Annual Visual Artist Selection Process
Facts & Talking Points
Overview
Cherry Creek Arts Festival (CCAF) Visual Art Jury dates are January 11, 12, 13, 2007.
The 2007 CCAF takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 6, 7, 8, in Denver’s Cherry Creek North Business District.
Approximately 200 artists will exhibit at the 2007 Cherry Creek Arts Festival (CCAF). A total of 12 artistic award winners, including the 2006 CCAF poster artist, have been invited to return. A potential of 200 exhibit slots will be determined through the competitive jury process.
The jury panel, in a blind jury process, reviews projected digital images. The identities of artists are not disclosed to jurors. The jury is comprised of two working artists and three art professionals.
A total of 2,363 artist applications were received for the 2007 CCAF jury process. CCAF is the most competitive show in the nation for artists to be selected for acceptance.
Artists submit five digital images for the jury process: four individual images of their work and one image of their exhibiting booth. The jury views each artist’s set of five images projected simultaneously in a horizontal grouping. The process, materials, dimensions for each image and artist information statements will also be made available to the jury upon request.
Artistic excellence of original, handcrafted work is the sole criteria for selection of exhibitors. The top 200 receive invitations; the balance of artists in the final round is retained to comprise a waiting list of alternates. Decisions of the jury panel are final.
The thirteen media categories that are juried for the CCAF are: ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and printmaking, jewelry, metalworks, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood. CCAF asks the jury to select a well-balanced show across these 13 different artistic disciplines.
2007 Jurors:
Elissa Auther: Assistant Professor of Contemporary Art for the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Sharon Brush, Artist: 2006 CCAF Artist Merit Award – Ceramics
Kirsen Gerdes: Associate Curator at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Robert Stadnycki: Executive Director, Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and Artist/Craftsmen
John Whipple, Artist: 2006 CCAF Overall 3rd Place Award – Painting and Sculpture, 2000 CCAF poster artist.
Application Instructions for Visual Artists
The 2007 Visual Artist Application deadline†was Monday, December 4, 2006. To be added to the mailing list for the 2008 show, artists are recommended to email name and mailing address to management@cherryarts.org.
Three step application process for artists:
-Create online profile at http://www.zapplication.org/
-Prepare and upload digital images of work and booth
-Submit online application before the deadline of midnight (MST) on Monday, December 4, 2006
Artist Application requirements:
-Images: 5 (a booth shot is required)
-Jury Fee (Application Fee): $35.00
Important Dates: Application, Jury and Notification Deadlines
-December 4, 2006 Application deadline
-January 2007: The five person jury selects 200 artists invited to exhibit.
-January 22, 2007: Notification (by email and web site. Please do not call.)
-February 7, 2007: Deadline for accepted artists to commit to exhibit, return a signed exhibitor contract and remit booth fee.
-200 juried artists will receive an invitation to exhibit.
-Artists who advanced to the final round of jurying but were not invited to exhibit are considered alternates and will be notified of their alternate status.
The Emerging Artist Program
Designed specifically for artists who have no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork, or extremely minimal experience if any. The application procedure and fees are the same as the regular show –however,† upon acceptance emerging artists will pay a lower booth fee, have a tent provided and receive mentoring through the Arts Festival. Artists may only apply to the Emerging Artist Program or through the regular Application Process, but they may not apply to both. Emerging Artist Applicants may apply with a 5th image of their work instead of an image of their booth. Artists who are just beginning their careers in the artworld are encouraged to apply. The Arts Festival reserves the right to pre-screen and research emerging artists to make sure they are a fit for this category and that they do not have extensive experience exhibiting and selling their work.
General Information
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual and performing arts. The primary focus of the event is the juried exhibition of gallery quality fine art and fine crafts, giving our audience the rare opportunity to meet, interact with, view the works of and purchase art from the individuals who have created it.
Additionally, the Arts Festival offers an online Art Auction, artist demonstration stage, extensive educational art activities for children and adults, live performances, special curated exhibitions and high-quality outdoor food vending. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a tax-exempt, art services organization and all proceeds are used to produce the annual Arts Festival, to present educational art programs throughout the year, and to assist other related non-profit activities.
Attendance
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s attendance is approximately 350,000 persons each year. Marketing is directed toward a diverse audience of individuals likely to be interested in the visual arts. While the majority of the audience is from the metropolitan Denver area, a significant and increasing number of art patrons from around the nation attend.
2007 Invited Artists from the 2006 CCAF:
Best of Show - Scott Gruss - Photography
2nd Place - Gael and Howard Silverblatt - Jewelry
3rd Place - John Whipple - Painting/Sculpture
Merit Award - Sharon Brush – Ceramics
Merit Award - Charles Gatewood – Painting
Merit Award - Leon Niehues – Fiber
Merit Award - Rachel Zamek - Mixed Media
Merit Award - David Nagel – Wood
Merit Award - Les Slesnick – Photography
Juror Award - Yang Yang - Painting (Blake Milteer’s)
Juror Award - Holly Anne Mitchell - Jewelry (Ivar Zeile’s)
Juror Award - Kate Rothra Flemming – Jewelry (Sandy Blain’s)
2006 Poster Artist - Shelby Keefe - Painting
Questions: VisualArts@CherryArts.org
Cherry Creek Arts Festival
2 Steele Street, Suite B-100
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 355-2787 (ARTS)
CCAF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit art services organization whose mission is to provide access to a broad array of arts experiences and support arts education in Colorado. Along with the arts festival itself, CCAF fulfills its year-round art education and outreach mission through programs including the Mobile Art Collection, Artist in Residence programs and the Student Art Buying Program.
CCAF produces its signature cultural event for Colorado annually during the 4th of July weekend. The arts festival weekend event is a world-class and award-winning celebration of the visual, culinary and performing arts, and enjoys an attendance of 350,000 visitors over the 3-day event. CCAF gives patrons the FREE, rare and special opportunity to meet and talk with international visual artists, sample fine cuisine, visit special exhibits and artist demonstrations, and entertain their families with interactive 'Artivities' and exciting performing arts.
Special Thanks to our 2008 Sponsors: Janus presents the Cherry Creek Arts Festival sponsored together with Official Sponsors Bank of the West, Qwest and the Rocky Mountain News.