Public Art: The term encompasses a wide range of meanings, perspectives, and work. Public art may include physical objects, performances, events, and other happenings. Public art can exist for varied lengths of time and can include permanent, monumental work or more fluid and adaptable, temporary works. Ideally, public art should have numerous functions including civic dialogue, community building, and economic development, connecting artists to the community and encouraging public appreciation for the arts. 

Culture: Culture is an umbrella term for the characteristics and knowledge of people, both regionally and globally. The term culture may encompass language, fashion, ideologies, cuisine, social habits/practices, music, dance and visual arts. No culture is fixed or monolithic as they are constantly evolving and changing with every new generation of people. 

Transparency: Transparency is the process of being open, honest, and straightforward about all operations regarding the public art process. Transparency allows the committee to share information to the public relating to all processes which may include budget, sourcing, selection, installation, etc.  

Inclusion: Inclusion is the process of actively involving everyone’s ideas, knowledge, perspectives, approaches, and styles to maximize success. This process creates accessible and safe spaces for people regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, socio-economic status, gender, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, and/or physical or mental disability.  

Diversity: Diversity is a reality created by individuals and groups from a broad spectrum of demographic and philosophical differences. It encompasses a climate of equity and mutual respect that not only embraces, but celebrates the rich dimensions contained within individuals. Diversity is a set of conscious practices that involve:

• Practicing authentic, mutual respect for qualities and experiences that are different from our own.

• Understanding that diversity includes not only ways of being but also ways of knowing.

• Recognizing that personal, cultural, and institutionalized discrimination creates and sustains privileges for some while creating and sustaining disadvantages for others.

• Building equitable partnerships and alliances across differences so that we can work together toward common goals and visions. 
  

Key Roles

Stakeholders: This may include public, institutional, investor, and art form stakeholders. All are necessary for continued growth and support of arts and culture in Thornton. 

• Public Stakeholders: Groups of people and organizations that are beneficiaries of projects such as residents, students, community representatives, and other audiences influenced by the existence of public art.
  

• Institutional Stakeholders: Organizations (such as TASHCO), businesses, agencies and institutions that benefit from having the arts organization remain strong and healthy in order to support their constituents. 

• Investor Stakeholders: Individuals and organizations who provide financial support in order to further arts and culture. These can include individual donors, corporate supporters, philanthropic foundations, and government funders.

• Art Form Stakeholders:  Individual artists whose livelihoods depend on the support and growth of the arts, .e.g., artists of all genres and practices who are essential in fulfilling commitments to public and institutional stakeholders.
  

Community Members: Also known as “intentional communities." These are groups of people within Thornton we intentionally choose to serve and who are not yet stakeholders. Through development of cultural competency and a two-way exchange of values, we can authentically and respectfully engage with intentional communities. These relationships may blossom into vital stakeholder relationships as public art projects and impact grow.

City Staff: Those employed by the city of Thornton working to ensure the completion of approved public art projects. This may include several departments outside of Arts & Culture staff such as Contracts, Legal, Purchasing, Parks & Open Space, Planning and Infrastructure.