proper materials, should feature muted earth tones that fit in the surrounding environment, and that materials should not feature pointed or jagged edges or other qualities that could injure pedestrians.
“We’re asking for artists to include design, fabrication and installation as part of their $35,000,” Crosby said at the meeting, held Tuesday.
The proposed time period for artists to pitch their ideas would be from Feb. 9 when the call goes out to March 29, he said.
Artists will be notified on April 30, the call to artists says.
“There’s a chance that this funding could be awarded in 2024 but might not be installed until 2025, based on the repaving process of Parks and Rec,” Crosby said.
Crosby said Parks and Recreation and a member of the public, and possibly the Durango Creative District, will review the applications before Creative Economy Commission members weigh in.
“That in-depth review would be done by a select group of reviewers and then the project would be brought to the CEC for final approval,” he said.
cburney@durangoherald.com
