Call Description

Tilting West: Defining A New Legacy

In partnership with Tilt West

Exhibition Dates: June 4 - August 23, 2026

Call for Entry Dates: January 1 - March 16, 2026

In this large-scale group exhibition, the Arvada Center Galleries invites contemporary regional artists—whether or not they identify as Western artists—to explore and reinterpret the American Western genre through a contemporary lens. Tilting West challenges traditional notions of Western art, encouraging work that reflects diverse perspectives, materials, and themes, from environmental concerns to social commentary.

All media is welcome, and artists working in unconventional forms or conceptual approaches are especially encouraged to apply. This exhibition will occupy the Arvada Center’s expansive Main Gallery and extend into the Upper Gallery.

Tilting West is part of the Arvada Center’s year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary, coinciding with Colorado’s 150th and the United States’ 250th anniversaries, a moment to reflect on history, identity, and the evolving spirit of the West
 

Artwork will be a blended invitational and juried exhibition by the Arvada Center Galleries curatorial staff as well as a member of Tilt West, a Denver-based nonprofit dedicated to stimulating inclusive community exchange about art, ideas, and culture.
 

About the Arvada Center Galleries:

With a focus on featuring living Colorado artists and artists of the Western region, The Arvada Center Galleries host more than 12 art exhibitions each year across its three distinctive galleries spanning over 10,000 square feet of space. The galleries are free and open to the public seven days a week, keeping access to local and regional art available to all. Learn more at arvadacenter.org/galleries.

About Tilt West:

Tilt West’s mission is to promote critical discourse focused on arts and culture through live events and publishing efforts. We aim to provide a platform for inclusive community discussion and debate on a range of issues relevant to cultural production in Colorado and beyond. Learn more at tiltwest.org.

Eligibility Criteria and Terms of Submission

Please read thoroughly before beginning your application.

Eligibility:
1. Open to all artists over age 18 who currently have a residence in the Mountain States (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).
2. All media is eligible. Please refer to size restrictions below.
3. All applications must be completed online through CaFE; no paper applications will be considered.
 

Artwork Requirements:
1. Artwork must be original (no reproductions of original artworks, i.e. giclee prints or wrapped canvas prints).
2. Artwork must not be previously shown at the Arvada Center.
3. Any artwork not conforming to the selected conditions set forth will be disqualified.

4. Installations, performances, and new-media pieces are encouraged to apply. 

5. Artwork does not need to be inherently “Western” but includes, and is not limited to, representations of the West, the landscape, cultures, ideas, and material.

6. For specific questions regarding eligibility, please email  galleries@arvadacenter.org

Submission Guidelines:
1. Non-refundable entry fee of $35 for up to 6 pieces. Limited entrance fee scholarships are available for artists who are experiencing economic hardship, for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and for artists who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Please email galleries@arvadacenter.org to request a scholarship.

2. Images may be JPG files only. New media files must fit requirements set by Call For Entry.
3. Crop images to exclude framing and background.
4. Images must represent the work exactly.
5. Label JPG files as follows: Lastname_PieceTitle.jpg (For Example: Doe_DrawingName.jpg).
 

Delivery and Return of Accepted Work:
1. Shipped work should arrive no later than May 6, 2026. Ship work in sturdy, reusable crates or cartons. Work will be returned in the container and materials in which it arrived. Artists must provide a pre-paid return shipping label.
2. Artwork may be hand-delivered May 14-15, 2026 9:30am - 4:30pm.
3. Arvada Center provides insurance for artworks while on premises.
4. Arvada Center is not responsible for damage or loss during transport.
 

Sales of Artwork:
1. If artwork is sold, artists will receive payment after the close of the exhibition.
2. Arvada Center retains a 40% commission on art sales. Prices may not be changed after submission.

3. Artwork does not need to be for sale to be selected for the exhibition.
 

Agreement:
Submission to this competition constitutes an agreement on the part of the entrant to the conditions set forth in this prospectus. Submitting an application and application fee in no way guarantees acceptance into the exhibition. Arvada Center reserves the right to final curatorial, educational, and installation decisions. The Arvada Center may use your image(s) for marketing and catalog purposes, and will credit the artist in that case.
 

Important Dates
• Deadline for entries: Monday, March 16, 2026, 11:59 pm. Late entries will not be considered.
• Email notification by March 27, 2026
• Hand-delivered artwork: May 14-15, 2026 9:30am - 4:30pm
• Opening Reception: June 4, 2025, 6pm - 9pm
• Final Day of Exhibition: August 23, 2026

• Pick up unsold works: August 25-26, 2026

Limited entrance fee scholarships are available for artists who are experiencing economic hardship and for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), or as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Please email galleries@arvadacenter.org to request a scholarship.

Application Requirements

Submission Guidelines:
1. Non-refundable entry fee of $35 for up to 6 pieces. Limited entrance fee scholarships are available for artists who are experiencing economic hardship, for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and for artists who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Please email galleries@arvadacenter.org to request a scholarship.

2. Images may be JPG files only. New media files must fit requirements set by Call For Entry.
3. Crop images to exclude framing and background.
4. Images must represent the work exactly.
5. Label JPG files as follows: Lastname_PieceTitle.jpg (For Example: Doe_DrawingName.jpg).

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:
1. Open to all artists over age 18 who currently have a residence in the Mountain States (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).
2. All media is eligible. Please refer to size restrictions below.
3. All applications must be completed online through CaFE; no paper applications will be considered.