Commissions Plains Conservation Center - Eagle Nesting Site - Aurora, CO Aurora, Colorado Appli

The City of Aurora, Colorado Art in Public Places Program seeks qualifications from Indigenous artists for the first of five public art commissions planned for the Plains Conservation Center. This opportunity calls for a three-dimensional public artwork that reflects the ecological, cultural, and historical significance of the short grass prairie while creating a meaningful visitor experience and serving as a distinctive landmark within the conservation center.

The City of Aurora, Colorado Art in Public Places Program seeks qualifications from Indigenous artists for the first of five public art commissions planned for the Plains Conservation Center.

The City of Aurora is seeking a three-dimensional public art installation that will enhance the Plains Conservation Center and reflect the unique ecological, cultural, and historical significance of this protected short grass prairie landscape. The selected artwork should respond to the character of the site while creating a meaningful experience for visitors and serving as a distinctive landmark within the conservation center.

Located within a roundabout near an active nesting area utilized by eagles and other raptors, the site is surrounded by expansive prairie views, native habitat, and one of Colorado's remaining short grass prairie ecosystems. The annual return of nesting eagles has become one of the area's most recognizable natural features and serves as a reminder of the enduring relationship between wildlife, people, and place.

The Plains Conservation Center encompasses more than 1,100 acres of protected prairie and serves as a place where visitors can explore the interconnected stories of the land, ecology, wildlife, Indigenous peoples, and the generations of stewards who have cared for this landscape. Through a series of public art commissions, the City seeks to elevate Indigenous voices and artistic practices while fostering a deeper understanding of the prairie and its significance.

Artists are encouraged to explore the relationship between history and ecology, highlighting how the land has shaped and sustained both human and natural communities over time. The selected artwork should honor the land and acknowledge the interconnected relationship between people and the earth. The artwork may reflect the understanding that the land is at the heart of community, culture, and identity, and that people and the natural world are inextricably connected.

Artists may draw inspiration from themes including:

• Honoring the land and its enduring significance
• The relationship between people and the earth
• Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, and stewardship
• The interconnectedness of all living things
• The ecological importance of the short grass prairie ecosystem
• Migration, habitat, and natural cycles
• The role of eagles, raptors, and other wildlife within the prairie landscape
• Resilience, reciprocity, and care for future generations
• Historical and contemporary connections between people and place

While artwork may draw inspiration from eagles, raptors, and other wildlife, literal representations are not required. The City welcomes creative interpretations that reflect the artist's unique perspective, cultural knowledge, and artistic practice while complementing the character and mission of the Plains Conservation Center.

The Plains Conservation Center is a 1,100-acre nature preserve owned and operated by the City of Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department. Located in southeastern Aurora, the center protects one of Colorado's remaining short grass prairie ecosystems and provides opportunities for environmental education, cultural interpretation, wildlife observation, and outdoor recreation.

The site serves as a living…