CO-OP Tower Public Art Commission - Fruita
Fruita seeks artists to design banners for iconic CO-OP tower. $8,000 honorarium. Apply by April 6, 2026.
The City of Fruita is seeking artists to create new artwork for the east and west facing banners of the historic CO-OP fertilizer tower located at 248 U.S. Highway 6 & 50. This iconic structure serves as a gateway to Fruita and will be redesigned to better reflect the community's values and tourism offerings.
The project includes two distinct design requirements:
East-Facing Banner: Should reflect Fruita's tourist scene through representations of outdoor recreation and activities the community is known for.
West-Facing Banner: Must focus on Fruita's culture, values, and community spirit with mandatory community involvement in the design process. The city encourages creative approaches to community engagement, such as incorporating small pieces contributed by local artists as "Easter eggs" throughout the design.
Both banners must feature the city's gear-shaped logo and should work together cohesively while serving different purposes. The city prioritizes a "residents first, tourism second" approach, ensuring that all tourism-related projects benefit the local community.
Selected artist will receive an $8,000 honorarium payment. An evaluation committee composed of city council members, city staff, Arts and Culture Board members, and Tourism Advisory Council representatives will review submissions.
Project timeline: Finalists selected by April 10, 2026, with mockup and review processes occurring in April and May. The city welcomes collaboration with artists to ensure community involvement components align authentically with the artwork.