Public Art Initiative to Highlight Sustainable Development Goals at Greeley Wastewater Facility

Project Overview and Call for Proposals

The City of Greeley’s Public Art program has issued a call for proposals for a significant artwork installation at the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility. This initiative seeks to commission a public art piece that visually communicates the facility’s vital role in advancing community and environmental health, directly supporting global sustainability objectives.

Qualified artists are invited to submit proposals for a sculpture by the deadline of August 25. The selected artwork is expected to serve as an educational and aesthetic landmark, enhancing public understanding of critical water management processes.

1. Objective: To design a public art piece that showcases one or more processes of the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility.
2. Potential Themes: Artists are encouraged to explore themes such as the purification of water before its return to the river ecosystem, the application of microbiology in treatment, and the broader concept of water reclamation.
3. Program Goal: The Public Art program aims to commission art of redeeming quality that advances public understanding of visual art and enhances the aesthetic quality of public places, thereby fostering a deeper connection between the community and its essential infrastructure.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This project is fundamentally aligned with several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using public art as a medium to promote awareness and engagement with these global targets.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The primary goal of the installation is to illustrate the complex and essential work of wastewater treatment. By making these processes visible and accessible, the art will educate the public on the importance of water quality, sanitation, and the safe reuse of treated water, directly reflecting the aims of SDG 6.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project contributes to making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. By integrating art into functional public infrastructure, the city enhances public spaces and strengthens the cultural fabric of the community, turning a utility site into a place of public engagement and learning.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The facility’s function of treating and reclaiming water is a core component of a circular economy. The artwork will highlight these sustainable practices, promoting a message of responsible resource management to the community.

Project Timeline and Future Initiatives

The commitment to integrating art and sustainability at the facility is a long-term vision. Following the installation of the sculpture, a subsequent project is planned to further enhance the site.

• 2024: Selection of an artist and design for the primary sculpture installation.
• 2026: A separate call will be issued for artists to design and execute a large-scale mural on a 150-foot-long concrete wall, which will complement the sculpture and expand upon its sustainability themes.

Application and Contact Information

Artists interested in contributing to this public art initiative that champions sustainability are encouraged to submit their proposals.

• Submission Deadline: August 25
• Application Details: The complete call for artists, including selection criteria and submission guidelines, is available at bit.ly/4f9ZxX9.
• Inquiries: For questions regarding the proposal process, artists may contact Kim Snyder at 970-350-9450.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • The article’s central subject is an artwork installation at the “Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility.” The facility’s core function, described as “cleaning water before placing it back into the river,” directly aligns with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The project is part of the “city of Greeley’s Public Art program,” which aims to “enhance the aesthetic quality of public places.” This initiative contributes to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by improving public spaces and fostering cultural engagement. The art is intended to “advance public understanding of visual art,” which supports the cultural fabric of the community.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing wastewater treatment

   • The article explicitly mentions the function of the facility is to treat wastewater, citing duties like “cleaning water before placing it back into the river.” This directly supports the objective of Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by “halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.”

2. Target 11.7: Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces

   • The Public Art program’s mission to “enhance the aesthetic quality of public places” through sculptures and murals is a direct effort to improve public spaces. While the facility itself may not be a traditional park, the art installation makes an industrial public utility space more engaging and aesthetically pleasing, contributing to the overall quality of the urban environment.

3. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

   • The commissioning of public art is an effort to strengthen a city’s cultural assets. The program’s goal to “advance public understanding of visual art” contributes to safeguarding and promoting contemporary culture and artistic expression within the community.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 6.3

   • Implied Indicator: The existence and operation of the “Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Facility.”
   • Explanation: The article confirms the facility is operational and performing its function of treating water. This serves as a qualitative indicator for Indicator 6.3.1 (Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated). The facility itself is evidence of progress in safely treating wastewater.

2. Indicator for Target 11.7

   • Implied Indicator: The commissioning and installation of public art projects.
   • Explanation: The “call for proposals” for a sculpture and the plan for a “large mural” are concrete actions taken to enhance public spaces. The number of such projects can be used as a measure of a city’s investment in improving the quality and accessibility of its public areas.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: greeleytribune.com