Denver Chalk Art Festival 2016

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. The festival attracts 200,000 attendees who enjoy food and live music while watching chalk pieces come to life. The event is produced by the Larimer Arts Association, a nonprofit organization established in 1996 dedicated to promoting arts awareness and education in metro Denver.

The festival takes place June 4th-5th, 2016 (Saturday 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday 10 am to 7 pm), with an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Two competition levels are offered: Master level for artists 18 and up, and Youth Challenge for high school students. All squares are 8'x8'; if artwork is not square, it must be at least 8 feet in one direction. Limited 8'x12' vertical spaces are reserved for a 3-D challenge. Artists can apply for mural teams combining 2 squares (8'x17') requiring 3-4 artists.

Applications require one image of proposed chalk artwork and three images of past work in any medium. Artwork must be appropriate for public viewing with no advertising words, symbols, or logos. Only non-oil-based soft chalk and pastels in solid form are permitted. The festival provides one set of 24 soft pastels, water, breakfast, and lunch both days. Artists are not paid and there is no reimbursement for travel or lodging. Artists must work on their drawings both Saturday and Sunday and must be at least 18 years old. Submit 1-4 work samples (images). International artists are eligible.