Street Wise Arts

Thanks to our donors and sponsors, Street Wise Arts expanded our impact in 2025 by installing sixteen new murals for the public to enjoy, engaging nearly 2000 students in arts education programs and 240 people in mural tour programs, and supporting 45 local artists in creative projects with us. Our continued success reinforces the belief that investing in art has both immediate and long-term community impact and results in resilient communities. Now we need your help to continue the momentum.

Continuing Growth in Arts Education

Street Wise Arts continues to grow our capacity to serve Colorado students through our diverse arts education models. In 2025, we are proud to report that we delivered nine mural programs through in-school artist residencies, six week-long art summer camps, five after-school art programs, and seven artist lectures or engagement events with students supporting mural programming. Our education programs reached over 1950 students, 15% more than in 2024. We served six new schools and thirteen total schools with art programs. Our education programs also hired 28 local professional teaching artists.  

Celebrating Seven Years of Street Wise Mural Festival

Street Wise Arts is overjoyed following the success of the seventh annual Street Wise Mural Festival, which installed eleven new public art murals across the City of Boulder by local and international artists in celebration of Joy as Resistance.

The festival took place September 26 and 27 in Downtown and North Boulder, with murals now enlivening the community thanks to ten generous wall partners: Shining Mountain Waldorf School, KGNU Community Radio, Museum of Boulder, People’s Productions, OZO Coffee, RIOS, Tebo Properties, First United Methodist Church, and two private residences.

This year saw a great number of attendees and volunteers joining to support the festival and participate in near capacity events, including mural tours, an artist panel, and a hands-on artist workshop. The 2025 festival theme of Joy as Resistance invited artists to explore how joy can serve as a powerful form of resilience and collective healing. While active resistance and social justice remain central to Street Wise’s mission, this year’s festival serves as a reminder that embracing joy is a radical way to imagine a brighter future and to unite our communities.

Investing in Artists and Equity

Street Wise Arts continues to raise the bar in its commitment to artist support and diversity. Diversity remains central to our approach, with 80% of participating artists identifying as women, artists of color, or LGBTQIA+. This year's festival also supported three emerging artists through its mentorship program, offering hands-on experience and professional guidance.

Partner Programs with Big Impact

Street Wise Arts partnered with five organizations this year to create seven new mural projects that built community, celebrated partner legacies, and deepened learning. Our partners include organizations that make a big impact themselves: Boulder Housing Partners, Boulder County Recycling Center, Pepper's Senior Dog Sanctuary, Boulder Library Foundation and Boulder Parks and Recreation. Through these seven partner mural programs, Street Wise Arts deepened the impact of each partner's mission, and provided paid opportunities for professional Colorado artists. 

Building Community Through Mural Tours

In 2025, Street Wise Arts engaged 240 attendees across 24 mural tour offerings. We added monthly bike tours to our mural tour program, which also includes monthly walking tours, special Street Wise Mural Festival tours, and private tours. Our guided tours bring together locals and visitors to tell the stories behind featured murals and the artists who create them, educating the public about our organization’s mission and street art culture in the process. Street Wise Arts mural tours are key to building community connections and cultivating our audience.