THE PROJECT

The city of Aurora, CO is seeking a sculpture/art installation that will bring together the many voices of Aurora in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the state of Colorado (the Centennial State) and the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Within Colorado this event is called the Sesquisemiquincentennial. It culminates on July 4, 2026, with events continuing through the end of 2026. Beyond the many temporary events, this public artwork in Aurora will provide a lasting perspective on this significant moment in time.

More information about the Sesquisemiquincentennial is available at: https://www.historycolorado.org/colorado-150/about-us.

The Art Selection Panel is seeking a durable artwork that embraces the past, exists in the present, and looks towards the future. The selected artist or team is encouraged to involve the community by using engageaurora.org or by hosting meetings or workshops to gather information and input to inform the final work of art. Aurora is home to a large immigrant and refugee population whose resilience and unique perspectives contribute to a lively cultural environment. Among the strongest unifying elements for the city is the appreciation of the diversity that abounds here.

Over 150 languages are used in Aurora. After English, Spanish is the most common. Other often used languages include Korean, Vietnamese, Amharic, Tigrinya, French, Nepalese, Burmese, Kareni, Mandarin and Cantonese.

The final artwork could incorporate or combine visual elements, design, language and/or sound to represent the unique character of this community as we come together for this commemoration. There are many resources that will be available to finalists through the Aurora History Museum

 (https://www.auroragov.org/things_to_do/aurora_history_museum), the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs (https://www.auroragov.org/city_hall/international___immigrant_affairs) as well as those community engagement opportunities mentioned earlier.

The footprint for the artwork is currently about 15’ and could potentially be larger if needed. However, the western edge is limited by the floodplain of the neighboring creek.

The mission of Aurora’s Art in Public Places Program is to capture the pulse of the community by contributing to neighborhood development, economic vitality, and engaging the many voices of Aurora through arts and culture.

Materials

Materials must be durable and appropriate for exterior applications within the Front Range climate of Colorado. Annually, temperatures range from sub-zero to over 100 degrees, and temperatures can span more than 40 degrees within a day, or even a few hours. Snow, hail, wind, and extreme sun are all environmental issues to contend with when proposing exterior art projects at this elevation and climate.

Background

Location: Mission Viejo Park, 3999 S Mission Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80013

Located within the historic Mission Viejo Community, the master plan for this popular park was developed in 1984. “Passages” by Sheila Ghidini, installed in 2008, is a landscape-integrated artwork that references westward migration along the Smoky Hill Trail. The park playground was updated in 2010/11 implementing a planetary theme. With several baseball fields, picnic shelters, the playground, and restrooms, the south end of the park is very active. The northern part of the park consists of open space. The 21.4-acre park is bordered on the west side by West Tollgate Creek Trail with adjacent on street parking and a parking lot available along the east side. The park is accessible to pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles, and located a short distance from Hwy 285/ E. Hampden Ave, Mission Viejo Library, Aurora Fire Station #6, and shopping areas.

Aurora’s Mission Viejo Community was created by the same developers behind Mission Viejo, CA. Architectural styles and adornments are similar including Spanish elements and bell-shaped exterior lighting.

About Aurora, CO

Aurora is the third largest city in Colorado, spanning three counties in the eastern Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area. Aurora embraces a highly diverse population of approximately 400,000 residents who enjoy access to quality education, Colorado's natural beauty and active lifestyle, and an array of cultural amenities within the context of a vibrant and growing community. Aurora is home to top national employers in aerospace and defense, bioscience, healthcare, and alternative energy.

Situated on prairie grasslands, rolling hills and the northern tip of the Black Forest, Aurora offers a unique quality of life that blends a traditional sense of community with a range of outdoor and leisure activities. Residents enjoy a wealth of opportunities and are proud to call Aurora home.

Application Requirements

Application Materials

• 10 images/videos of relevant work. Do not submit conceptual proposals. They will not be reviewed.
• Professional resume not to exceed two pages
• Statement of Interest (Why this project is of interest to you)
• Brief bio
• Open ONLY to artists who reside in the USA

Questions

Questions should be directed to publicart@auroragov.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Selection Criteria

The ideal artist is:

• Comfortable working in the public sphere.
• Enjoys working with people and community engagement.
• Has demonstrated experience creating exterior three-dimensional permanent works of art.
• Has demonstrated experience working on projects with budgets of $100,000 or greater.
• Has lived or worked in Colorado or has experiences directly related to the culture and environment of Colorado.
• Is living and working in the United States.

Tentative Timeline

• Deadline for completed applications to be received: April 13, 2025, 11:59 pm Mountain Time.
• Finalists notified: week of April 30, 2025
• Finalists’ virtual presentations: June 27, 2025
• Multi-level approval process completed: Mid-August 2025
• Artwork to be completed and installed: Mid-late June 2026