Denver Arts Festival 2027

About This Call

The Denver Arts Festival continues to be dedicated to supporting visual art and artists, especially those from Colorado. The Festival's goal is to host an event that champions art and community, resulting in shared success for all participants.

Summary

Be a Part of the Highly-Regarded Denver Arts Festival!

All artists are invited to apply!

Now in its 28th year, and 2nd year with new director Jana Novak, the Denver Arts Festival continues to be dedicated to supporting visual art and artists, especially those from Colorado. The Festival's goal is to host an event that champions art and community, resulting in shared success for all participants.

The Denver Arts Festival consistently ranks as one of the top festivals in the country, and offers high caliber art, supportive community, strong sales opportunities, artist amenities, and a diverse, growing audience eager to connect to art and to community.

The fine art exhibition features approximately 145 to 150 visual artists with more than 45,000 people expected to attend.

General information

2027 Artist Prospectus and Application

Mission Statement The new motto of the Denver Arts Festival is "Collect Art + Collect Community", which highlights our focus on creating a community of artists and patrons, as well as staff and volunteers.

The Denver Arts Festival mission is to create:

• an incredible, inclusive festival that champions art, community, and shared success
• a showcase for Colorado Artists, as well as top National artists

SCHEDULE

November 9, 2026: Applications Open February 15, 2027: Application Deadline February 22, 2027: Jurying February 27, 2027: Acceptance Notification (emailed) March 16, 2027: Confirmation of Acceptance Deadline + Booth Fees Due Mid April, 2027: Booth Location Notification Friday May 28, 2027 (Starting at 7AM): Show Set-up

Show Hours Saturday, May 29, 2027 10am to 8pm Sunday, May 30, 2027 10am to 5pm

Location

Conservatory Green Plaza area of Northfield in the Central Park (formerly Stapleton) development

JURYING INFORMATION: This competitive show will be chosen by highly qualified and talented jurors. The jurors will view the five images on calibrated monitors. The jurors will have access to the Artist Statements. All participants in the show will be chosen by this jury with the exception of up to 10% of the exhibitors who may be named by the Festival Director for the purposes of creating a balanced show.

WAITLIST A waitlist will be developed based on jury scores. Artists will be selected to be on the waitlist in each of the categories. Artists on the waitlist are notified via email of their acceptance. Artists are selected off of the waitlist based upon creating or maintaining a balance of media categories at the show.

DIGITAL ART AND BOOTH IMAGES Applicants must submit five color digital images, via the ZAPP application. Four images must show individual pieces representative of current work. Do not submit images with multiple pieces unless they are part of a set that is sold as such. The fifth image must be of the booth display that will be used at the show with the full range of work displayed.

Note: The quality of your booth image is critical to the overall score from the jury

• Your display image should reveal no names and have no people standing in it
• An outdoor booth shot is preferred but not necessary

PLEASE NOTE – REGARDING COLLABORATING ARTISTS: If you are submitting an application as a collaborating artist/partner, you must submit the name(s) with the application. To submit your application as a collaborating artist - Go to "My Profile" first. Enter one of the two collaborating artists as the primary contact in the profile form. After completing the information requested, there is a section at the bottom of the profile page to enter the collaborating artist name(s). This information is carried over to the application for purposes of identifying a collaborative effort. You may not add a partner after the jury. If you have any questions or difficulties registering the partner, please contact the DAF office before submitting your application.

• If two separate artists apply and are accepted and wish to share a booth there is an additional $150 fee for sharing.

INSURANCE Due to requirements from the insurance companies and Central Park, all accepted artists will be required to have Liabilty Insurance. We will have a special deal for the artists to get a policy for the weekend for around $50. If desired, you will also be able to get insurance for the full year at a reasonable rate.

BOOTH SIZES 10' deep by 10' wide 10' deep by 20' wide in a limited amount are also available for an additional fee

All exhibitor tents must be white in color. Rental canopies will be available. Single booth = $575 Double booth = $1150

• sharing a booth is an additional $150

Electricity - $50.00 additional fee (limited number of spots with access) Corner Booth - $195.00 additional fee (limited number of corners available)

SECURITY There is overnight security both Friday and Saturday nights.

Rules and regulations

Participating Artist Rules and Regulations

Denver Arts Festival officials will visit all displays at intervals throughout the Festival to ensure that exhibitors comply with all Festival rules. It is our exclusive right and responsibility to remove work that is not in compliance. Repeated non-compliance will result in expulsion and ineligibility for judging, awards and participation in future Festivals.

1. All work exhibited must be original art produced by the artist (includes limited editions of artist's original artwork). All two-dimensional work must be framed, matted or stretched.
2. Artists may only exhibit work in the category in which they are accepted.
3. Only original artwork and limited edition prints may be displayed and/or offered for sale. Prints must be produced in signed, limited editions, which are clearly marked as reproductions.
4. Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each piece must be signed.
5. Artists must be present to exhibit. No spouses or other representatives will be permitted in place of artist.
6. A picture ID is required at artist check-in. Application and booth can not be listed under a business name.
7. Exhibitors may not sell promotional items such as postcards, note cards, calendars, t-shirts or photocopy reproductions of any kind.
8. Artists needing or wanting insurance will be responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and setup. The Denver Arts Festival will not be responsible for damage to work or setup due to weather or unrelated incidents.
9. Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display and sell jewelry. Additionally, jewelry may only be submitted for jury in the jewelry category.
10. All work shown must be for sale.
11. Artists may jury in more than one category, but not with the same artwork. Artists may jury more than once in the same category as long as the work is substantially different.
12. Artists wishing to exhibit work produced in more than one media category must create a new profile for each category on Zapplication and submit a jury fee for each category. Three applications may be submitted per category. Multiple applications must represent either work in different media categories or distinctly separate bodies of work within one category. No advantage is gained by submitting multiple applications for the same body of work in multiple categories. Artists whose work is selected in multiple categories must still exhibit in one booth space.
13. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting all taxes, sales and otherwise.
14. Photography - Traditional: Photographic prints made from the artist's original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision, are included in this category. Traditional photographs taken through digital media should apply in this photography category.
15. Photography - Digital: This category includes any original work for which the original photo or photos were manipulated beyond traditional darkroom techniques by the artist using a computer.

Booth information and fees

BOOTHS Booth spaces are approximately 10' wide by 10' deep. Double-wide (20') booths are also available for an additional fee. Electricity and corner booths are available for an additional fee in limited quantities

Exhibitors should be prepared to adapt to outdoor exhibiting. All exhibitor tents must be white in color. Storage behind the booths is limited and must be kept visually appealing. The Festival is in an upscale neighborhood surrounding a park and the area needs to maintain an inviting and professional ambiance to the shopping public and the residents.

Artists are to provide their own canopy, display panels, racks and/or tables in order to exhibit their work at an outdoor festival. Weights are required and will be reviewed for utility. Rental canopies will be available.

BOOTH FEES (Due upon acceptance):

Single Booth (10' x 10') - $575.00 Double Booth (10' x 20') - $1150 (limited availability) Shared Booth (2 collaborating artists) - $150 additional fee

Electricity - $50.00 additional fee (limited number of spots with access) Corner Booth - $195.00 additional fee (limited number of corners available)

ELECTRICITY A limited number of booths will have electricity available, and will be given on a first-come basis. There is an additional charge for electrical service. Booths that are not able to have electricity may only be electrified with exhibitor-supplied batteries (no generators allowed).

BOOTH PREFERENCES Artists may request a specific booth number or a specific area of the festival; and/or a corner booth on their application.

These requests will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis from the date their booth payment is received.

Booth requests for a previous year's location made by an artist who is returning will be given priority when possible. We are usually able to honor 90% or more of booth requests.

Jury details

Average number of applications submitted each year: 375

Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 145

Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 35

How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor

Jurors score applications using the following scale: Yes, No, or Maybe; 1 - 5

Number of jurors scoring applications: 5

The show organizes the jurors for a: Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories

Jurors score: Separately from various locations

Am I allowed to observe the jury process? Jury process is closed