Boulder Star Card Call for Artists

Call for Artists – 2026 Boulder Star Holiday Card!

in partnership with the

$1,000 Paid Commission + Significant Local Visibility
Open to Professional Visual Artists, Illustrators, and Designers in the Boulder Region

Help keep the beloved Boulder Star shining during the 2026 holiday season!

The Boulder Chamber, in collaboration with Boulder County Arts Alliance (BCAA), seeks to commission a professional local artist, illustrator, or designer to create an original image that it can license for the 2026 Boulder Star holiday card and possibly other items. These may include a puzzle produced by Liberty Puzzles and a wine label. Proceeds from the sale of items featuring the selected image help support stewardship of the iconic Boulder Star.

The selected artist will receive $1,000 under the terms of a license agreement to create an image of the Boulder Star that reflects Boulder (see Summary of the License Agreement below). Fresh, contemporary interpretations of iconic Boulder imagery are encouraged.

There is no application fee to enter the Artist Selection Process. Finalists will be chosen by the Boulder Chamber, based primarily on examples of their work and the completeness and quality of their application. Prior experience working with clients on a commissioned basis is required, and the Boulder Chamber will work with the selected artist to approve the final design.

The selected artist should be amenable to attending a summer reception of the Boulder Chamber and its members (date TBD) to promote the Boulder Star holiday card, as well as agreeing to the other terms outlined in this Call for Artists.

The Artist Selection Process begins now, while the Boulder Star shines over our community as inspiration to artists interested in this commission. The Star will remain lit through January 1, 2026.

Boulder Star Holiday Card History

The Boulder Star on Flagstaff Mountain was first lit by the Boulder Chamber in December 1947 and has made its holiday appearance every year since. The Boulder Star has also been lit out of season to provide hope to the community during difficult times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and following the Marshall Fires.

The Boulder Chamber is now the proud joint steward of the Boulder Star with the City of Boulder. First launched in 2001, the Boulder Star holiday card program supports Boulder Star operations and maintenance through proceeds from sales of the card and other promotional items featuring the selected artistic image.

The Boulder Star image enjoys high visibility in the community. It is featured on holiday cards, wine labels, and other items, and is the subject of extensive marketing to encourage sales. There is additional visibility due to sales of boxed sets of the holiday cards at the Boulder Chamber and other retail outlets. The Boulder Star puzzle is produced and sold by Liberty Puzzles. The Boulder Star wine may be produced by a local winery and sold at other retail outlets.

Click here for information about the 2025 Boulder Star card program, prior Boulder Star card artists and their designs, and the 2025 Boulder Star puzzle and Boulder Star wine.

Artist Selection Timing

• December 1, 2025: Call for Artists opens through Boulder County Arts Alliance (BCAA)
• January 30, 2026: Deadline for submissions to BCAA (see Application Process, below)
• On or before March 27, 2026: Boulder Chamber selects the 2026 Boulder Star artist (artist will have 5 business days to execute the License Agreement)

Art Licensing Agreement – Key Terms

Licensing Fee / Payment Schedule – $1,000 total

• $200 upon initial signing of the License Agreement by the Artist (“Licensor”)
• $300 after the Licensor provides the Boulder Chamber with two design options
• $500 after the Licensor provides the Boulder Chamber with the digital file of the completed artwork

Artwork Production Schedule

The creation of the artwork is an iterative process with the following key milestones:

• On or before April 10, 2026: The artist will meet with representatives of the Boulder Chamber to discuss the commission and the Chamber’s goals
• On or before April 30, 2026: Boulder Star artist presents at least two preliminary artwork designs at an in-person meeting with the Boulder Chamber
• By May 15, 2026: Boulder Chamber provides feedback on the preliminary artwork designs
• June 19, 2026: Final completed artwork is submitted

Artwork Requirements

• Must show the Boulder Star on Flagstaff Mountain plus the Flatirons in an image that reflects Boulder, Colorado.

Note: Prior successful Boulder Star holiday cards have also depicted Chautauqua, the Pearl Street Mall, or other locations/landscapes that have ties to Boulder, CO.

• May not depict children (due to the use of the image on a wine label). If the image includes adults, it should reflect the diversity of our community.
• Must be built to 4.843" wide x 7" high with a 1/8" bleed on the top, bottom, and right-hand side. Any text or signature must be at least 1/8" from the trim.

Note: A vertical format is required to accommodate a wine label.

• Must be sent to the Boulder Chamber (and up to three other designees, TBD) as a high-resolution digital file.

Other

• The final artwork will be made public at a Boulder Chamber event to be scheduled in July–September 2026. It is anticipated that the Licensor will be invited to the event and will attend, if possible.
• The Artist will be invited to help select the Boulder Star holiday card font, offer an interior design for the card, and participate in the Boulder Chamber’s selection panel for the following year’s Boulder Star Artist.

Summary of the License Agreement / Licensor Rights

• The License provides exclusive rights to the image for a period of three years from the date that the Boulder Chamber receives the completed artwork. Thereafter, the Boulder Chamber shall retain the above rights in a non-exclusive fashion.
• Notwithstanding the above, the Artist/Licensor may sell the original artwork. If the artwork is digital and therefore has no single “original” form, the Artist/Licensor has the right to produce a limited print run of up to 25 prints of the artwork for sale by the Artist.
• A copy of the License Agreement will be shared with all semi-finalists for review and signature before the selection of the finalist.

Application Process

In the online form, please provide:

• A brief biography and/or artist statement (500 words max)
• An explanation of your connection, if any, to the Boulder Star and why this commission is of interest to you
• Evidence of prior experience working successfully with clients to create commissioned work
• A link to an online portfolio or website

Please attach six examples of your landscape and/or cityscape work in the Boulder region that reflect the type of work you would produce if awarded this commission (these may represent a range of possible styles). Images must:

• Be in JPEG format
• Not exceed 3000 KB (3 MB) in size

Please also provide links to your website, Instagram, or other social media accounts showing additional examples of your work.

For more information, please contact BCAA at charlotte@bouldercountyarts.org.

You must complete all pages of the form to submit your application.  Applications are accepted through this online form only.