The public art program and its guiding policy commission a wide variety of artworks representing the most innovative approaches to contemporary practice in the arts, works of enduring value, and a diversity of artists and arts experiences within the city of Boulder.
Boulder's Public Art Program
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Current Public Art Projects
The Public Art Program is engaged in a number of projects throughout Boulder. The following projects are under way and were funded and guided by the City of Boulder Public Art Policy.
Creative Neighborhoods
Creative Neighborhoods highlights creativity that is part of our everyday landscape, led by our neighbors and ourselves. Creative acts like murals, little free libraries, porch concerts and other opportunities help build relationships and social cohesion which in turn increases the resilience of a community. The Office of Arts and Culture Public Art Program seeks to promote and support these localized efforts throughout the city of Boulder.
Experiments in Public Art
The Office of Arts and Culture presents an ongoing series of temporary public interventions through the Experiments in Public Art program which serves as a city-wide laboratory expanding the potential of public art. Unlike a traditional public art commission, Experiments in Public Art projects are as much an experiment for the community as they are opportunities for artists to work within unconventional parameters. Participating artists are selected, in part, by incorporating concepts and materials that extend beyond the notion of traditional public art.
Ways to Get Involved in Public Art
Serve on a public art selection panel
Every public art project is determined through a unique selection panel of community members. We’re looking for artists, arts professionals, and all-around community members interested in helping select artists for upcoming public art projects – like the murals featured in the Boulder Public Library Restrooms for All. Email us at publicart@bouldercolorado.gov with any questions, or if you’d like to join the roster of folks for a selection panel, email a one page letter of interest and resume.
Become a public art steward
Email publicart@bouldercolorado.gov if you see artwork that is damaged or vandalized so we can conserve it.
Take a guided public art tour!
Register in advance for walking tours of downtown's public art. Offered most Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. through August 31.
Public Art Resources
- Free paint! Boulder County Hazardous Materials Program has free paint available to the community and could be a great resource if you are interested in painting a mural. Visit the Boulder County Hazardous Materials Program website or contact Shelly at 720-564-2243.
- Interested in installing a temporary art project in one of Boulder's many public parks? Start by filling out the following form: Temporary Art Agreement/Permit - Formstack
- Our Arts and Culture Resources and Opportunities page is updated every two weeks with new calls for artists, funding opportunities, RFQs, and more.
Public Art Program Documents
More about Boulder's Public Art Program
Boulder’s Public Art Program was created in 2018
Before that, the city did not have a cohesive program or a guiding public art policy. Some of Boulder’s public art from before 2018 was donated or loaned to the city, often with unclear terms. Some were purchased by city departments, such as Parks and Recreation and Transportation, each with its own policy for acquiring, maintaining and cataloguing public art. Each piece was handled differently. Since the implementation of the first Public Art Policy in 2018, the Office of Arts and Culture has begun the task of auditing and organizing all the works that the city considers “public art.”
Public Art vs. Urban Design
What we have found is that while many of the works are indeed public art, many we are considering “urban design” because there is no artist named, or an artist or designer assisted with the overall aesthetic of the project (such as a bridge or underpass) but there is no “work of art” created by them. Our goal is to clarify this process and eventually begin maintaining and showcasing our public art collection to residents of and visitors to Boulder.
1% for Art Policy
1% of any capital improvement project with a construction budget of over $100,000 qualifies for public art. The city takes 1% of the construction budget and goes through a very specific process to commission new work that will be integrated into the larger project. For example, imagine the city is building a new park and the construction budget for the new park is $1M. Our program would get $10,000 to spend on new, site-specific artwork for that new park. We always create an art selection panel that includes community representatives and an artist and arts professional. We post calls for art and artists apply with images of their past work, a resume and a short narrative about why they’re interested in the project. From this group, the panel selects three to create proposals (which we pay for). Then after reviewing the proposals, interviewing the artist, and consulting with project managers and other city staff, a selection is made. This decision is ratified by the Boulder Arts Commission and the City Manager.
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