Call for Artists:

Boulder Housing Partners, Tantra Lake Apartments

Public Art Project: Boulder Housing Partners, Tantra Lake Apartments
Eligibility: Open to artists or artist teams based in Colorado
Deadline: Sunday, March 1, 2026, 11:59 pm MT  

Introduction

This program is a year-long, two-part mural project at Tantra Lake Apartments, a Boulder Housing Partners community. 

Mural Project #1 is an artist and community-painted mural adjacent to the ¼-acre Food Forest, inspired by food justice and climate adaptation. Mural Project #2 is a large keystone mural on Building 880 symbolizing the community's connection to the environment, resilience, and belonging. Together, the murals will connect housing, food justice, and ecology into a living story of transformation. 

This program is supported by the Climate Equity Fund from the Office of Sustainability, Climate Action, and Resilience of Boulder County. The Boulder County Climate Equity Fund aims to advance Boulder County’s racial equity goals, support those most impacted by the climate crisis, and enable grassroots and neighborhood leaders to implement impactful climate action.

Mural Project #1: Food Forest Mural

• Size: 280 sq. ft.

• Artist Stipend: $5,600.00

• Supply Stipend: $750.00

  • UV sealant will be provided. Selected artist(s) will be expected to apply provided UV sealant to the finished mural once paint is fully cured.

• Project Completion Date: 06/30/2026

This mural will be an artist and community-painted mural adjacent to the ¼-acre Food Forest, inspired by food justice and climate adaptation. The mural should be informed by an initial design session with the Tantra Lake community co-facilitated by the artist and Street Wise Arts. The final mural design is subject to approval by the selection committee before installation. This project will include five (5) paint days during which Tantra Lake residents will have the opportunity to assist with mural installation. The selected artist(s) is also expected to attend a Harvest Celebration after mural completion to unveil the mural and celebrate with the community.

Mural Project #2: Building 880 Mural

• Size: 45’ wide x 30’ high (estimate; wall schematic will be provided)

• Artist Stipend: $22,000.00

• Supply Stipend: $3,000.00

  • Lift and UV sealant will be provided. Selected artist(s) must provide current lift certification and a certificate of insurance. Selected artist(s) will be expected to apply provided UV sealant to the finished mural once the paint is fully cured. The subject wall surface is stucco and south facing.

• Design Workshop Stipend: $500

• Project Completion Date: 09/30/2026

This large mural will transform one of the most visible buildings into an inspiring landmark inspired by the local environment and community dreams for the future. The decision-making process models the values of sustainability, equity, and stewardship we hope to inspire through the murals.

The selected artist(s) is expected to co-facilitate a design session with Street Wise Arts to present their previous work to community residents before designing the mural. The mural design should be informed by this community session. The final mural design is subject to approval by the selection committee before installation. The selected artist(s) is also expected to attend a Harvest Celebration after mural completion to unveil the mural and celebrate with the community.

About Tantra Lake Apartments

Tantra Lake Apartments offers 185 affordable apartments and townhomes in South Boulder, housing low-income families. This is a culturally diverse community with a variety of races, ethnicities, and languages spoken, far more diverse than Boulder at-large. Located near US 36, Tantra Lake Apartments is a 7-minute drive to the University of Colorado, adjacent to hiking and biking trails, within walking distance to RTD bus routes and the Table Mesa Park-n-Ride, and close to restaurants and shopping.

The community sits on 24 acres home to more than 130 bird species and a diverse range of wildlife and plants, including a Food Forest with 27 fruit trees, a pollinator garden, raised garden beds, and shrubs. The residents here requested art in the community knowing that art brings pride and connection. 

Residents will be invited to participate in a Permaculture and Ecological Design Culture Lab presented by Mike Wird of Regenerative Adventures in March. The “Roots & Rhythm” workshop builds resident connection, stewardship, landscape and community resilience by teaching permaculture design fundamentals through a culturally relevant lens. Selected artist(s) would be invited to attend these workshops as part of the community engagement process.

Project Values & Goals

Project values include:

• Low- or No-Waste Practices: Street Wise Arts expects selected artists to use low- or no-waste strategies and environmentally-conscious paint and supplies throughout the project. Street Wise Arts has a partnership with GreenSheen Paint, an eco-friendly recycled paint company in Denver. GreenSheen Paint will donate recycled paint to the project. Additionally, we will use paint available at Boulder County hazardous waste facilities.

• Reducing Car Travel: As the murals are located directly within the Tantra Lake community, most resident participants can walk from their homes to workshops and painting days.

• Cultural Practices of Stewardship & Sustainability: The project centers community voice and cultural traditions by integrating residents’ own practices of care, food, and nature connection into the design. The Food Forest mural in particular will highlight community agriculture, intergenerational knowledge, and shared stewardship of land and resources.

Project goals include:

• Connect art and environment by embedding climate equity themes directly into community public art.

• Empower residents to be creative and connect through hands-on mural participation 

• Celebrate biodiversity by honoring the species and ecological systems of Tantra Lake Apartments.

• Strengthen community connection to the environment through workshops and collective artmaking.

Eligibility

This project is open to artists 18 years and older that reside in the state of Colorado. No travel support stipends are available, so artists should plan on independently arranging travel and accommodations if necessary.

Application Process

Applicants should submit the following items to the application:

1. Contact information

2. Responses to narrative questions

3. Examples of previous work (3 samples if applying to 1 project; 6 samples if applying to both projects)

A selection panel consisting of representatives from Street Wise Arts and Boulder Housing Partners as well as a professional artist and a Tantra Lake resident will review and score the applications and select artist(s) for each mural project.

Timeline 

• Sunday, March 1, 2026, 11:59 pm MT: Deadline for application submission

• April 2026: Artist selection and notification 

FAQ

Can I apply to Mural Project #1 and Mural Project #2?

Yes, but artists will only be selected for one of the two projects. Please submit the Google Form once and select that you are interested in both projects.

Can artist teams apply?

Yes, artist teams are eligible. Please complete and submit one Google Form as a team. 

What if I need to make an update to my form submission?

The form allows you to edit your response. After submission, you receive an emailed copy of your response, which includes a link to edit your response. Additionally, if you log into Google with the same email address, your earlier response will appear and allow you to make edits. Please resubmit the form to make updates to your responses.