The Ten Guiding Principles of Illuminate: An Overview
Ethical Guardrails
At Illuminate, we don’t just produce public art—we live by a set of principles that shape everything we do. These are not slogans. They are convictions. They keep us aligned, keep us honest, and keep us open to awe.
We call them our Ten Guiding Principles:
- Be beauty bound
Commit to manifesting beautiful expressions, from surface to core. - Be free to all
Create nothing that requires paid admission. - Live or die with integrity
Never compromise for corporate dollars, even if that means failing. - Take worthy risks
Try difficult things, and be transparent in sharing all lessons. - Inspire generous collaboration
Select only projects that require disparate groups to work together. - Always aim high
Seek to unite all people around higher values of love and equality. - Champion civility
Be stewards of a family-friendly and inclusive public sphere. - Bring light to shadow
Pursue positive expressions that address real-world shortcomings. - Be in it for others
Self-sacrifice toward the greater good. - Take the long view
Be willing to pursue larger visions that unfold over years.
These principles are not abstract. They live in the materials we choose, the people we partner with, the way we fund our work, and the reasons we persist. They challenge us. They clarify us. They remind us that awe isn’t something you make—it’s something you serve.
In the posts that follow, we’ll explore each principle on its own. How it began. How it shows up. How it continues to shape a city that’s still becoming.
Because if we are to live in the City of Awe,
we must build it with intention,
together.
