Call for entry
Together We Create
Overview:
Exhibition Theme: Together We Create
  – Joint Tri Arts Project (TAP) & Castle Rock Artist Alliance (CRAA) Exhibition
Venue: Cantril School Building: 312 Cantril St., Castle Rock, CO
Exhibition Dates: January 14 – April 6, 2026
Timeline:
– Call for Entries Opens: December 1, 2025
– Call for Entries Closes: December 12, 2025 at 11:59 pm MST
– Invited/Not Invited emails sent by January 2, 2026
– Art Drop Off Day: January 5-7, 2026
– Art Pick Up Day: April 12 – 15, 2026
– Awards: First Place $350.00, Second Place $200.00, Third Place $150.00
Submission Guidelines – PLEASE REVIEW GUIDELINES CAREFULLY
Eligibility:
– FREE submissions for members of Tri Arts Project Artist Directory or Castle Rock Artist Alliance only. Click HERE to join TAP’s Artist Directory
– Open to all artists working in 2D mediums. This includes, but is not limited to, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and mixed media.
– Unfortunately, we cannot accept 3D work at this time.
Theme:
– The subject matter for artwork is open. This exhibition focuses on local artist that participate and support the advancement of a creative community through their membership in local groups. Artists are encouraged to submit a variety of media and themes.
Size & Weight Limitations:
– Maximum size for a piece is 60 inches on any side
– Minimum size for a piece is 11 x 14 inches
– Artwork must not exceed 20 lbs
Framing & Presentation:
– All artwork must be ready to hang. We require secure, wired pieces with secure D-rings.
– Do not submit anything with sawtooth hangers, as they are not compatible with our hanging system
– Canvases do not need to be framed if they have finished, gallery-wrapped edges
Sales:
– Work does not have to be for sale
– If your work is for sale, you must handle the transaction through your own website or contact method and you must provide that info with your submission
– Tri Arts Project will not take a commission on sales; artists retain 100% of the proceeds. However, we recommend a 10% donation to Tri Arts Project for any sold work to support future exhibitions. This is entirely optional and is tax deductible.
Duration:
– The exhibition runs from January 14 – April 6, 2026. All selected works must remain on display for the entire duration of the exhibition.
About the Jurors: Ken Elliott
Ken’s landscapes are not about recreating nature—they’re about distilling it, amplifying it, and responding to it in a deeply personal way. Nature is the starting point, but once in the studio, he allows spontaneity, bold choices, and even so-called ‘mistakes’ to guide the work. He’s not interested in telling stories or documenting a place. Instead, he chases the emotional essence of the scene—the pulse of color, the stillness beneath movement, the tension between serenity and strength. Ken wants his paintings to have muscle and poetry, a quiet intensity that grabs you gently but doesn’t let go. The influence of artists like Wolf Kahn taught Ken that fearless color can evoke an entirely new emotional landscape, and that’s what he strives for—something familiar yet heightened, like nature reimagined. When the ideas run dry, Ken returns to nature, where endless variations and inspirations are always waiting. Each piece becomes less about the place itself and more about what the place makes him feel.
About the Jurors: Rick Young
Rick Young headed west after earning an art degree from Miami University in his home state of Ohio. Initially focused on the high country, Rick’s attention shifted to the mesas and canyons of the Southwest after he and his wife built a log cabin in southern Colorado. He has long found his artistic inspiration in the land and peoples of the Southwest. Rick celebrates this region through his distinctive landscape paintings which invite viewers to look at the world differently—to see more color, more rhythm, and more whimsy.
After a brief stint as a graphic designer and a longer career as a teacher, Rick retired in 2016 to pursue painting full time from his home in Castle Rock, CO. A longtime advocate for our national parks, Rick completed artist residencies at Mesa Verde National Park (2019) and at Capitol Reef National Park (2021). Rick’s landscapes highlight the beauty and inspiration to be found on our public lands.
An historian as well as an artist, Rick’s historical research earned him a Masters Degree in U.S. History from CU Denver and led to the publication of his award-winning book The Ute Indians of Colorado in the Twentieth Century (U. of Oklahoma Press, 1997). Rick’s historical knowledge of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico informs his art. The artist’s love of New Mexico’s diverse landforms and peoples culminated in his selection as Featured Artist for the 2025 Santa Fe Wine & Chile Fiesta.
Rick is represented by Acosta Strong Fine Art on Canyon Road in Santa Fe.Â
Submission Process:
1. Once the Call for Entry has opened, use the form below, submit at least 1 and up to 3 pieces for consideration. Include high-quality images of each work (JPEG or PNG format, 300 DPI resolution, no more than 2MB per image).
2. Include all requested information, including your name, the title(s) of your work, dimensions, price, and how one may purchase your work.
3. Submission Deadline:
All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM MST on December 12, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
4. Notification of Acceptance:
Artists will be notified of acceptance by January 2, 2026.
5. Delivery of Artwork:
Accepted work must be hand delivered to Cantril School at 312 Cantril St. Castle Rock, Colorado 80104 between January 5 – 7, 2026. Instructions for drop-off will be provided upon acceptance. We do not currently have the ability to accept shipped artwork, so all pieces must be hand delivered.
6. Pickup of Artwork:
All work must be picked up between April 12 – April 15. No early pickups will be allowed.
Additional Information:
– All submitted works must be original and created by the artist.
– Tri Arts Project and the Town of Castle Rock are not responsible for insuring artwork during the exhibition. Artists are encouraged to insure their own work if necessary.
– By submitting your work, you agree to allow Tri Arts Project to use images of your work for promotional purposes related to the exhibition.
For any questions, feel free to contact us at Exhibitions@triartsproject.org. We appreciate your membership supporting the arts in our community and look forward to exhibiting incredible local talent!
Call for Entry has closed.