Full Prospectus Click HERE

Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum 

44th Annual Western Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale 

March 8 – April 19, 2025 

Statement of Purpose: The Western Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale (WSJASS) is the premier annual juried art show in the Rocky Mountain Region for emerging and established artists who create original art depicting the American West. Media 

Categories: Accepted categories for the show are Acrylic, Drawing, Mixed-Media (including digital drawings), Oil, Pastel, Photography*, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Watercolor. The Museum/Jurors have the right to change the category for jurying. Please see appendix for Photography vs. Digital Art.* 

Selection Process: All art in the Western Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale is selected by an independent jury comprised of professionals in the western art community. Artwork for the Vandewark Miniature Show is selected by the artist following acceptance into Western Spirit. Award judging of the artwork is completed the Friday before the Western Spirit Opening Reception.

Communications: All communication regarding Western Spirit Art Show Coordination will be sent through email via CAFÉ (callforentry.org). Please note that some of these communications do end up in the Spam and Junk mail folders. Make sure communication from CAFÉ is not blocked in your inbox. Other information regarding the Western Spirit Opening Reception and the Art Seminar will be sent by Art Show Coordinator, Amanda Marshall, via email (amanda.marshall@oldwestmuseum.org). You may also receive communications from our marketing team from the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum.

 Entry Process: Artists will submit their entries through www.callforentry.org (CAFÉ). Artists are responsible for selecting the appropriate category for each piece from the drop down menu. Each artist may only submit four pieces in total. Be sure you have all your information ready as you cannot change your entries once they are submitted. You are responsible for ensuring all entry information submitted on CAFÉ is true and correct. You cannot make changes to title, price, medium, or artist name after submission. All information submitted on CAFÉ will appear on gallery labels, the Western Spirit Website, and on all media related to Western Spirit and the CFD Old West Museum. 

All images must be sized no smaller than 1200 pixels on the longest side. All files must be submitted as a JPEG under 5MB. Submit only one image of a 2-D or 3-D piece of work. If you are submitting multiple views of your 3-D piece, you must send it as a split-screen image in a single JPEG. If you experience technical difficulty with the entry process, please contact the CAFÉ Admin at cafe@westaf.org or by calling (303) 629-1166. 

We do not accept AI-generated Art. We do not accept Installation Art.

All entries are due by November 1, 2024. No late entries accepted!

Display Specifications:

·         All 2-D artwork must use a hanging wire and D-rings for wall mounting and be able to lie flat against the wall.

·         2-D works may have a gallery edge or be framed but need to be ready to hang and have a proper wire hang system.

·         All accepted works must arrive at the Museum show ready (i.e., wire-strung, framed, mounted, and matted, or appropriate gallery wrapped edges).

·         We do NOT accept saw tooth hangers, protruding eye screws, or keyhole slots. If art arrives with these hanging systems, it will be rejected automatically.

·         Artists must tape their wire ends and provide enough slack on the wire tension to allow for safe hanging.

·         Acrylic and Museum Glass are acceptable materials for any media under glass.

If you have display concerns, please contact us at least 2 months prior to the show so we have time to address your concerns. Museum Staff have final determination regarding the mounting and display of artwork, including the right of refusal.

All 2-D pieces must be measured to include framing.

·         2-D pieces will not exceed 47 inches horizontal or 60 inches vertical including the frame.

·         3-D pieces will not exceed three square feet at the base.

·         Suspended sculptures will follow 2-D guidelines.

·         Any artwork that exceeds size limitations will not be displayed and will be returned at the artist’s expense.

·         On CAFÉ please submit the framed dimensions of any framed pieces.

·         Miniature Guidelines:

o   2-D miniatures will not exceed 10 inches (please note the size change from previous years) framed on any side.

o   3-D miniatures will not exceed 18 inches in any dimension, including the base.

Originals, Multiples, & Series:

·         All submitted art needs to be original in concept, design, and execution by the submitting artist.

·         AI-generated art will not be accepted.

·         No photos, laser, giclee, or digital reproductions will be accepted into Western Spirit or the Vandewark Miniature Show unless entering the Photography Category.

·         All artworks having multiples available must be disclosed with the number available at the time of submission to CAFÉ. The show does not sell prints unless a piece is in the Photography Category.

·         Multiples must be available for sale for the entire duration of the art show. The Museum must be able to sell all multiples initially listed. Reach out to Amanda as soon as possible if you have any questions.

·         All artworks must have been created within the last three years and not been previously displayed for sale at the CFD Old West Museum (Western Spirit, Western Art Show, New Frontiers, APA Show). This policy includes the miniature show. Additionally, miniature pieces may not be scaled down duplications of any pieces accepted into Western Spirit, nor any pieces previously displayed. Any duplicated miniatures will be immediately disqualified.

·         Derivatives of another artist’s work will not be accepted. If an artwork is determined to be derivative by the jurors or Museum Staff, it will be excluded from the show. Pieces should not be derivative of artwork by other artists from another medium or another time. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of Museum Staff if:

o   The piece is an original re-interpretation of the modeled work that only the submitting artist could achieve.

o   The submitting artist acknowledges the original artist and title in their own title.

o   The submitting artist has not violated copyright law.

o   The submitting artist has secured permission from the original artist or heirs in writing if such permission is available.

The Museum Staff reserves the right to decline any submitted work that violates these guidelines. If you submit derivatives or AI artwork, the Museum has the right to disqualify that work with no refund.

Sales:

All artworks must be for sale for the entirety of the show. The Museum collects a 35% commission for each sale. Artists should adjust their price accordingly prior to submission. Art prices will not change after submission. Any artwork exhibited or commissioned work sold within 30 days of the art show’s close is subject to a 35% sales commission to the Museum. Artists may only sell artwork accepted for the art show on the Museum premises (including the Museum’s websites and social media channels) except for special commissioned pieces with the consent of the Art Coordinator. The Museum will handle transactions for the artist to include the 35% commission. Once accepted for the art show, the artist cannot alter or sell the accepted piece. Artists cannot make changes to the artwork, its arrangement, or the labels while on exhibit in the Museum. If you have a concern with the display of your artwork, please contact Museum staff at least two weeks before opening night. If the artist sells an accepted piece before delivery, the artist will owe the Museum the same 35% sales commission as if the piece sold in the show and the artist will forfeit their ability to enter any future Museum show for a period of 24 months.

 Jurors:

The Western Spirit Juried Art Show & Sale is an art exhibition juried by leading art professionals in the western art community. Art selection for the show occurs via CAFÉ from November 6 to December 6, 2024.

 Hand Delivery/Pick-Up of Accepted Work:

Hand-delivered artwork must arrive at the Museum Art Show Office the week of January 27 – 31, 2025, M-F, 9a.m.- 4p.m. Pick-Up for unsold art is April 22 – 25, 2025 Tu-F, 9a.m. – 4p.m. Please notify the Museum via email at amanda.marshall@oldwestmuseum.org about any last-minute pick-up changes. Please email the Museum at least two weeks prior to the end of the show if you will have a representative pick up your work.

Shipping of Accepted Work/Return Shipping:

All shipped artworks MUST include a preprinted return shipping label with barcodes for every box delivered to the Museum. If the artist does not provide a return shipping label by April 18, 2025, the Museum will return their artwork C.O.D. using a carrier of the Museum’s choice at the close of the show. Plan on your work arriving at the Museum the week of January 21 – 24, 2025. Shipped art will be sent out by the end of the day on May 2, 2025. Artists are responsible for additional shipping costs due to refused or returned artwork. If your artwork needs to be shipped somewhere or returned immediately at the close of the show, please let the Museum know before the artwork arrives so proper arrangements can be made to ship your art immediately at the close of the show. Any artwork hand-carried or shipped to the Museum that remains at the Museum after May 9, 2025 will be shipped to the artist C.O.D. using a carrier of the Museum’s choice. Please send artwork to:

CFD Old West Museum

Attn: Art Show Coordinator

4610 N. Carey Ave

Cheyenne, WY 82001

-          If artwork does not arrive on time, it will not be displayed in the show or online and will be returned when all art is shipped out, at the Museum’s convenience.

 Vandewark Miniature Show:

Artists juried into WSJASS may bring up to two miniatures to the show, either 2-D’s or 3-D’s. Miniatures do not have to be the same medium as your juried pieces. All 2-D works must be wired and hang-ready miniature works of art. These two pieces are not part of your initial entries. Artists will deliver the miniatures along with their accepted juried pieces of art. Artists must adhere to the strict size restrictions listed in the prospectus. Artwork that does not adhere will be disqualified. Artists must submit Title, Medium, Price, Number Available, Name of Artist, and an image of the piece by January 10, 2025. Please submit this information to Amanda via email at amanda.marshall@oldwestmuseum.org. Late submissions will not be accepted.

 Miniatures must be different from prior years and cannot be smaller versions of accepted Western Spirit work or previously accepted pieces.

Museum Art Show and Sales Marketing Policy:

The CFD Old West Museum reserves the right to reproduce accepted works for the Museum’s marketing and promotional purposes, which includes but is not limited to ads for media outlets, posters, mailings, billboards, and on the CFD Old West Museum website. The artist will be credited with all featured art.

 Art Seminar:

The seminar is a unique educational opportunity for artists, students, and teachers for professional development and networking. This year’s attendees will learn from recognized professionals within the western art community. Tickets include breakfast, lunch, and juror presentations. Tickets will be on sale closer to the opening reception.

 Awards:

Best of Show: $1000

Best of Each Media: $500

Best Miniature: $100

Award money will be given at the same time as sales payment after the conclusion of the show.                                            

Liabilities:

All art is handled by trained art handlers. Accepted work will be insured by the Museum while under the Museum’s control. Artists should insure their own work for shipment to and from the Museum. Artists will be notified immediately if artwork arrives at the Museum damaged. If you are accepted into the show and miss the deadlines set above, we cannot guarantee placement on the website or in the show itself. Entry fees are non-refundable.

 Fees and Museum Member Entry Discount Codes:

Fees are payable online at time of entry. Submission of the entry fee will constitute an agreement to the conditions set forth in this prospectus. Entry fees are non-refundable. If you are a current member of the CFD Old West Museum or plan to purchase a membership at the time of entry, please contact Amanda Marshall by email at amanda.marshall@oldwestmuseum.org for a coupon code before submission. Memberships are not required for submission, but they offer a discount on entries and to Museum events. All payments are final and will not be refunded. See table below for fees and benefits.

 Pricing Chart

 Museum Membership

*For additional Membership options, please contact Development Manager Lonnie Reese at (307) 778-7291 or lonnie.reese@oldwestmuseum.org.

Disqualifications:

If upon the arrival of artwork, it becomes clear that the image file submitted was altered or the artwork is in violation of any of the guidelines and rules stated in this prospectus, the work will automatically be disqualified and shipped back to the artists at their expense. Entry fees will not be refunded. The Museum reserves the right of refusal of any work where the frame shows extensive damage, spray paint, obvious fixes with pens or markers, or is declared unfit for hanging in a professional fine art show.

Reasons for Disqualification include but are not limited to:

-          Is late

-          Exceeds size limitations

-          Is damaged

-          Is derivative

-          Is an installation piece***

-          Is not the same piece as shown in the digital image submission

-          Is not ready to hang

-          Is AI Generated**

-          Artist alters piece and/or its display while it is on exhibit in the Museum without prior authorization

Calendar of Events

Application Requirements

Applicants must completely read the prospectus then submit their application through CaFE. Each artist may only submit up to four pieces total.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists are eligible if they submit art that was creating in the past 2-3 years and if it has not been featured in any other art show through the Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Old West Museum. Art may not be installation art or AI generated. Artists disqualified in years past are NOT eligible for this year's show.