ABOUT     PROJECTS     BIENNIAL









ABOUT






A cornerstone of arts and culture in North Texas, AURORA’s mission is to inspire a more accessible future of art and technology by supporting the voices of today’s artists and connecting diverse communities through transformative public art experiences.

AURORA is a Dallas-based public arts organization working at the intersection of art, technology and community that presents works by the most visionary artists of our time. Through the AURORA Biennial exhibition and their year-round arts programming–AURORA Expanded–the organization engages with both regional and international audiences alike.

AURORA was founded in 2010 by artists Shane Pennington and Joshua King, along with veteran Dallas arts supporter Veletta Forsythe Lill. The inaugural exhibition was a one-night-only public art event featuring light, video and sound artworks; now, AURORA exists as a multifaceted platform.

︎︎︎ See features at previous AURORA events




Co-Founders

TEAM


Shane Pennington
Aurora Co-Founder,
Creative Advisor

Joshua King
Aurora Co-Founder,
Executive Director

Veletta Forsythe Lill
Aurora Co-Founder,
Founding Executive
Director of the Dallas Arts District
Erica Felicella
Executive Producer

Monica Salazar (MONA productions)
Director of Programming

Adela Lovric (MONA productions)
Marketing & Communications

Corey Moulton
Administrative Assistant
Tractorbeam
Design

Carr Salvo
Projectionist







AURORA BIENNIAL



Since its foundation, the AURORA Biennial has transformed Dallas neighborhoods into curated, large-scale exhibitions, free and open to the public. The Biennial is also an important platform for exchange between regional and international artists and curators. Stay tuned for details about the next AURORA Biennial, coming soon!

AURORA Biennial exhibitions have attracted more than 350,000 visitors and commissioned and presented over 300 local and international artists. The Biennial continues to expand its reach and impact, boasting a 5:1 return in economic impact to the city.


AURORA EXPANDED



AURORA’s auxiliary program, AURORA Expanded, is a regional program focused on spotlighting and supporting North Texas artists through a year-round series of site-specific installations, special events and social gatherings.

Its most recent events include New Stories: New Futures–a large-scale new media art exhibition in the Fort Worth Arts District and Video Art Nights–a curated video art exhibition series that has taken place at various locations throughout downtown Dallas. In addition, AURORA has hosted educational and community outreach programs such as Art Quest, an annual art discovery program taking place in various Dallas neighborhoods identified in the Dallas Cultural Plan. This unique program connects diverse communities with regional artists through interactive, scavenger hunt-style events. 

Tramaine Townsend, ‘Suspense,’ 2020


AURORA is a component fund of The Dallas Foundation, a 501(c)(3), publicly supported charity, Federal Tax ID 75-2890371. All contributions to the AURORA Fund of The Dallas Foundation are tax deductible, as allowed by law.

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