Centennial Chalk Art Festival

Larimer Arts Association is expanding its annual chalk art event to a second location in Centennial. The Rocky Mountain region's preeminent Italian chalk art festival will be held September 19 and 20, 2015 at Centennial Center Park, 13050 E Peakview Ave, Englewood, CO 80111.

Applications must include one image of the proposed chalk drawing and three images of past artwork in any medium. All squares are 8'x8'; if artwork is not square, it must be at least 8 feet in one direction. Artwork must be appropriate for public viewing with no words, symbols, or logos intended as advertising. Only non-oil-based soft chalk and pastels in solid form are permitted; acrylic paints, liquid pastels, oil-based pastels, and hard pastels are not acceptable. Chalk will be provided, though artists may purchase specific colors if needed. Artists must be a minimum of 18 years old and are required to work on their chalk drawings both Saturday and Sunday.

Chalk artists are not paid and there is no reimbursement for travel or lodging. The festival provides one set of 24 soft pastels, water, breakfast, and lunch both days. The event follows street painting traditions originating in 16th century Renaissance Italy, when artists called "madonnari" transformed pavement into canvas using chalk. The art form was revived in 1972 with the first International Street Painting Competition in Grazie di Curtatone, Italy.