Aurora Heerlen

The art project Aurora is completed and thus the largest mural in Europe!
The largest street art piece in Europe is finished! 18,000 m2 of murals on the apartment complex Aurora in Heerlen. This is an enormous achievement by #BoaMistura and the residents.

For and by the residents
Big and small, you come across forms of street art everywhere in Heerlen. Not only to beautify the city. Certainly also because art connects. And that is exactly what the Spanish artist collective Boa Mistura is committed to worldwide: art as inspiration for change with active residents as an important starting point.

It’s no surprise that Wonen Limburg, the owner of the 228-apartment building in the GMS district, developed the idea with the Street Art Foundation to make Aurora a building to be proud of.

A new dawn
BoaMistura has partly drawn inspiration for its design from the name 'Aurora', the Roman goddess of dawn. But the real inspiration came from the place, the history of the city, and the stories and experiences of the residents.

The Aurora complex symbolizes a society where people participate, are activated, and appreciated. Where it does not matter who they are, where they come from, what they do, or what they do not do.

That is why the text “In the heart of every winter lives a trembling spring,” which is applied to the building, stands not only for the Aurora complex but for all areas in the Parkstad region where residents need to be supported and activated.

Residents found that a beautiful symbol for the new start of the Aurora flat. ‘You can already notice that things are changing in Aurora. People are curious, come outside and have conversations with each other. That alone is super!’ says Noortje, an active member of the residents' committee.

Proud of my neighborhood
The resident of Aurora cannot be categorized under one label. With a population of over 400 people, it is a village in itself. From various regions and with diverse backgrounds, they have made it their home.

‘When I tell someone in a conversation that I live in Aurora, the response is not always positive. I hope that this project can eliminate those prejudices. The people who live here deserve that,’ says resident Hessel, who has been living there happily for over 13 years.

Art offers opportunities
‘In all these projects, residents always participate in the art paintings of BoaMistura. This way, they get to talk to each other and get to know each other better.

Residents who have worked together on such a beautiful project will subsequently take better care of their building and the surrounding area. That is what we hope to achieve in Heerlen as well,’ says Pablo, one of the artists. Additionally, about fifteen residents of Heerlen will participate in a work-study program so that they can transition to a paid job.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)