Two Murals. One Open Call. A Lasting Stage for Local Artists

To mark Ford Amphitheater’s first anniversary, the Foundation ran its most ambitious project yet: an open call for two large-scale murals, each with a $2,500 award and a permanent home inside the venue.

Submissions came from across the state. The winning works — “Front Row Colorado” by a Colorado Springs artist and “Echoes of the Rockies” by a Denver artist — were unveiled at the anniversary celebration, and now greet every guest who walks the concourse.

The mural program is the template for what the Foundation funds next: open calls, real awards, and work that stays. Quarterly grant cycles mean the next commission is never far away.