RESONANCE RUNS DEEP: Boulder Roots Music Festival Open Call for Artists

Founders Crawl Exhibition at the Boulder Roots Music Festival

Presented as a featured stop on the Founders Crawl during the Boulder Roots Music Festival, this curated visual art exhibition celebrates the rich creative spirit that defines Boulder and the greater Rocky Mountain region. Bringing together a diverse group of artists working across painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, and contemporary visual practices, the exhibition creates a dynamic dialogue between music, art, and community.

Designed as an immersive cultural experience, the exhibition invites festivalgoers to pause, reflect, and engage with original works that explore themes of place, identity, resonance, and connection. The selected artworks showcase a range of artistic voices and perspectives, highlighting both emerging and established artists whose work reflects the innovation, creativity, and independent spirit at the heart of Boulder’s cultural landscape.

As visitors move through the Founders Crawl, the exhibition serves as a visual counterpart to the festival’s musical programming, creating moments of discovery and inspiration throughout the event. By integrating visual arts into the broader festival experience, the exhibition fosters meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and the local community while providing an accessible platform for artistic exchange.

The exhibition underscores the Boulder Roots Music Festival’s commitment to celebrating creative expression in all its forms and offers attendees a unique opportunity to experience the intersection of visual art, live music, and community gathering in one vibrant setting.

Submission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following:

• 1-3 high-resolution images of the proposed artwork(s) 
  Click here to review the image specifications for CaFÉ.
• Title, medium, dimensions, and year of creation for each submitted work
• Artist statement describing the work and its relationship to the exhibition theme
• Brief artist biography (maximum 500 words)
• Proof of Colorado residency (current address)
   

Artwork Requirements

• All submitted artwork must be available for sale.
• Artwork may not be under exclusive gallery representation that prohibits exhibition or sale without gallery consent.
• Artists must be willing to deliver and retrieve artwork from the exhibition venue in downtown Boulder; transportation services will not be provided.
• Artwork must be available for exhibition from the installation date through August 31, 2026.
• All work must arrive ready for installation, including appropriate hanging hardware (D-rings and wire preferred). Sawtooth hangers will not be accepted.
• Artwork must be in good condition and suitable for public display.
• Eligible media include painting, photography, works on paper, and mixed media. Prints and reproductions are not eligible.

• Artists must live and work in Colorado.
• Open to artists at all career stages.
• Artists may submit new or existing work.
• Submitted work must respond to the festival theme of Resonance, as interpreted by the artist. Literal interpretations are not required; conceptual, abstract, and personal responses are encouraged.

APPLY HERE: https://opportunities.wearecreativewest.org/opportunity/17751/CAFE