City of El Paso: Call to Chalk Artists 2011

The City of El Paso Museums & Cultural Affairs Department will host its fourth annual Chalk the Block Public Art Festival on October 14-16 in Downtown El Paso. The festival attracts over 25,000 attendees annually and features sidewalk chalk art, performances, interactive installations, and pop-up galleries in vacant storefronts.

Three artist categories are available: Arts Festival Plaza Artists (10'x5' spaces, up to 12 selected, $300 honorarium), San Jacinto Plaza Artists (6'x5' spaces, up to 20 selected, $100 honorarium), and Sheldon Street Artists for high school students only (6'x5' spaces, up to 15 selected, $50 honorarium). All categories compete for a Best of Show Award of $2,000. San Jacinto Plaza and Sheldon Street categories also offer additional prize awards (1st-3rd place). Arts Festival Plaza Artists must work Friday, October 14th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. San Jacinto Plaza and Sheldon Street Artists work Saturday from 7 a.m. All artwork must be completed by 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 15th.

Applications require a sketch or image of proposed artwork and three additional images of past work. Arts Festival Plaza applicants must also submit a resume. International artists must have legal documentation to work in the U.S. Only chalk pastels in solid form and techniques learned at the mandatory workshop (October 8th, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at El Paso Museum of Art) are permitted. Artwork must be original, appropriate for public viewing, and contain no advertising. Selected artists will be announced by September 26, 2011. Contact: Alejandra Carrillo, [email protected].