Fairs/Festivals
Crested Butte Arts Festival 2027
Crested Butte, Colorado
Jury Fee: $45
Contact Information
Crested Butte Society, Inc
Contact Email: Director@crestedbutteartsfestival.com
Contact Phone: 970-349-1184
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 12
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 5, Max: 5
- Total | Max: 5
Opportunity Summary
The 55th Annual, Crested Butte Arts Festival will return to Elk Avenue in the heart of Crested Butte's downtown Historic District, August 6th-8th, 2027.
Crested Butte, known for its mountain charm and breathtaking vistas, is also distinguished by a sizable 'second-home owning' population that resides in the region throughout the summer months. These high net-worth patrons make up the majority of CBAF art buyers who seek works to furnish their mountain properties.
Crested Butte, known for its mountain charm and breathtaking vistas, is also distinguished by a sizable 'second-home owning' population that resides in the region throughout the summer months. These high net-worth patrons make up the majority of CBAF art buyers who seek works to furnish their mountain properties.
Patron Demographics:
Attendance - 12K over three days
Home Geography:
Colorado 47%
Texas 19%
Mid West 13%
East Coast 7%
South West 5%
West Coast 3%
Age:
18-24 14%
25-34 16%
35-44 12%
45-54 14%
55-64 22%
65+ 17%
Annual Household Income:
$0 - $49,999 16%
$50,000 - $99,999 17%
$100,000 - $149,999 19%
$150,000 - $199,999 19%
$200,000+ 28%
Artist Accolades
"It is a pleasure to be a part of this show. I make so many great connections, and love the people who attend this festival"
"I had a great show and appreciate the jurors and board welcoming a diverse body of work"
"Crested Butte is one of my favorite places in Colorado. The views and setting of the show were amazing! The organizers and workers for CBAF are always attentive and very helpful"
"Lovely show, well run, amazing art in an amazing place! Looking forward to being invited again!"
General Information
FAST FACTS
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Application Fee: $45 (non-refundable)
- Outdoor venue: Tents setup on asphalt surface on 4 town blocks.
- Security: Overnight security is provided.
- Load-In:
FRIDAY (8/6/27) TIME: 9am-1:30pm
Artists are assigned to one of two load-in periods. Drive up access direct to booth locations. - Show Operating Hours:
Friday (6/6): 5pm - 8pm / Saturday (8/7): 10am - 6pm / Sunday (8/8): 9am - 5pm - Weather: August in Crested Butte is gorgeous with high temprature typically not exceeding a high of 70 degrees. Abundant sunshine is expected with potential for afternoon showers. This is a rain, or shine event.
- WiFi Network: A dedicated artist internent connection is provided to ensure sales are transacted with confidence.
- Sales Tax: Artist must collect 9.4% sales tax on all sales.
Artist will write a check to the festival for the sum of their tax collections.
CBAF submits taxes to local and state tax authorities on behalf of the artist.
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Artists retain all sales.
- Discounted lodging & FREE vehicular camping area.
- $12K spend on Patron Marketing.
- Hydration & Snacks - volunteers circulate the venue distributing refreshments to artists.
- Online artist gallery - participating artists maintained on festival website for 1 year period with hyperlinked to artist webpage/social media.
- Artist VIP Program - hospitality provided to artists who donate a work into the festival's Art Auction. VIP hospitality Includes: continental style breakfast (2), catered lunchs (2), snack bar & cold drinks throughout deuration of event. Indoor bathrooms with running water and on-call booth sitters are also provided as an amenity to enrolled VIP Program artists.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
- IMAGES: Five (5) images are to be submitted for each individual medium category entered by the artist. Four (4) images of individual work and one (1) booth shot is mandatory. The purpose of the booth shot is to ensure that the artist has a complete body of professional work and has presentable booth infrastructure. It is helpful to identify the scale of the work. If a booth shot is not available, an image of a grouping of the artist’s work is acceptable.
NOTE: This is a blind jury process; artist must exclude any identifying marks on images of work, as well as within the booth image.
- MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: If an artist wishes to apply in more than one category, a separate application (+ fee) and set of images must be submitted for each category. Artists may not apply twice in the same category.
- COLLABORATIVE WORK: If artists are accepted as a team they may only exhibit the collaborative work for which they were accepted.
MEDIA CATEGORIES
While we strive to present a well balanced show, no quotas are enforced for any medium and artists are judged solely on artistic excellence.
CERAMICS
Original clay and porcelain work, other than jewelry, will be accepted in this category. No machine or mass-produced items will be accepted.
DIGITAL ART
Original works of digital art can be purely computer-generated, or achieved through the manipulation of other source materials or images by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions of 250 or less, signed and numbered. Traditional photographs taken through a digital media should apply in the PHOTOGRAPHY CATEGORY.
DRAWING & GRAPHIC ARTS
Includes works created using dry media including pencil, chalk, charcoal, pastels, wax crayon, etc., or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush. In addition, printed works in which the artist hand-manipulates the plates, stones or screens, and which have been signed and numbered as a limited edition (250 max), should be entered in this category.
FIBER
Includes artwork from fibers such as: hand crafted apparel, basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. This work can be wearable or non-wearable. No mass or factory-produced work is allowed.
GLASS
Functional or decorative glass works, which are kiln formed or crafted by glass blowing, molding, or casting. Works may be etched or engraved.
No forms of mass production and no alterations of prefabricated glass objects, ( i.e., No pressed wine bottles). This category excludes jewelry fabricated from glass.
JEWELRY
All jewelry, without limitation regarding the range of materials or processes used, is to be entered in this category. Works should be wearable or designed to wear on clothing. No commercial casts, molds or production work is allowed.
METAL
Metalworks include all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals.
Metals may be cast, hammered or embossed to feature raised designs. No production studio work is allowed.
MIXED MEDIA
Works that incorporate more than one type of material to create one work of art or craft is to be entered in this category. Both 2D and 3D pieces are included. Materials that are used must be evident in the finished work.
PAINTING
Original works created in oils, acrylics, and watercolors are to be entered in this category.
PRINTMAKING
Traditional methods such as - etchings, intaglio, monotype, monoprint, relief printing, serigraphs and block or wood block prints. All aspects of finished product must be created and executed by the artist.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, whether from traditional negatives or digital files and manipulated with computer programs, are included in this category. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes. All images must be processed by the artist or under his/her direct supervision. Work in this category must be in limited editions of 250 or less, signed and numbered.
SCULPTURE
Original, three-dimensional works of any material or combination of materials are to be entered in this category.
WOOD
Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.
Application Requirements
- Applications accepted in 13 fine art & fine craft categories.
- Artists may only show work in categories and body of work selected by the Jury.
All work exhibited must be of the quality, category and body of work shown in the juried application. Any artist who exhibits work significantly different than what they were juried will be made to remove the different items, and may be required to leave the festival and forfeit their booth fee.
- All art must be original in concept, design, and execution. We seek quality, originality, and creativity. The artist guarantees the accuracy of the description of the work presented and the authenticity of the work as their creation.
- We do not accept: manufactured items, ceramics cast from commercial molds, promotional postcards, books, decoupage, kits, imported, resale or mass produced items, manufactured apparel (silk screen t-shirts), pre-packaged - foods, soaps, candels or 'cottage crafts'.
- Reproductions are allowed, but the artist must fill the majority (90%) of their booth with originals and one of a kind art.
- All exhibiting artists must provide their own booths and display materials.
Booths must be WHITE and unbranded on the exterior.
- Booths may not be shared. No more than two artists may collaborate on a body of work. Both must sign the contract to exhibit and be present at the Festival if accepted as a collaboration.
- Sales tax at a rate of 9.4% must be collected on all sales by artist. CBAF will submit collected tax to local and state authorities on behalf of the artist.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
500
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
150
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
3
Booth Information
FEES:
- Standard (10x10): $600
- Corner Standard (10x10): $850
- Double Corner (10x20): $1,250
- Invited artists will receive email instructions on how to reserve booth space and pay their booth fee invoice directly to CBAF.
- Payment may be made by Credit Card or ACH bank transfer.
- Deadline to submit booth payment in full - April 30th
- Artists must provide their own booth, display materials, racks and/or tables, suitable to display their work in an outdoor environment.
- Tents must be white and unbranded on the exterior.
- Tents must be properly weighted (40 lbs. minimum / each leg) without staking.
- Storage behind booths is inconsistent. You may be assigned to a booth location that will not accomodate backstock storage.
- Electrical hookups are NOT avaiable, nor are generators permitted.
Refund Policy
- The ZAPP application fee is non-refundable.
- Deadline to cancel and receive Full Refund of booth payment (less a $50 processing fee) -
May 31st - Deadline to receive a 50% refund (less a $50 processing fee) on booth payment - June 1 - June 30
- Cancellations after June 30th are not elgible for refunds.
Terms to Apply
Jury Fee: $45