Denver Chalk Art Festival 2023

The Denver Chalk Art Festival is an award-winning event that transforms the historical museum district into a colorful street museum. Over two days, 200 professional, amateur, and student artists create chalk drawings on the pavement using soft pastels. The festival attracts 175,000 attendees who enjoy food and live music while watching chalk pieces come to life. The event is produced by Denver Chalk Art and CherryArts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting arts awareness and education in Denver.

The festival takes place June 10-11, 2023, with an awards ceremony at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Two participation levels are available: Master level (for artists age 18 and up) and Youth Challenge (for high school aged students). Artists must submit four images: one of the proposed chalk drawing and three of past artwork in any medium. All artwork must be appropriate for public viewing with no words, symbols, or logos intended as advertising. 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 3-D challenge entries. Mural teams of 2-3 artists may apply to create 8'x12' horizontal images. Artists who wish to reproduce a master work must recreate art from one of Denver's museums. Artists reproducing another living artist's work must obtain written permission.

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. Artists are required to work on their drawings both Saturday and Sunday. Chalk artists are not paid and there is no reimbursement for travel or lodging. All artists are invited to attend a VIP party. The application deadline is April 9, 2023, and jury results will be announced by April 22, 2023. Contact Michael Rieger at [email protected] or 720-331-6402 for questions.