Club Q Memorial Project

Club Q Memorial

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs is seeking submissions for an art exhibit that will become part of the Kraemer Family Library's special collections. The exhibit will be a memorial for those lost and impacted by the Club Q Shooting on November 19th-20th, 2022. 

We are seeking submissions from artists with a connection to UCCS and the local Colorado Springs LGBTQIA+ communities, or Club Q. If you would like to submit, please review the project guidelines and submission requirements, before completing your application via our online submission form. 

This project is a collaboration between the Kraemer Family Library, MOSAIC, and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, in partnership with the UCCS Student Government Association, and two LGBTQIA+ student groups: QTPOC and Two Spirit, and the Queer Student Alliance (formerly Spectrum). 

 

Project Background

Learn about the shooting at Club Q, its impact on UCCS and LGBTQIA+ community, the goals of the memorial project, and the campus partners involved. 

Project Timeline

Review the project timeline, including the due date for submissions and the official unveiling ceremony. 

Submission Guidelines

Review the guidelines for submission, including format, size, weight requirements, and the selection criteria.

Submission Form

Once you have reviewed the timeline and guidelines, submit your art exhibit proposal for the Club Q Memorial Project. 

Project Background

Project Background

The Shooting at Club Q

On November 19th, 2022, a gunman stormed the locally renowned Club Q in Colorado Springs. The tragedy took the lives of 5 individuals, Raymond Green Vance, Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Ashley Paugh, and Derrick Rump. Over 40 people were injured, and countless queer people around the world were left feeling unsafe, traumatized, angry, and scared. In a place like Colorado Springs, CO, Club Q was especially important – being that for a long time, Club Q was the only LGBTQIA+ nightlife spot in the city. This tragedy led to the temporary closure of Club Q, and shockwaves were sent through the Colorado Springs community and in queer communities around the world. The shooting is now recognized as the latest mass shooting that targeted LGBTQIA+ individuals in the United States and has officially been recognized as a hate crime.


Project Background

Situated just under 4 miles from UCCS, this was a popular nightclub among LGBTQIA+ students. Many LGBTQIA+ students found themselves at UCCS eager to explore a new city or maybe eager to explore their long-called home with some new friends at college. There were also queer students who maybe didn’t get into the frat parties or didn’t fit in at these kinds of things if they were invited, so luckily for all of those students, there was a cool spot amongst the talk in LGBTQIA+ student groups: Club Q. Club Q meant a lot to UCCS students throughout the years, and the tragedy only amplified that as students, staff, and faculty who frequented the bar, worked at the club, or even performed at Club Q felt the weight of loss. Since the tragedy, students have organized vigils on campus, and there have been healing circles and workshops organized by the UCCS Division of DEI, UCCS MOSAIC and LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Lyda Hill Institute of Resilience, and the UCCS Wellness Center. These events are just a snippet of the impact that the shooting had on the UCCS community.

Aside from recognizing the already existent connections to Club Q that queer people at UCCS have, we want to ensure that future generations of students, their families, faculty, and staff do not forget this staple of queer history in Colorado Springs. Queer people live in Colorado Springs, they live at UCCS, they experience this campus every day, but consistently, there are notes of the constant battles needed to challenge systemic queerphobia right here on our bluffs. This three-pronged intention; recognizing the UCCS community’s connection to Club Q; preserving this part of history for future members of the UCCS community; and resisting systemic queerphobia on campus; led the UCCS Kraemer Family Library to collaborate with the UCCS MOSAIC and LGBTQ+ Resource Center to present a project for a memorial on campus. The decision for this memorial to be on campus instead of collaborating with Club Q or other memorial efforts stems from the accessibility to the UCCS community, particularly students.


Project Partners

mosaic and lgtbq+ resource center logo

The Kraemer Family Library, and MOSAIC and LGBTQ+ Resource Center are the campus departments collaborating on this project. Student collaboration in this project comes from the UCCS Student Government Association, and two LGBTQIA+ student clubs: QTPOC and Two Spirit, and The Queer Student Alliance (formally Spectrum). A priority group of stakeholders who may significantly impact the project includes survivors, victims, and their families. Advisory roles and other stakeholders include UCCS Facilities, Division of DEI, VAPA, WEST, and more. 

Project Timeline

Project Timeline

Key Dates for the Club Q Memorial Project
  • The deadline for artists' submissions for the memorial project. Be sure to review submission guidelines before submitting. 

  • The artists whose entries are selected for the memorial will be notified that their piece was chosen for the exhibit. 

  • The official unveiling for the Club Q Memorial Project will take place during Pride Week, the last week of April 2024. Specific date and time to be decided. 

Submission Guidelines

Submission Guidelines

Will the Same Artist be Selected for Both Memorial Locations?
What is Required of Artists for Payment?
What is Acceptable and What Isn't?
What are the Required Dimensions for the Memorial Piece?
Where will the Club Q Memorial be Located?
Submission Form

Submission Form

Please read before submitting this form:

The Kraemer Family Library and the MOSAIC and the LGBTQ+ Resource Center are partnering to create Club Q Memorial Art pieces on campus. It will be displayed as a sibling exhibit where one is located in the library and the other will be located across from MOSAIC. 

We are looking for artists that have a profound, deep understanding of the local Colorado LGBTQ+ community and the impact of such tragedy that occurred at Club Q. Artists should also have some connection to UCCS, please note that this is not limited to current student status (eg. alumni, family of alumni, prior relationships with campus, etc.).

The selected artists will receive a compensation of $2,000 (including for materials) for one display. Artists can submit a proposal for one of the locations but not both. Artists will be expected to regularly check in with each other to ensure complimentary relationship between the works. 
Important: We are aiming to have an official reveal in the last week of April 2024 (date TBD). This is crucial in determining whether you have the time and capacity to finish the art by Spring 2024.

Note: If you need to make edits to your submission, you will need to resubmit this entire form. The committee will review your latest submission.
First and Last Name
Maximum 3 files.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, avi, mov, mp3, ogg, wav, zip.
Which location are you submitting an art proposal for?
Note: artists can only complete one of the exhibits or pieces, not both

If not all of your files will upload (eg. too large) please contact Joseph Bono (e: Jbono2@uccs.edu) or Rafael Norwood (e: Rnorwood@uccs.edu).

 
Maximum 3 files.
100 MB limit.
Allowed types: gif, jpg, jpeg, png, bmp, eps, tif, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx.
We recognize that this vision may be fluid, it may change over time. Tell us your vision at this time.
Are you willing to check in with the other chosen artist to ensure a complimentary relationship between both exhibits?
We will submit your proposal to various stakeholders. Are you open to feedback and if asked, to modify your proposal?
By submitting this form, you agree to being available for the full reveal to the UCCS community in the last week of April 2024. 

At this event you will be expected to:
  1. Attend
  2. Iintroduce yourself (1-7 mins)
  3. Read your artist statement (OR allow one of the project members read your statement if you cannot). 
  4. You are welcome to talk more about your art, what this means to you, etc. but this is not required.
If you cannot make it for any reason but you are selected, do you agree to allowing members of the project committee to read your statement?