Golden Triangle Creative District Awarded P.S. You Are Here Grant to Expand Public Art and Placemaking

We’re thrilled to share that the Golden Triangle Creative District (GTCD) has been named a recipient of a 2025-2026 P.S. You Are Here (PSYAH) grant from Denver Arts & Venues—a competitive creative placemaking program that supports short-term, community-led projects transforming Denver’s outdoor public spaces. This program is supported by Denver Arts & Venues through the P.S You Are Here Fund.

This project began in the fall of 2025 thanks to three Golden Triangle neighbors—Nancy Cole, Carolyn Corogin, and Rebecca Stevens—who reached out with a simple but powerful idea: wrap the unsightly mechanical boxes that interrupt some of the most visible corners of our neighborhood. They had already recruited Danielle Meyers, the 2025 Golden Triangle Chalk Art Festival sponsored artist, to bid the concept. Danielle was also collaborating with the GTCD’s Marketing Chair, Carleen Clearwater on another creative initiative at the time, and that connection brought everyone together, aligned the creative vision, and ultimately set the stage for what grew into our P. S. You Are Here grant proposal.

"It's awesome how this all really started through neighbors seeing these painted boxes in other neighborhoods, doing some research and starting conversations to see how to make them happen in the GTCD." - Carleen Clearwater, GTCD Board of Directors/Kickass Marketing

Our funded project, “Golden Triangle Art Boxes and Wayfinding,” will bring vibrant public art and enhanced wayfinding to six utility boxes throughout the district in Summer 2026. The art boxes will feature original work by local artists, promote walkability and engagement with neighborhood destinations, and include QR codes linking to GTCD’s interactive Public Art Map. This is also an incredible opporunity for the GTCD Board to collaborate with Denver Arts & Venue's team and benefit from the mentorship of Michael B. Chavez, Curator of Public Art Partnerships, Denver Public Art Program and Lisa Gedgaudas, Program Manager, Cultural Affairs.

Innovation and Creative Approach to Beautifying Electrical Boxes:

The Art Boxes project uniquely combines public art, technology, and placemaking to create a dynamic, interactive experience. It also complements the GTCD’s broader strategy to expand the art map and support emerging artists through visible, sustainable platforms.

Here's how each box merges creativity with community connection:

• QR Codes and Digital Integration: Every box links to the GTCD’s Interactive Public Art Map, allowing visitors to navigate an evolving outdoor gallery across the neighborhood. Art Map pins are complete with art descriptions, artist bios and links to their social media channels and website.

• Art and Placemaking Balance: By integrating both local art and district placemaking, the project strengthens neighborhood identity while providing practical wayfinding tools.

• Artist Accessibility: Vinyl wraps make participation possible for digital, graphic, and non-traditional artists - broadening inclusivity beyond muralists.

"This project redefines utility boxes as storytelling canvases and wayfinding tools - an innovative blend of artistic expression, public engagement, and neighborhood placemaking. " - Anthony Gengaro, MDLDC/GTCD Board of Directors

Here’s a look at the full cohort of 2025-2026 PSYAH grantees, each receiving $10,000 to enrich Denver’s cultural landscape:

1. Starry Night Productions – The Roaming Starlight Puppet Theatre: A mobile, whimsical puppet venue that brings free performances to parks and plazas across Denver. Venue & mission details: https://www.ostarrynight.com/ 

2. JWLÇ Artwork – El Futbol Nos Une: A Garfield Park fence installation using colored cups to celebrate Latino cultures and the unity of soccer.

3. Manuel Aragon – Westwood Stories: A community photography and oral history installation along Morrison Road in the Westwood Creative District.

4. Radian Placematter Inc – Follow Our Footsteps: Youth Movement + Play along the 303 ArtWay: A youth-designed interactive sidewalk play path at Skyland Park celebrating movement and creativity.

5. Emily Zeek – Play In Air: Outdoor Easels for Everyone: Permanent and portable outdoor easels for community art creation at RiNo ArtPark and other Denver parks.

6. Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe – Art Grows Here: A Mini Mural Jam: A community mural event on planter boxes highlighting local identity and creative traditions. https://denversartdistrict.org/

7. Nation Negrographic – We Belong Here: A temporary outdoor photography exhibit in Civic Center Park reframing national landscapes through a Black lens.

8. Birdseed Collective – Globeville Greening Project: Environmental and culturally themed murals along the I-70 East 46th Avenue Corridor. https://www.birdseedcollective.org/

9. Kate Mason – Berkeley-Regis Underpass Community Art Project: A community-designed revitalization of the I-70 underpass at Lowell Boulevard with vibrant artwork. https://berkeleyregisneighbors.org/

Learn more about the projects here.

P. S. You are Here Project Partners:

• MDLDC.com: As a Denver-based nonprofit specializing in urban district management, MDLDC will oversee vinyl wrap installation and perform monthly maintenance, including cleaning and graffiti abatement. AS members of the GTCD Board, they drafted the proposal and will be on the project committee.

• Kickass Marketing and Creative:  Liason to the artists to assist in artwork preperation for print, ensuring design quality, color accuracy, and adherence to approved specifications. Coordinates printing and delivery for installation.

The P. S. You Are Here program has been activating Denver’s public spaces through community creativity since 2014, with more than 70 projects funded that enhance civic life, beauty, and belonging across neighborhoods. The Golden Triangle Creative District was awarded this grant for the first time in 2018-19 for the Sculptural Trash Receptacles ($10,000).

We’re honored to stand alongside these visionary projects and grateful to Denver Arts & Venues for supporting our work to make art accessible, walkable, and woven into everyday life in the Golden Triangle Creative District.

Next Steps: The GTCD Board has an onboarding meeting with the Denver Arts & Venues team and then will develop and deploy the RFP for the Call for Artists. Following that they will assemble a commmittee that will serve as the jury for selection of the artists. Stay tuned for announcements for how you can volunteer to support this exciting project.