Art on Loan: Aurora Municipal Center - Aurora, CO

THE PROJECT

The City of Aurora, CO is seeking completed artworks for exhibitions at the Aurora Municipal Center for the 2027 exhibition season. The exhibition area is on a series of long walls and display cases that occupy the second floor of the municipal building.

Wall Measurements: Will hold upwards of 40 artworks dependent on size.

• Height:8’
• Width: 156’ 3
   

Display Case Measurements (If Applicable):

North Pedestal: 59” x 29” x 15.5” ​

South Pedestal: 74” x 30” x 14.75”​

Exhibition Honorarium: $150

The honorarium is intended to offset the cost of transportation, signage, installation, insurance, and any other costs associated with this project.

Materials

Materials must be durable and appropriate for interior hanging and must be able to be hung on a hanging wire system in order to be viewed.

BACKGROUND

 The Aurora Municipal Center (AMC) serves as a central civic and administrative hub for the City of Aurora, bringing together city services, public spaces, and community resources. As a prominent civic destination, it supports both the daily functions of city government and the needs of residents, visitors, and the broader local community.

The Municipal Center includes spaces for city operations, public meetings, community gatherings, and civic activities. It provides residents with opportunities to access city services, engage with local government, and participate in public events.

The AMC also serves as an important setting for Aurora’s Public Art collection and Cultural Programming. Art throughout the facility creates opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Aurora’s diverse artistic community while engaging in the City and its services

• Submitted artwork should not:
• Conflict with City Council Goals and Objectives, city programs, city policies and community well-being.
• Promote hostility, violence, hatred, or discrimination
• Promote the use of illicit drugs, or the abuse of tobacco, alcohol, or prescription medication.
• Promote illegal activity.
• Promote one religion’s beliefs or religious organizations over another.
• Promote, favor, or oppose the candidacy of any candidate for election to public office, a political party, public interest campaign, or a ballot question.

Application Materials

• 4-20 images/videos of completed work. Do not submit conceptual proposals, renderings or AI images. They will not be reviewed. The listed completed works will be the works eligible for display.
• Professional resume not to exceed two pages.
• Statement of Interest: (Why are you interested in exhibiting your work here? This may include personal, professional, cultural, or experiential ties that inform your perspective as an artist.)
• Brief bio.
• Preferred Exhibition SlotsOpen ONLY to artists who reside in Colorado.
• Artist, Artists Groups, or Independent Curators are welcome to apply.

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, four finalists will be selected to show work.

Phase Two: 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 a complete portfolio of hang-ready works of art.
• Lives and works in Colorado. Note: Artists who have a connection to Aurora are encouraged to apply for this project.
• Artists and Artist Groups are welcome to show.

Tentative Timeline

• Deadline for completed applications to be received: September 21, 2026, 11:59 pm Mountain Time.
• Finalists notified: approx. week of September 25th, 2026
• Multi-level approval process completed: week of October 6th.
• It is desirable that the work be completed and installed by April-June or July-September dependent on preference.