Call Description

BACKGROUND

The Martin Luther King Jr. Library is a modern branch of the Aurora Public Library that serves as a key community hub in northwest Aurora, the East Colfax corridor, as well as the vibrant Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD). Its location places it within a diverse and active part of the city, where it functions not only as a library, but also as an accessible public gathering space for residents of all ages.

Originally opened in 2004 within a municipal services building, the library underwent a major expansion and renovation completed in 2025 that significantly increased its size and capabilities. This investment reflects the City of Aurora’s broader effort to strengthen public infrastructure and provide equitable access to educational and cultural resources in the area. 

The updated facility is designed with flexibility in mind, featuring dedicated youth and teen areas, collaborative study rooms, multipurpose community spaces, and a makerspace equipped with tools such as 3D printers and creative equipment. These spaces support a wide range of uses, from independent study and small group work to workshops, classes, and community events.

More than a traditional library, it offers classes, public programs, technology access, and civic services, including functioning as a voting center during elections. As part of the Aurora Cultural Arts District, the library plays an important role in connecting residents to learning opportunities, creative resources, and civic engagement, reinforcing its position as a centralized, community-focused destination.

Wall Measurements:

Height:17’
Width: 36’ 4”
Book racks (can be removed to accommodate mural): 6’ height, 15’ 2” width,
Door: 10’ 1.5” height, 11’ width

Materials

Materials must be durable and appropriate for interior applications, Depending on choice of materials, the mural can be painted on-site within the open hours of the Library, or it can be created in a studio setting on a suitable substrate such as polytab, aluminum, M.D.O., primed mdf, or mosaic and moved to the site for installation.

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
• 8-10 images/videos of relevant work. Do not submit conceptual proposals, renderings or AI images. They will not be reviewed.
• Professional resume not to exceed two pages
• Statement of Interest: (Why are you interested in this project? Describe your connection to Aurora or the state of Colorado. This may include personal, professional, cultural, or experiential ties that inform your perspective as an artist.)
• Brief bio
• Open ONLY to artists who reside in Colorado. 

Questions
Questions should be directed to publicart@auroragov.org

By submitting an application, artists will be added to the City of Aurora Public Art email list to receive notifications about future opportunities. Artists may opt out of these communications at any time.
 

Eligibility Criteria

SELECTION PROCESS AND MATERIALS
Aurora’s Public Art Staff manages the selection process. All applications must be submitted through the CaFE System of Creative West. This application process is free. No hard copies will be accepted, and no applications should be submitted directly to public art staff. This is a state-wide call for artists residing in Colorado.

Phase One: The Selection Panel will identify the most qualified applicants based on the selection criteria listed below. From this pool of submissions, three finalists will be selected.

Phase Two: Three finalists will each receive a $350 honorarium to participate in an optional site visit, develop a formal proposal, and participate in a virtual interview. Finalists will receive a list of key stakeholders that can be contacted during the design research process. During the formal interviews (virtual), finalists will make their presentations and engage in a Q & A period.

Phase Three: The Selection Panel will recommend the selected applicant to the Arts & Culture Commission for approval.

Initial Selection Criteria
The ideal artist:
• Comfortable working in the public sphere. 
• Enjoys working with people. 
• Has demonstrated experience creating large scale, two-dimensional, permanent works of art.
• Lives and works in Colorado. Note: Artists who have a connection to Aurora are encouraged to apply for this project
 

Tentative Timeline
• Deadline for completed applications to be received: June 4, 2026, 11:59 pm Mountain Time.
• Finalists notified: approx. week of June 15th, 2026
• Finalists’ virtual presentations: approx. mid to late July 2026
• Multi-level approval process completed: approx. August 2026
• It is desirable that the work be completed and installed by Mid-August/Mid-September 2026.