Professional Chalk Artist Application

Professional street chalk artists are invited to apply to attend Chalktoberfest 2025. It is free to apply. Chalktoberfest will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 – 12, 2025. The festival was founded with MCMA’s mission of “building community through art”, attracting 80,000 visitors. Over 80 artists will travel from all over the Americas and Europe to participate in our internationally renowned festival.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

Submission deadline: May 1, 2025

Accepted/denied notification and contract: June 9, 2025

Return signed contracts: July 1, 2025

Submit concept images: August 1, 2025

International artists arrive for the festival: October 9, 2025

USA artists arrive for the festival: October 10, 2025

Festival duration: October 11-12, 2025

Artists depart: October 13, 2025

HOW TO SUBMIT

The deadline for submission is May 1, 2025. Chalk artists from all over the world may apply. Please submit one submission per chalk artist. If you wish to collaborate with another artist or have an assistant on your chalk block, they must apply separately. (Please note that only one artist will be funded per 10’x10’ chalk block).

THEME

There isn’t a theme this year. 

HOW WILL YOU FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED?

Chalktoberfest will be juried by a committee and accepted/denied artists will receive notification via email. Contracts will be sent via email to accepted artists by June 9. If you have not been contacted by that date, please contact Rachel Tunnicliffe, rachel@mariettacobbartmuseum.org.

If you are chosen as one of our professional artists for this event and sign a contract, you are expected to attend the festival. However, if an emergency should arise, please contact us ASAP to discuss your inability to participate.

IF ACCEPTED

Accepted artists will need to return their signed contracts by July 1. Accepted artists will be asked to submit 2 concept images of what they propose to do at this year’s festival, by August 1. Reminders will be sent via email. Please ask any questions before submitting a sketch/design. Work must be family-friendly – the festival does not permit nudity, profanity, explicit images, political statements, or violence. We recommend that artists submit images quickly once accepted to participate in the festival.

QUESTIONS

Rachel Tunnicliffe, rachel@mariettacobbartmuseum.org.

PREGUNTAS (ESPAÑOL)

Stephanie Diaz, stephanie@mariettacobbartmuseum.org.

BENEFIT

The MCMA Chalktoberfest benefits the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art. MCMA is an American Art Museum whose mission is to “build community through art.” For more information on MCMA, please visit our website at mariettacobbartmuseum.org.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TERMS

You will not be charged a fee to submit your application.

By submitting my application via Eventeny.com, I hereby make my application to participate in the 2025 MCMA Chalktoberfest event at the Marietta Square. I have read, understood and agree to abide by the rules and regulations set forth and other rules as may be established and presented at my acceptance. I release and forever discharge the 2025 MCMA Chalktoberfest, the City of Marietta, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, its staff, and volunteers, from any responsibility, personal liability, loss, claims or damages arising out of, or in conjunction with the 2025 MCMA Chalktoberfest event.

INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS AND RULES

1. In 2025, all US and international artists are eligible to apply.

2. Artists are provided with a TRAVEL stipend. Stipends will be awarded based on distance traveled and availability of funds. This stipend should cover your airfare. (MCMA provides Atlanta Airport transfers). If your stipend does not cover your expenses, please contact Rachel Tunnicliffe with your receipts. We do not intend for artists to be out of pocket for reasonable and acceptable travel expenses. 

3. Accepted chalk artists will be provided with meals, T-shirts, and accommodation for the weekend. Unfortunately, the MCMA is not able to provide meals, T-shirts, and accommodation for assistants, friends and family members. Only accepted chalk artists will be permitted into Artist Hospitality. 

4. Airport transfers to/from Atlanta Airport and the hotel will be provided by Lyft/Uber rideshare and will be credited to the MCMA account.

5. The standard block size is 10’ x 10’. There are a limited number of additional block sizes and standing vertical boards. Please select the block size you would prefer. Be advised, the final decision on block allocation is decided by the Chalktoberfest Jury Committee. If you are selected to participate in the festival and requested a larger block or vertical board, you may be asked by the committee to default to a 10’ x 10’ block due to limited availability.

6. Artists applying to paint one of the 5 standing vertical boards must submit a concept image in their application. The boards are exhibited year-round in Marietta Square. We will submit the artwork to the City of Marietta as soon as possible for their approval. Once concept images have been approved by the City of Marietta, they cannot be changed.

7. There is one travel stipend available for smaller-sized blocks. Up to two artists, or one artist and one assistant, may work together on a smaller-sized block but will share the available travel stipend. Blocks sized 10’x20’ or greater, may have two artists each with their own travel stipend.

8. If you would like to have an assistant or collaborate with another chalk artist, they will need to submit a separate application.

9. Blocks must be no less than 10’ x 10’. Artwork needs to fill the entire block. The sponsors become very upset when their block is smaller!

10. Artists who need a visa to travel to the USA must obtain their visa by July 1, 2025. Regrettably, MCMA is not able to obtain visas for artists.

11. Hotel - MCMA provides and pays for hotel accommodation: 

a. Artists traveling from USA: three (3) nights, Friday, October 10 - Monday, October 13, 2025. 

b. Artists traveling internationally: four (4) nights, Thursday, October 9 - Monday, October 15, 2025. 

c. If you require any additional nights, the additional cost is your responsibility and the discounted hotel rate of $75 per artist will be deducted from your stipend. Please let us know your arrival and departure dates on your application.

12. ARTISTS ARE REQUIRED TO ROOM TOGETHER to save costs. If you choose to have your own room or have a non-artist stay with you, then a discounted rate of $75 per night will be deducted from your stipend. Rooms have two queens or one king bed, as per your request. MCMA will do all in its power to accommodate hotel accommodation requests. 

13. Artists are required to attend the Artist/Sponsor Reception on Friday, October 10, 2025, 6 - 8 pm at the MCMA. Dinner, drinks, music, and fellowship will be abundant. The reception is a great time to catch up with your fellow artists and meet your sponsor.

14. Artists must arrive in Marietta on time and stay for the duration of the festival and/or until their piece is completed. If you do not complete your piece or if you do not remain on site until the festival is over, you will forfeit part, if not all, of your travel stipend, at the Director’s discretion.

15. Dietary needs - MCMA will provide meals to our professional artists. We do our very best to accommodate the dietary needs of our artists; however, as our food is often donated, we cannot guarantee that your specific needs will be met.

16. Artists are responsible for materials including but not limited to chalk, gloves, paper towels, blending tools, baby wipes, etc. The MCMA will provide one box of 48 Chalk, Gorilla tape, 3M tape, tempera base, paint pans, and rollers.

17. The surface of the streets is black asphalt. White and black tempera will be provided by MCMA for your chalk block base (you may use other colors). A tempera base MUST be used before you start on your piece. We understand that 3D artwork might have areas that do not use tempera.

18. Artist blocks on the ground will be mapped out and assigned by the MCMA according to sizes previously determined. MCMA requires the artists to tape the blocks on Friday prior to the reception. 

19. The festival takes place rain or shine. Artists will be notified of the plan to cover the artwork in the event of rain. Artists must help to lay out the tarpaulin between the blocks on Friday.

20. Due to the results of the 2019 Chalk Artist Survey, the People’s Choice Award competition will not be held this year. The prize money funds have been allocated to help MCMA with the rising cost of artist hospitality and hotel accommodation.

21. Artists are required to wear the current year’s Chalktoberfest t-shirt, provided by MCMA, for the duration of the festival. Two T-shirts will be provided to the artist; one for each day of the festival.

22. Artist agrees to permit MCMA to use their name, website, social media, and artwork images for any promotional purposes for this and/or future festivals.