News Releases

Statewide Transportation Plan

August 19, 2008

Call to Artists:
Artwork for 2009 Colorado Bike Month Poster

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is soliciting a call for artists who want to be considered for the 2009 Bike Month and/or the 2009 Pedestrian Month poster projects.

Bike Month (June) and Pedestrian Month (October) are celebrations of bicycling and walking as healthy, efficient and fun transportation options. CDOT procures artwork to be used in promoting these two months.

This call is for samples of existing art. Artists interested in one or both projects are not expected to create a Bike Month poster or a Pedestrian Month poster as part of the selection process.

The selected artist(s) will be developing themes and designs for each event based on the listed general criteria. Specific criteria will be identified in conjunction with the artist’s input.

General Criteria:

• Flexibility. The poster art is the benchmark of all graphic materials. For continuity, other materials are produced using parts or the entire poster (i.e. newspaper ads, invitations, stationery, schedules, TV ads, etc.) The poster has to provide for these other uses. When someone sees a part of the poster used in another way, they should mentally connect it with the entire Bike Month or Pedestrian Month poster. The artwork also needs to be easily modified for local community personalization.
• Colorful so people can see it on a tee-shirt, in a store window, etc.
• Contain a universal image that can be used throughout the state, without identifying a specific “place”. (Colorado locations should not be identifiable such as a particular mountain, building, streetscape, etc.) On the same token, the artwork should not appear as though it’s a generic poster from another state.
• While the artwork is going to be primarily reproduced in full color, it also needs to work well in black and white.
• People should be considered as part of the design.
• If people are part of the artwork, they need to represent the “every person” – ordinary, every day people. Diversity also needs to be represented.
• Include aspects that reflect “bicycle commuting” and “pedestrian commuting”.
• Final poster size will be 11” x 17”
• Photography may also be considered as all or part of the design.
• The Bike Month poster is primarily used for promoting Bike to Work Day.
• The Pedestrian Month poster is primarily used for promoting Walk a Child to School Day.

A panel of marketing and transportation specialists will determine which artist(s) will be selected by September 12. Entries become the property of CDOT.

Interested artists over the age of 18 should submit samples of their artwork on a CD no later than 5 p.m. Friday, August 29, 2008, to:

Adam Rolstad
Colorado Department of Transportation
Bicycle/Pedestrian/TDM Unit
4201 East Arkansas AvenueM
Shumate Building
Denver, Colorado 80222

Important Dates:

Samples of Existing Art to CDOT – Friday, August 29, 2008 by 5 p.m.
Artist Selection – Friday, September 12, 2008
Artist Notified – Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Finished Bike Month Artwork Deadline – Friday, October 31, 2008
Finished Pedestrian Month Artwork Deadline – Friday, November 28, 2008

For more information, contact Adam Rolstad with the CDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian/ TDM Unit at 303-757-9997.