Call Description

Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE), located in Evergreen, Colorado is seeking applicants for its Artist in Residency Program (AIR). The Artist-in-Residence program offers the opportunity for emerging and established artists to foster creativity and community engagement while developing both new works and works-in-progress. CAE welcomes artists working across disciplines and media, including visual artists, sculptors, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and more. Eligible artistic disciplines and media include drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction & nonfiction writing, spoken word/poetry and interdisciplinary.  While digital media is welcomed, artists will need to bring their own equipment as the facility doesn’t offer these resources. All artist mediums are encouraged to apply. Media that produce toxic fumes as well as artwork that involves nonstop continuous loud noise are not permitted. Please contact us for further clarification on your medium.

Residents will be provided with housing, private studio space, a monthly stipend and teaching and sales opportunities in Evergreen, Colorado, a serene natural setting and a vibrant, creative community in the foothills of metro Denver. Twelve-week residencies are offered three times each year.

As part of a residency, we ask each artist to develop and facilitate a community program related to their residency plan. This provides artists with the opportunity to engage with the local community in Evergreen, CO and the suburban and rural towns beyond.

The Residency runs for three 12-week sessions, and the artist must specify their preferred 12-week session(s) in the application: If your schedule is flexible, you may note such in lieu of or in addition to exact dates in the application form.

·       February 2-April 25, 2026

·       May 4 -July 24, 2026

·       August 3-October 24, 2026

Artists are provided with housing, a private studio and/or project with 24-hour secure access, paid teaching/workshop opportunities, space to exhibit their artwork, artist page on the CAE website, and a $250 stipend per month upon completion of the residency ($750). In addition, Artists are provided with additional opportunities to sell their work at various CAE events throughout their residency. Artists are responsible for transportation to and from CAE.

Artists will also have use of shared utility sinks; free WiFi; a breakroom w/ a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker; and a conference room when available. Depending on the artist’s discipline, other artmaking tools and equipment may be available for your use.

REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION (Please note, the Residency Plan, Public Component Plan, and an explanation of your Medium Practice are all separate questions).

-        Residency Plan: All AIR must have a plan of action for what work they will complete during their time at CAE. Please tell us what you hope to accomplish with your artwork during your residency. Tell us how you intend to utilize your time and why a residency at CAE is important to you at this point in your career. What impact will the residency have on your artwork?

·       Public Engagement Plan: All residencies must include a public component accessible to the outside community that connects to their Residency Plan. The public component of your application must relate to your artist residency and engage the local and broader community. This may include open studio visits, presentations, teaching a class/workshop, works-in-progress showing, or other outreach or community engagement project. CAE will help you schedule your public component, but it is up to you to plan how you will execute this event and identify any outside community partners that you are interested in working with in your application. Please make sure that the public component you identify can be completed while you are in residence.

·       Medium Practice: Please explain the specific materials and techniques you regularly use to create your work. The medium is the physical substance—like paint, clay, digital tools, written word, music or photography—while the practice is how you explore and develop your skills with that medium over time.

·       Letters of Recommendation: All applicants must include 2 letters of recommendation to be considered. These letters must speak to the artist’s professional proficiency and character.

ARTIST HOUSING AND WORKSPACE: The artist living space is a private cottage conveniently located just a 5 minute (4/10 mile) walk from Downtown Evergreen and Evergreen Lake. It is a 1 bedroom/1 bath studio with a full kitchen. Artists will have use of a large flat, shared yard and Cub Creek which runs adjacent to the length of the property. The artist cottage has a strict NO smoking policy inside and pets are not allowed. The cottage is a 10-minute drive to the artist studio at CAE, and 25 minutes from Red Rocks Amphitheater.

TRAVEL EXPENSES: All travel expenses, including commuting to and from CAE during your residency, are the responsibility of the awardee. Denver International Airport is located approximately 45 minutes from the Center.  

SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA:

-        Initial review of submissions by CAE staff to ensure completion and eligibility. 

-        Submissions will be evaluated electronically by a jury which is comprised of knowledgeable and esteemed artists and art professionals.

-        The jury evaluates each artist’s past work and their proposed residency project and then selects finalists to be interviewed.  The jury will evaluate submissions according to the following criteria.

o   Artwork reflects an understanding of, and personal place within, the current art scene, aesthetically and conceptually, as well as a desire to contribute to it.

o   Artwork clearly reflects and expresses the artist’s conceptual ideas and reveals something about the world, communicating unique perspectives, inviting the viewer to question, discover and explore.

o   Artwork reflects a strong understanding of presentation, technical skill, and mastery of chosen mediums.

o   Artist shows commitment to and displays clear ability to produce a comprehensive body of work showing an authentic relationship to the work.  

o   Artist produces original concepts and artwork expanding the use of media and technique.

Finalists will be required to participate in an individual interview with CAE staff conducted via Zoom.  At this stage, an applicant should demonstrate:

• A strong interest in being at CAE while expressing a positive work attitude, professionalism, an interest in working with a community of artists, and a desire to engage with the public.
• An ability to market themselves and to be marketed.

Application Requirements

Submissions will be uploaded to CAFÉ by September 16, 2025. All artists are required to apply through CAFÉ (callforentry.org). A complete application consists of the following:

• Upload your resume/CV and 3-10 images of your work
• Answer the three required questions (Residency Plan, Community Engagement Plan and Medium Practice)
• Provide your social media platforms
• Provide 2 letters of recommendation
• Payment of the $35 application fee

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to any artists over the age of 18 living and working in the United States. CAE welcomes artists working across disciplines and media, including visual artists, sculptors, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and more. Eligible artistic disciplines and media include drawing, painting, sculpture, dance, photography, film, video, new media, installation, fiction & nonfiction writing, spoken word/poetry and interdisciplinary.  While digital media is welcomed, artists will need to bring their own equipment as the facility doesn’t offer these resources. All artist mediums are encouraged to apply.  Please contact us for further clarification on your medium.