GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. – This month, the Greenwood Village City Council approved a ban on all future art murals in its city.

The Greenwood Village Land Development Code now lists “murals applied directly to any exterior surface intended to convey a message or image to inform or attract the attention of the public” as a “prohibited sign.”

“It was a little surprising to see it in a Lands and Signage code. We don’t see murals as signs, we see them as works of art,” said Tim Vacca, Director of Programs and Communications at the Museum of Outdoor Arts.

MOA has been in Greenwood Village for 43 years and has dozens of murals on the property it shares with Fiddler’s Green.

Heather Longway

Artist Adden Joule worked on several of those murals.

“Murals have a really special voice in reflecting the lives of the communities they live in,” Joule said.

Murals can also be seen at businesses around Greenwood Village, including one at Pindustry and several near The Landmark. One is even featured on the city’s website as a piece of public art that contributes to the cultural enrichment of the community.

But now, while all currently installed murals are allowed to remain, no new murals will be allowed in the city.

“We haven’t heard from anyone about it,” Vacca said of the MOA’s desire to have been included in the decision-making, “we’d just like to be part of that conversation.”

Greenwood Village Mayor George Lantz declined an interview with Denver7, but City Hall records show that talks about murals in Greenwood Village began over the summer.

Courtesy of Greenwood Village City Council

At the time, a business development was being proposed for the city, which included two murals. City leaders disagreed, saying the murals didn’t fit the character of Greenwood Village, that the city is more reserved and that City Council should accept the mural request.

The business development was later approved without the attached murals.

Courtesy of Greenwood Village City Council

Then, on October 21, the City Council updated its code, banning all new murals.

Art advocates say they understand that city leaders need to control certain aesthetics in the community, but they believe a blanket ban on art goes too far.

“Censorship is always an issue in the art world in general. We’re hopeful that’s not what’s happening here. But again, it’s important to have a conversation,” Vacca said.

Vacca and Joule hope city leaders will reconsider the ban.

“I think ultimately they will come back to wanting to support this and uplift their community, rather than trying to take away their art,” Joule said.