Open Studios 2008 Artist Application Criteria
Boulder, Colorado art studio tour

Applications opened March 1, 2008 and will close May 1, 2008.

updated 3/19/08

All applicants, juried or non-juried, must apply online through CallForEntry.org (CaFÉ). CaFÉ enables artists to apply online to multiple calls for entry through a central Web site, www.callforentry.org. The online application process also allows artists to directly upload high-resolution digital images of their artwork for jury presentation.

All new artists and many returning artists will be juried in 2008.

To see if you are juried in 2008, click here.

To see a list of all artists and their jury year, click here.

If you are juried, you need to submit 6 different images through the CaFÉ application. Put the image you want in the Guidebook in the first position. This is also the image that will be used if you order postcards (details on that after acceptance).

If you are NOT juried, you still need to submit 6 images through the CaFÉ application, but they can all be the same image. Submit the image you want to appear in the Guidebook, and if you want to order postcards, this will be your image on the poscard.

If you need someone to photograph your art, we recommend:
Thomas Howard, 303-444-4684
Christopher Brown, 303-449-7532
Ken Sanville, 303 666-7475

Please feel free to contact Westaf if you have questions about CaFÉ at 303-629-1166 or call MJ McCoy, Event Manager, in the Open Studios office M, W and F until 2PM.

If you need help preparing your images for uploading to CaFÉ, read Using Photoshop to optimize images for uploading to CAFE system.
We also recommend PhotoCraft Imaging, 3550 Arapahoe Ave # 6, Boulder, (303) 442-6410

  • Participating artist's year-round studio must be within the geography shown on the Open Studios map. Call Open Studios before applying if you have any doubts if your studio is in our geography.
  • Participating artists must devote a major portion of their time creating art.
  • Participating artists must create art as a profession.
  • Participating artists must derive a portion of their income from their art.
  • Participating artists must agree to provide an educational component for visitors by demonstrating their creative process and materials, or displaying the basic steps in completing their work. This educational component is in addition to discussion of artist's work with visitors.
  • Participating artists must have a minimum of 12 pieces to be exhibited during Open Studios, (6 for labor intensive media).
  • Participating artists must have a studio setting condusive to public visitation.
  • Participating artists must agree to be in their studio (their year-round workspace), wearing a name badge, all hours of Open Studios.
  • Participating artists must have the required City, County and State Sales Tax Licenses and collect and pay Sales Taxes.
          For more information, see Sales Tax Info
  • For single artist studios-No other artist may display work in your studio.
  • For group studios- per Open Studios Board of Directors- “We rely on you to respect and adhere to the Group Studios policy as stated here. If artists participate who have not been selected, this undermines the intent of the evaluation process.” Group Studio Policy; Participating artists must display large, prominent signs (supplied by Open Studios) in their own space saying “Open Studios Participating Artist”. We request that non-participating artists respect the event by 1) not actively promoting their work to attendees visiting the studio to see Open Studios artists and 2) not displaying any signage in their space that mentions Open Studios and/or previous participation in Open Studios.

    • JURY PROCESS

    The Jury/Open Studios will review applications. Those not accepted will have all materials returned, along with their participation fee check (less the $25 application fee).

    The decisions of the Jury and Open Studios are final.

    There are two-parts to the adjudication process:

    Part 1-The jury will consist of art consultants, museum administrators and gallery owners from the art community. Each juror will complete a scoring sheet for each artist. There will be no discussion between the jurors. The Open Studios staff will total the scores, rank all artists by “Total Score”, and determine a “cut-off” such that all artists above that score will be accepted.

    Part 2-The staff will also review all applications below that score and may add up to 4 more artists based on:
    Substantial contribution to the community by the artist
    Major benefit to Open Studios provided by the artist’s participation
    Exceptional emerging talent

    SAMPLE JUROR SCORING SHEET-each section equals 25% of total score.
    A. Does the work indicate a technical proficiency with the medium? (Skillfulness in handling the medium and ability in composition and design)
    B. Does the work reflect an individual style and personal vision? (Unique works reflecting originality, visual interest, impact, emotional response) C. How do you rate the overall quality of the work?
    D. Does the applicant seem to be pursuing art as a profession?