For immediate release: July 5, 2019
Jessica Bralish, Director of Communications
303-349-7527, jessica.bralish@state.co.us
DENVER: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will select Colorado artists to create murals in Colorado communities to raise awareness about public health. Artists who would like to apply must do so by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 15, 2019.
The mural project will depict the findings of a recent health and environmental assessment, which is used to shape the state’s public health improvement plan. In addition to sharing the latest assessment’s findings in “Colorado’s Story: 2018 Public Health and Environmental Assessment,” the department is fostering the creation of murals to connect with Coloradans and motivate them to get involved in improving their health and environment.
“Too often our reports just sit on a shelf,” said Anne-Marie Braga, the department’s director of the Office of Planning, Partnerships and Improvement. “We want this work to live on and create a buzz within communities so people take action to improve their health and the environment.”
There will be a minimum of five murals in geographically diverse areas of the state. The exact locations are forthcoming, but the department is committed to having murals in urban and rural communities.
Redline Contemporary Art Center awarded the department the competitive "Arts in Society" grant of $25,000 to fund the innovative project. The grant will be used to commission five local artists.
The department’s Mural Action Team, which includes artists, public health professionals and community members, will review mural applications. The team will base its review on these criteria:
- Accessibility: High-visibility locations easily viewable by the public.
- Ecological friendliness.
- Contemporary relevance: Geographically, socio-culturally and historically relevant.
- Feasibility: Completed by Dec. 31, 2019.
- Permanence: Lasting a minimum of five years.
- Local connection: Artist must have lived in Colorado for five years.
- Representation of the state’s 2018 Health and Environment Assessment: Represent and link to the state public health and environment assessment, including the department’s logo.