Cherry Creek Arts Festival: Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge

Introduction
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is partnering with 2014 Festival Presenting Sponsor Arrow Electronics in the Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge, an international challenge to inspire artists to take the concept of innovation and express what five years out looks like in the art world, translating ideas into their artistic medium. There is a group of people, very special people, people that are thinking about the future, how it will work. They’re thinking about what’s next, after what’s next, after what’s next. It’s a lot to think about. They’re thinking Five Years Out.

The Challenge to Visual Artists
This is your opportunity to express the ideas of innovation through the discipline of your choice. We are calling painters, glass blowers, wood turners, new media creators, digital artists, and more to use your discipline to explore and express the ideas of innovation. We are looking for artists who can think beyond tomorrow and see what’s coming, Five Years Out. Artists may submit ideas through the process below, 5 finalists will be awarded a $5,000 commission to create their piece and display it at the 2014 Cherry Creek Arts Festival. One winner will be selected and receive the Innovation Award of $10,000 and a jury-exempt invitation to exhibit at the 2015 Cherry Creek Arts Festival. The five pieces of art will then become part of the innovative collection of artwork at Arrow and may be featured in a global ad series and in offices around the world.

Inspiration Resources
View last year’s Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjGTfoRdqAQ
Learn more about Arrow and their guiding principal of always looking five years out into the future at the links below:
- Five Years Out Music Challenge with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra
- Colorado Symphony Recording of Arrow Five Years Out
- Innovator's Club

Timeline
- January 2014                         Apply Now at www.callforentry.org
- Friday, February 21, 2014         DEADLINE for Application midnight (MST)
- Early March 2014                    Jury Selection of finalists
- Friday, March 21, 2014             Finalists notified
- Wednesday June 18th              Deadline: Artwork to arrive at CCAF Offices       
- Week of June 23rd                  Grand Prize Winner selected       
- July 4, 5, 6, 2014                   Exhibition at 2014 CCAF

Purpose/Goals
The Cherry Creek Arts Festival and Arrow are trying to inspire artists to take the concept of innovation and express what five years out looks like in the art world and translate these ideas into their artistic medium. - Value artists and artistic processes. - Be a lead innovator in the evolution of visual arts.

Commissions & Prizes
There are five individual artist commissions available at $5,000 each to create a work of art for the Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge. In addition, each of these five artists are then eligible to win the grand prize of $10,000 and a jury-exempt invitation to exhibit at the 2015 Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

Guidelines
A. Your artwork created should be inspired by and incorporate the theme of innovation and what the theme Five Years Out looks like expressed in the visual arts. Check out the inspiration resources listed for more information.
B. Artwork will need to be shipped to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival for judging and arrive no later than June 18th. Shipping cost needs to be included in the $5,000 commission.
C. Artwork must be structurally sound.
D. Artwork and its likeness will become the property of CCAF and Arrow. Also, artwork has the potential to be featured in marketing efforts worldwide.
E. Artists are encouraged to “push the envelope” in whatever medium they choose to work in.
F.  All artists are encouraged to apply, artists working in painting, sculpture, mixed media, glass, ceramics, wood, drawing, printmaking, new media, metalwork, fiber, etc.

Eligibility
Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge is open to all artists regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion, or affiliation or mental or physical handicap. Artists working in any media are eligible to apply.

Application/Selection Process  
This is an open competition of professional artists. Artists may apply individually or as a team and the submitted images must reflect the collaborative work of the team players. From these applications, the selection panel will select five artists. These artists will then receive $5,000 to create their proposed artwork for display at the 2014 Cherry Creek Arts Festival. One of the five artists will be selected to win a $10,000 grand prize and a jury-exempt invitation to exhibit at the 2015 Cherry Creek Arts Festival.
Deadline: The application, images and any other materials must be submitted electronically by midnight MDT on Friday, February 21, 2014. All materials must be submitted online via the CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). (Please read this section carefully, incomplete applications will not be considered.) 1. A total of five (5) artwork images are required. In order to be considered for Arrow Five Years Out Art Challenge applicants must electronically submit five images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or electronic media works must submit a complete CaFÉ™ application and upload a video or sound file. 2. A detailed description of the artwork you intend to create is required. Please provide enough information to paint a picture of your concept for the jurors. 3. A current resume, please cut and paste this into the resume text box.

Selection Criteria Include:
Innovative ideas, thinking outside the box;  Creative depiction of Five Years Out theme; The applicant’s professional qualifications; Artistic merit as evidenced by the submitted materials, including quality of art and design; Please contact us with any questions: visualarts@cherryarts.org (303) 355-2787.