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Artist Application

July 3-5, 2026

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The 2026 Application is Open!

CherryArts invites you to apply to be one of 250 exhibitors at the 2026 event. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to exhibit and sell your art at the 35th annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival, July 3rd to 5th, 2026!

Apply Now

Event Overview

Join one of the nation’s most highly regarded art shows! CherryArts invites you to apply for the 2026 Cherry Creek Arts Festival and be among 250 exceptional exhibitors featured at this world-class celebration of art.

Each year, the festival welcomes 150,000+ visitors and offers artists an unparalleled experience, including:

Strong art sales potential (2025 Artist Survey reported an average of $17,470 per artist)
Consistently high national rankings
On-site artist amenities
A new jury panel each year for fresh perspective

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a well-established event with a loyal, art-savvy audience, many of whom are collectors. Don’t miss this opportunity to exhibit and sell your work at one of the country’s top shows!

CherryArts is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that believes access to art is for everyone and artists are essential. We are committed to supporting artists and arts education through year-round outreach programs and this iconic festival. With an estimated $4.5 million in annual art sales, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival continues to be a vital platform for artists’ success.

Información de la solicitud en español

Application Information

2026 Artist Prospectus & Application

Important Dates

October 1, 2025
2026 Application Launch

December 1, 2025
Application Deadline

January 2026
Hired jury of five artists and art professionals convene over three days to select 240 exhibiting artists

January 29, 2026
Artist notification by email and website www.CherryArts.org

February 20, 2026
Deadline to confirm participation, signed contract and remit booth fee

March 27, 2026
Last day to cancel participation and receive 90% refund

July 3–5, 2026
Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Fast Facts

Subject to change

Location: Denver’s Cherry Creek North Neighborhood

Email: hello@cherryarts.org

Web Address: www.CherryArts.org

Mailing Address: 2 Steele Street, B-100, Denver, CO 80206

Average Sales: Estimated at $17,470 per artist via 2025 Artist Survey

Sales: Artists retain all revenue from the sale of their work and are responsible for state and local sales tax

Images: 4 images of work + 1 booth image

Jurors: 5 paid art professionals including 2 exempt invited artists

Jury Format: Round one is silent and remote, images are viewed via monitor, jurors score each applicant 1-7; subsequent rounds are simultaneously projected 1-5 from left to right horizontally, artists viewed in order of the date their application is submitted and jurors view by media. Jurors do a preview of each category and then score. Subsequent rounds are all projection with juror discussion and are scored by consensus, they require a majority vote for an artist to move forward. The process, materials and dimensions for each image, as well as artist statements are all accessible for the jury.

Multiple Applications: If an artist has work in different media categories or distinctly separate bodies of work within one category they may apply with multiple applications.

Application Fee: $45 early application fee apply by November 24^th, $55 regular fee November 25^th – December 1^st

Booth Fee: 10’ x 10’ space $900 for a Row; $1,100 for a Corner; $350 for Emerging Artist Program, limited number of Double Booths available for $2,300. Payment Plans are available.

Liability Insurance: CherryArts requires proof of insurance for all Artists. All Certificates of Insurance must name CherryArts as additional insured and state minimum of $2,000,000 in general liability. Short-term event policies will be made available for those without existing policies.

Purchase Awards: Over $30,000

Number of Invited Artists for 2026: 20, including 2025 award winners, poster artist, bidders’ choice award and artist advisory committee.

Electricity: A limited amount of electricity is provided in designated areas for purchase on Steele, St. Paul and Detroit Street.

Security: 24 Hour

Load-In: Day prior to the show with assigned load in times

Attendance: 150,000+

Equity Commitment: CherryArts is committed to the inclusion of people of all races, ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientation. CherryArts believes that art should be accessible to everyone and representative of all. We reject racial injustice of any form. We believe that this is an active process that requires continuous commitment to recognizing inequities and working to mitigate them.

CherryArts provides equitable access to the arts to nurture future generations of artists, learners and supporters through meaningful and authentic connections with art and artists. CherryArts ignites creative and critical thinking for over 40,000 students annually.

Photo by John Sadler

Emerging Artist Program

$5000 Grant opportunity for the Emerging Artist Program

The Emerging Artist Program is designed for artists at the beginning of their careers with limited experience exhibiting or selling their work. The application process is the same as the general show; however, accepted Emerging Artists receive:

A reduced booth fee of $350
A provided tent
Workshops and artist mentoring
Support for lodging
The opportunity to showcase and sell their work at the 2026 Cherry Creek Arts Festival

In addition, CherryArts is proud to award $5,000 unrestricted grants to selected Emerging Artists to expand and enhance their creative practice. Funding may be used to support any aspect of their artistic career. Upon signing the grant contract, 90% of funds will be disbursed immediately, with the remaining 10% released after artists submit a report and participate in an exit interview within 7 months of receiving the grant (September).

Artists may only apply to either the Emerging Artist Program or for the general show, but not both. CherryArts reserves the right to screen emerging artists to make sure they are a fit for this category, to ensure that they do not have extensive experience exhibiting and selling their work. *Emerging Artists are asked to apply with a 5th image of their work instead of an image of their booth. When uploading your images, you will upload the 5th image of your work by selecting ‘YES’ this is your booth shot, even though it is not. Then select ‘Emerging Artist’ as your medium category and you will be ready to complete the application.

Jury Process

Approximately 250 artists will exhibit at the 2026 event, 230 jury selected spots will be available for applicants this year. Images are reviewed by the panel in a blind jury process with multiple rounds. The identities of artists are not disclosed to jurors. All work must be original and created by the applying artist, it should be well-conceived and expertly executed. Artwork is considered solely on the merit of the work viewed. The better the image presented, the better your opportunity for this highly competitive jury process.

The jury is comprised of two invited, jury exempt, artists and three art professionals. Round one: in this silent and remote round, jurors review and score images via monitor. Round two and subsequent rounds: jurors gather at CherryArts and view each artist’s set of five images projected simultaneously in a horizontal grouping, arranged by the date the artist’s application was submitted. The process, materials, and dimensions for each image as well as artist information statements will be made available to the jury. A well-balanced show of artistic excellence, quality, creativity, and overall impression of work are the criteria for the selection of exhibitors, CherryArts does not have any quotas. The top 230 receive invitations; the balance of artists in the final round are retained to comprise a waiting list of alternates. Decisions of the jury panel are final.

The following guidance is given to the jurors:

Your selection criteria should be based on ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE of the quality, creativity and overall impression of original hand-crafted work created by the artist. The ideal work will be well conceived and expertly executed.
There is no entitlement or quota per category, or ratio of applications received to the number of artists selected.
We are looking for a show that is representative of diverse styles and techniques. We are also looking to include a broad range of pricing.
We are asking you to bring your areas of expertise to the forefront as well as make the effort to look beyond your area of expertise, keeping in mind that we are aiming for a diverse, well-balanced show formed by consensus.
We hope that you look beyond your own personal taste, which is different than critical observation assessment.
We will encourage discussion and expression of your artistic knowledge after the first round of scoring. We ask that you do this in the spirit of respect and understanding. We will function in the arena of consensus and that drives the fact that you will have many ups and downs, but in the end, it will balance out amongst the five of you.

Images

Five images are to be submitted for each application entered by the artist. Four images must be of individual pieces of work. The fifth image, must be of a booth or display of the artist’s work, showing overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work. The fifth image is mandatory.
If a booth image per se is not available, submit an image taken of a grouping of works in a gallery or other setting representative of the works to be exhibited at the show.
The purpose of the booth image is to ensure the artist has a complete body of work which is represented both in the first four images and within the fifth image. It also helps to quickly identify the scale of the artist’s work for the jury.
Note: this is a blind jury process, please avoid submitting booth images with any identifiable sign, or photo of the artist themselves. Avoid having artist name in any of the image titles when uploading to ZAPP.
In addition, any work outside of the medium and context of the 4 images submitted that may appear in the booth shot would not be considered accepted by the jury, due to its mere presence in the booth image. If artists have multiple bodies of work, CCAF encourages them to submit these in separate applications.
*Only Emerging Artist Applicants may apply with a 5th image of their work instead of a booth shot.*
Images must accurately represent the body of the artist’s work to be exhibited at the Arts Festival.

Media Categories

Media categories are used by the CherryArts as a tool for organizing artists’ images into related groups for the jury’s review. While a balanced show that equitably showcases both works of fine art and fine craft, as well as diversity among media, is a principal objective, CherryArts establishes no quota or entitlement by media category.

All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.

This category includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Artwork must be in signed and numbered limited editions, on archival quality materials. Traditional photographs taken through digital media should apply in the photography category. Work generated by or with assistance of Artificial Intelligence is prohibited.

Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush are to be entered in this category.

All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory-produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.

No forms of mass production are permitted.

All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.

This category includes works, both 2 and 3-dimensional, that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce. Includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist.

Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.

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. Artwork must be in signed and numbered limited editions, on archival quality materials. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

Printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions, will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.

Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.

Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.

Rules and Regulations

All work must be original, handcrafted work. Artist guarantees the accuracy of the description of the works presented and the authenticity of the work as the creation of their own hands.
Work done by a production studio is not acceptable. All work must be designed and executed by the accepted artist.
No more than two artists may collaborate on artwork. Both must be included on and sign the application. Both must be present at the CCAF.
Artists must be present with their work for the entire three days of the CCAF. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist. CCAF requires photo identification at check-in to ensure compliance.
Artists may only show work in the discipline and style of the body of work within the images submitted and selected by the Jury. All work exhibited must be of the quality, category, style, and body of work of that shown in the images juried.
Absolutely no reproductions are allowed (see special notes per media category).
Artwork produced with commercially acquired casts, molds, prefabricated forms, studio volume production or other commercial methods will not be permitted.
Evolving Artwork: The CCAF allows for a small portion (no more than 15%) of ‘new work’ as a gesture to allow artists to keep evolving into other bodies of work. In order to respect the decisions of the jury, here are the rules for an artist that would like to participate: new work may only make up 15% of the exhibit space; the work must be within the same discipline as the work juried into the show; and the ‘new work’ must be original, handcrafted work. The goal of this new program is to allow artists to continue to grow and change while maintaining the high artistic standards of the show jury process. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us hello@cherryarts.org.

Thank you for your interest in the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, we look forward to your creative endeavors!

To be included on our mailing list for future visual arts notifications please email your contact information. The 2026 application will be opened from October 1 to December 1, 2025.