Call Description

The Dairy Arts Center invites artists, curators, and collectives to apply for our 2027 Call for Art Exhibitions.

We are seeking bold, thoughtful exhibition proposals across all visual art mediums. Selected artists will work closely with Curator of Visual Arts, Stella Witcher to develop exhibitions presented in 2027.

Our Visual Arts Program centers innovative, socially engaged, and conceptually driven work that sparks dialogue and reflects the complexity of our contemporary moment. We are especially interested in projects rooted in storytelling, cultural inquiry, community connection, playful experimentation, and multi/interdisciplinary approaches to material and form.

We welcome proposals for solo or group exhibitions that challenge assumptions, expand perspectives, and invite audiences into meaningful exchange—whether through personal narrative, collective history, cultural and ecological inquiry, or boundary-pushing visual practice.

If your work asks strong questions and creates space for inspiring and thought-provoking conversation, we want to see it.

Exhibition Process

The Dairy’s Visual Arts Curator, Stella Witcher, and the guest jurors will select proposals and artworks based on their relationship to the exhibitions and 2027 Dairy Programming. Applications will be reviewed by a jury composed of members from The Dairy’s Visual Art Committee, a group of artists, curators, university faculty, art collectors, and local creatives. They will also determine the layout and installation of the works within the gallery space. Selected applicants will collaborate with Curator of Visual Arts, Stella Witcher, the jurors, and The Dairy Arts Center’s team to refine their proposal or create original works for the exhibition.

Upon selection, artists will be notified and put in direct contact with Stella Witcher, Curator of Visual Arts. Working in collaboration, The Dairy will assist in producing the proposed exhibition, including:

Exhibition Support: Exhibition title vinyl, Exhibition guide, Developed online exhibition, Online sales platform for salable works, Exhibition installation and deinstallation, Exhibition documentation

Marketing and Programming: The Dairy will provide comprehensive exhibition documentation, an opening reception, studio visits, marketing, and curatorial advising. Further details upon selection.

Sales: Works for display should be for sale but is not a requirement. The Dairy Arts Center retains a commission of 40% on artwork sold. Please consider this in your pricing. 

Delivery and Shipping: Artists are responsible for shipping costs, unless otherwise arranged in specific cases. Further details will be provided if your work is accepted.

Additional Support: Multiple studio visits, Curatorial advising, Opening reception with photographer present, Additional programming opportunities

Important Dates 

• Deadline for Application: April 30th, 2026
• Juror selection of art: May 1 - 22nd, 2026
• Artist notification: May 26, 2026
• Exhibition dates: between January 2027 and January 2028

About the Dairy Arts Center

Dairy Arts Center was founded in 1992 to provide cooperative workspaces for local artists and venues for live performance in Boulder County. Originally owned by the Watts-Hardy Dairy, the building’s transformation from a former milk-processing facility to a thriving multi-disciplinary arts hub for Boulder and beyond is a nationally recognized example of constructive urban development and renewal. The Dairy’s founders envisioned a community arts center where artists of all genres would create and inspire each other and the greater community. 

Today, this dream of shared art making is a thriving reality. The Dairy’s 42,000 square foot facility houses disciplines ranging from visual arts, theater, and film to dance and music. A professional environment complete with art galleries, performance venues, teaching studios, offices, rehearsal spaces, dance studios, and a 60-seat art-house cinema, it is Boulder’s largest multi-disciplinary arts center. The Dairy’s audience spans all ages, backgrounds and ability levels, from young student to seasoned performer and from first-time to seasoned theatergoers. Our audience is inclusive of all ages and backgrounds as well as adults and children of various cultures and levels of ability; our facility is accessible to persons with physical mobility challenges. 

Mission: The Dairy Arts Center provides diverse opportunities to create, learn, and engage in high quality performing, cinematic, and visual arts experiences. 

Vision: To develop a national reputation in the arts that reflects Boulder’s evolving artistic and entrepreneurial spirit. 

Values: As a nonprofit multidisciplinary arts venue, the Dairy Arts Center values community, curation, cultivation, and courage. These shared beliefs guide our day to day operations, programming selections (our own and those of our presenting organizations), and our interactions with Dairy Arts Center staff and board, patrons, donors, partners, residents, volunteers, artists and all stakeholders.

The Dairy Arts Center welcomes everyone, including people of any race, ethnicity, nationality, gender identity or presentation, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and citizen status.

Application Requirements

All applications must be made through the CaFE platform.

Artist Biography: A brief bio about yourself.

Artist Statement: A short statement describing your application concept and the relation of your works to the exhibition you are applying for

Work Samples: Submit at least 2 and up to 10 work samples (any media accepted, including a combination of video, audio, and images).

Eligibility Criteria

All mediums are welcome, and artists at all career stages are encouraged to apply.

Artists over 18 years of age are eligible to apply (younger artists may apply with parental permission, please reach out to stella@thedairy.org for more details)

Works must be original, no recreations will be considered (unless conceptually grounded within exhibition)

Artists must live and be able to mail/transport artwork from within in the United States 

• Application Type:
  • Applications may be submitted for an individual artist or a group of artists/collective.
  • If applying as a collective, submit one consolidated application
  • Each artist or group may submit one application.
  • Applications may include up to 10 images for consideration (any media accepted) and must submit a minimum of 2 work samples.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a cohesive body of work that best represents their artistic vision.