ABOUT
A cornerstone of arts and culture in North Texas, AURORA aims to expand the future of art through a dialogue that engages the creative possibilities within ourselves and each other.
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, AURORA Expanded program and AURORA Artist Relief Fund, the organization engages with both regional and international audiences alike.
FOUNDING
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.
PARTNERSHIPS
In the summer of 2021, AURORA partnered with The Arts Council of Fort Worth to present New Stories: New Futures, a two-part project that took place on and around Pioneer Tower in Fort Worth. Dallas-based artist Jess Garland’s experimental film Harp & Sol is also available to stream exclusively on dallasAURORA.com as part of AURORA Expanded.
Looking ahead, the AURORA Biennial will return in 2023.
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.
In 2020, AURORA Biennial launched its 10th edition, titled ‘Afterwards was already before,’ with a decentralized program created in response to the pandemic and which unfolded through live and online activations. The next AURORA Biennial will take place in 2023.
AURORA Biennial exhibitions have attracted more than 200,000 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 citywide 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 event—‘Area 3,’ an immersive, drive-thru exhibition in a parking garage—directly supported regional artists and vendors whose incomes were directly impacted in the wake of COVID-19. Other AURORA Expanded events have included educational programs as well as exhibitions and performances held in parallel to the Biennial exhibition to activate additional art spaces throughout Dallas.
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.
Co-Founders
Shane Pennington
Aurora Co-Founder,
Creative Director
Joshua King
Aurora Co-Founder,
Executive Director
Veletta Forsythe Lill
Aurora Co-Founder,
Founding Executive
Director of the Dallas Arts District
Aurora Co-Founder,
Creative Director
Joshua King
Aurora Co-Founder,
Executive Director
Veletta Forsythe Lill
Aurora Co-Founder,
Founding Executive
Director of the Dallas Arts District
TEAM
Erica Felicella
Executive Producer
Monica Salazar (MONA productions)
Director of Programming
Anna Russ (MONA productions)
Marketing & Communications
Corey Moulton
Administrative Assistant
Executive Producer
Monica Salazar (MONA productions)
Director of Programming
Anna Russ (MONA productions)
Marketing & Communications
Corey Moulton
Administrative Assistant
Marsha Singer
Exhibition Logistics Coordinator
Tractorbeam
Design
Carr Salvo
Projectionist
Exhibition Logistics Coordinator
Tractorbeam
Design
Carr Salvo
Projectionist