The "Outside the Box" public art program began as a way to combat graffiti. Public art can help discourage graffiti and other acts of vandalism by filling "blank" spaces with attractive, engaging art. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District ("SCFD").

"Outside the Box" was a collaboration between the City of Thornton Arts and Culture and Traffic Engineering Compliance Divisions and the Thornton Arts, Sciences, and Humanities Council ("TASHCO").