Greenwood Village bans all new murals in the city

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. – This month, the Greenwood Village City Council approved a ban on all future art murals in their city.

The Greenwood Village Land Development Code now lists “Murals applied directly to any exterior surface and intended to convey a message or image to inform or attract the public’s attention” as a “Prohibited Sign.”

“It was a little surprising to see it in a land and signage code. We don’t consider murals as signage, we consider them as fine art,” said Tim Vacca, director of programs and communications at the Museum of Outdoor Arts.

MOA has been in Greenwood Village for 43 years and has dozens of murals on the property it shares with Fiddler’s Green.

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Artist Adden Joule worked on several of those murals.

“Murals have a very special voice because they reflect the lives of the communities in which they live,” says Joule.

Murals can also be seen at businesses around Greenwood Village, including one in Pindustry and several near The Landmark. One is even highlighted on the city’s website as a public work of art that contributes to the cultural enrichment of the community.

But now that all currently installed murals are allowed to remain, no new murals will be allowed into the city.

“We haven’t heard from anyone about this,” Vacca said of MOA’s desire to be involved in the decision-making. “We just want to be part of that conversation.”

Greenwood Village Mayor George Lantz declined an interview with Denver7, but City Council records show discussions about murals in Greenwood Village began in the summer.

Courtesy of the Greenwood Village City Council

At the time, a business development was proposed for the city, including two murals. City leaders objected, saying the murals did not fit the character of Greenwood Village, that the city is more reserved and that the City Council should consider the request for the mural.

The business development was later approved without the murals installed.

Courtesy of the Greenwood Village City Council

Then on October 21, the city council updated their code and banned all new murals.

Art advocates say they understand that city leaders need to police certain aesthetics in the community, but believe a blanket ban on art goes too far.

“Censorship is always an issue in the larger art world. We hope that’s not what’s happening here. But again, it’s important to have a conversation,” Vacca said.

Vacca and Joule hope city leaders reconsider the ban.

“I think ultimately they will go back to wanting to support this and bring life to their community, rather than trying to take the art away,” Joule said.