Call Description

"Hope is a waking dream" is the idea that hope is both a source of inspiration and a guiding force, in a time when so much is uncertain. It’s a dream you carry, awakening you to the possibility held within each day.

Just as a dream unfolds, so too, does hope, giving individuals the strength to evolve, take risks, and transform lives. Hope fuels dreams and is often the spark that ignites action. For artists and innovators, hope is the force that drives them to break through the unknown and create something new.

 A shared vision of a better future becomes the "waking dream" that unites people across borders. In the face of global challenges like climate change, economic inequality, and pandemics, hope keeps the conversation alive. It encourages nations and organizations to collaborate for solutions.

"Hope is a waking dream" suggests that hope isn’t passive or abstract. It’s a vision that’s alive and active in the world, one that inspires action, fuels resilience, and helps us overcome obstacles. It’s an invitation to dream, and to act; to reflect and participate; to take stock of the world and form deeper connections.

 "Hope is a Waking Dream" is a multi-part exhibition curated by the Telluride Council for the Arts and Humanities and presented in partnership with the Wilkinson Public Library in Telluride. In this exhibition, we invite artists to explore the transformative yet fleeting nature of hope, and the power it holds to propel us forward. 

All applications will be subject to a blind review by designated committees or juror panels. All personal details and obvious indicators of applicant identity will be removed prior to review.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Write your application narrative in a word or google doc, prior to entry into the online form
• Save your work as you go. | The platform times out periodically and does not autosave

Confirm the functionality of and accessibility to all work samples and resumes, prior to submission. | Limit 3 individual pieces per application  | Only ONE piece will be exhibited per selected artist

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Exhibition Location: Wilkinson Public Library
  • Part 1 of 4: Public Stairwell
• Exhibition Type: Solo
• Exhibition Duration: Quarterly [June-Aug | Sept-Nov]
• Application Fee: $20 per application
• Selection Process: Juried | Blind Review
• Accepted Art Forms: 2D Visual [i.e. paintings, photographs, mixed media modalities on canvas, etc]
• Application Allowances: Artists welcome to apply for all parts of the exhibition [1-4]
   

DATES TO NOTE

• Application Deadline: May 30, 2025 - 5:00 PM MST
• Announce Artists: June 1, 2025
• Art Delivery Deadline: June 3, 2025
• Exhibition Launch: June 5, 2025
• Exhibition Run: June to November 2025

If you have questions not answered above, we encourage you to reach out, prior to application submission.

CONTACT US

Call or email us, to ensure you have the information you need, prior to submission.

• Phone: 970-728-3930
• Email: info@telluridearts.org

Application Requirements

• Applicant MUST Provide:
  • Artist Statement and Bio | Singular Document [PDF Preferred]
  • Proof of Residency
  • Samples/images of artwork suitable for publication
    • Limit 3 separate pieces per application [Maximum] | Only ONE piece will be exhibited
• Application must be in the name of an individual artist.
• For collaborative projects, one artist must be the lead applicant.
  • Collaborative Projects: Include work samples and details for all involved artists
• Artist must maintain residence in Telluride, Mountain Village, or the Telluride Region*
  • Telluride Region Parameters*
    • North: Montrose
    • East: Ouray
    • South: Rico
    • West: Norwood
• Artwork must not exceed the following measurements:
  • 30”w x 36”h | 4 Total

Applicant assumes full responsibility for shipping, handling, and all costs associated with the delivery of their artwork to and from Telluride Arts, pre and post exhibition

EXHIBITION REQUIREMENTS:

• All artwork must be framed and ready to hang upon delivery
• All displayed artwork must be determined as  “Available for Purchase” OR “Display ONLY”
• If “Available for Purchase”, pricing must be provided upon application submission for review and approval

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBLE:

• Artists who live and/or work in the Telluride region
• No age limitations for applicants

NOT ELIGIBLE:

• Applicants who reside outside of the Telluride Region

SELECTION CRITERIA [Includes but is not limited to]:

• Quality and artistic merit
• Creativity and innovation demonstrated in the narrative and work samples

SELECTION PROCESS

• Blind Review of all applications by a rotating panel of jurors
• Application review for this cycle will take place in May of 2025
• Grants will be awarded and all applicants informed of status by May 27, 2025