‘Experiments in Public Art: A Boulder Future’ Exhibition Opens June 8

Experiments in Public Art: A Boulder Future showcases how a series of artist-led public art projects have contributed to the major update of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, offering new ways to engage the community in imagining its future. The exhibition will be on view in the Canyon Gallery at the Main Library from June 8 through July 26, 2026, with an opening reception on June 17 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Experiments in Public Art Program invites artists to test creative ideas in public spaces through temporary, socially engaged projects that spark conversation, build connection and activate neighborhoods. The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan guides long-term decisions about growth, sustainability and services in Boulder and the surrounding area and undergoes a major update every 10 years. As part of the comprehensive plan update, artists were embedded in the process to explore innovative approaches to engagement, helping broaden participation and elevate community voices. Much of the artwork is featured in the plan document itself.

Projects featured in the exhibition include:

• Motus Theater: Playback Theater - Motus Theater hosted multiple "Playback Theater" events, where community members shared personal reflections and hopes for Boulder's future, which were then brought to life through live performance.
• Boulder's Big Adventure - Illustrator Cal Brackin translated complex planning concepts into accessible visuals through a children's book designed to engage younger audiences. His illustrations are also being used throughout the plan.
• Building Connections - Artists Becky Wareing Steele and Shannon Geis developed a project inspired by observations and conversations from the Community Assembly.
• Voicing Boulder - Artist Chris Carruth led a participatory project using the PhotoVoice method, inviting community members to document their current realities and imagine possible futures.
• Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Mural - Mural artist Android Jones is creating a large-scale work, titled 'Future Flourishing' that captures the community's shared vision for the next two decades.

"The projects featured in Experiments in Public Art: A Boulder Future demonstrate the powerful role art can play in community engagement," said Lauren Click, Office of Arts and Culture Manager. "By complementing traditional outreach with creative approaches, we were able to connect with community members in new and meaningful ways. We invite the public to experience these projects firsthand at the Canyon Gallery this summer."

By blending policy, data, emotion, imagination and lived experience, the exhibition highlights a more human-centered approach to planning. This marks the first time creative practices have been formally integrated into a Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update, expanding how the community envisions the next 20 years.

Learn more about Experiments in Public Art and its role in the comprehensive plan update on the city's website, or visit ABoulderFuture.org for additional information.

Experiments in Public Art is a program of the Office of Arts and Culture, in the Office of Cultural and Economic Development. The exhibition and project series was managed by More Sky, Less Ceiling. The Comprehensive Plan is expected to be adopted in summer 2026.