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ABOUT






Our 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.  

A cornerstone of contemporary culture in North Texas, AURORA is a Dallas-based public arts organization working at the intersection of art, technology, and community. Through the AURORA Biennial exhibition and the year-round AURORA Expanded programming, the organization successfully engages with regional and international audiences, aiming to establish Dallas as a global cultural center for art and technology.

Supporting artists who explore the boundaries of art and technology is crucial as it enables them to create works that reflect current global events, provide creative solutions, and offer fresh perspectives. AURORA is spearheading this movement of technology-backed creativity, developing something unique and forward-thinking in Texas.

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.

︎︎︎ Discover past AURORA Biennial and AURORA Expanded 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

Aoife Donnellan (MONA productions)
Social Media

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.

In November 2024, the AURORA Biennial is set to transform Dallas City Hall and the surrounding areas yet again. Curated by Kendal Henry (New York City) and Leslie Moody Castro (Austin/Mexico City), the sixth edition explores North Texas' shared history and delves into topics of community connections, health advocacy, environmental sustainability, and the impact of displacement and migration on evolving cities in order to ignite new ideas about the future.

Visit the AURORA Biennial 2024 page for for details.



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.

AURORA Expanded’s most recent events include Video Art Nights, an outdoor, immersive exhibition of moving image artworks, taking place in various locations across Downtown Dallas, as well as educational and community outreach programs such as Art Quest, an interactive, scavenger-style art discovery program⁠. This unique program connects diverse communities with regional artists through interactive, scavenger hunt-style events. 

Visit the AURORA Expanded page for for details.

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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