Two new public art projects in Westwood will soon be in the works through a partnership between Denver Public Art and Art Students League of Denver (ASLD).
Community members will be able to give their input on what those works will look like at a public meeting scheduled for March 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Westwood Community Center. The event is free and open to the public, but capacity is limited. Attendees can RSVP here.
Spanish interpretation, childcare and food will be provided. Interpretation services will be available upon request at least five business days in advance.
"With significant funding for two new public art projects in the Westwood neighborhood, there is potential to make a big impact in Westwood," said Hannah Leathers, program administrator for Denver Public Art. "We look forward to engaging with the community and gathering information about what is important to them about the process and the end goals of the projects."
The projects will be located along Morrison Road and at the under-construction Westwood Recreation Center
The community engagement part of the project will be funded through an Our Town grant that ASLD was awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
"As Denver grows, Westwood and similar neighborhoods are at risk of being developed in ways that pave over or push out the culturally rich communities already in place there," said Rachel Basye, Art Students League of Denver's executive director. "We hope these public art projects will uplift the community identity of Westwood, and we need input from neighborhood residents to make sure that their dreams for this project are the driving force of our work."
Potential locations for new artworks along Morrison Road include the Alameda Avenue gateway or at new plazas that are set to be built along the roadway. Funding for the Morrison Road project comes from the Morrison Road Improvement project.
Artwork considered for the new Westwood Recreation Center, which is expected to open in late 2025, will likely be placed in the exterior courtyard of the new recreation center near the Morrison Road entrance.
Following the community meeting, both Denver Public Art and ASLD will host a one-hour training for local artists to inform prospective applicants about the public art process.
