City of El Paso: Call to Chalk Artists 2012

The City of El Paso's Museums and Cultural Affairs Department invites eligible artists to apply to create temporary works of art using chalk on downtown sidewalks as part of the fifth annual Chalk the Block Downtown Public Art Festival, held October 12-14. The festival attracts over 30,000 attendees annually and features sidewalk chalk art alongside performances, installations, and pop-up galleries in vacant downtown storefronts.

Three artist categories are available: Arts Festival Plaza Artists (10'x5' space, up to 12 selected, $300 honorarium), San Jacinto Plaza Artists (6'x5' space, up to 20 selected, $100 honorarium), and Sheldon Street Artists for high school students only (6'x5' space, 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). International artists must submit legal documentation to work in the U.S. All selected participants must attend a mandatory chalk art workshop on October 6th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the El Paso Museum of History.

Applications must be submitted through the CAFÉ online application system at www.callforentry.org by September 17, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Submit a sketch or image of proposed artwork, a description and explanation of the work, and three additional images of past work. Arts Festival Plaza applicants must also submit a one-page résumé. Only chalk pastels in solid form and techniques learned at the workshop may be used; liquid pastels, acrylic paints, and fixatives are prohibited. Artwork must be original, appropriate for public viewing, and contain no advertising. For minors, a written photography release form from a parent or legal guardian is required.