Denver Chalk Art Festival

The Denver Chalk Art Festival is an award-winning event that transforms historical Larimer Square into a colorful street museum. Over two days, 200 professional, amateur, and student artists create chalk drawings on the pavement while 200,000 festival attendees enjoy food and live music. The event is produced by the Lower Downtown Denver Arts Association (dba Larimer Arts Association), a nonprofit organization established in 1996 dedicated to promoting arts awareness and education in metro Denver.

The festival takes place June 6-7, 2015, with Saturday hours from 10 am to 10 pm and Sunday hours from 10 am to 7 pm. An awards ceremony is held at 5 p.m. on Sunday. The festival has two levels: the Master event for artists 18 and up, and the Youth Challenge for high school aged students. All artists must submit one image of their proposed chalk drawing and three images of past artwork in any medium. 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. Standard squares are 8'x8', with a limited number of 8'x12' vertical spaces reserved for 3-D challenges. Artists can also apply for mural team participation, which combines 2 squares into an 8'x17' mural requiring 3-4 artists.

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, plus an invitation to a VIP party Saturday night. Artists must work on their chalk drawings both Saturday and Sunday and must be at least 18 years old. Chalk will be provided, though artists may purchase specific colors if needed for their designs.