Professional Chalk Artist Application

Professional street chalk artists are invited to apply for Chalktoberfest 2026. Applications are free. The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 10–11, 2026. Founded by MCMA with the mission of “building community through art.” Over 80 artists from across the Americas and Europe come together to participate in this internationally renowned event.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, May 1
• CONTRACT DEADLINE: Friday, July 3
• CONCEPT DEADLINE: Friday, August 7
• ARRIVAL: International: Thursday, October 8 // US: Friday, October 9
• DEPARTURE: Monday, October 12

HOW TO SUBMIT
Applications are open to professional chalk artists worldwide and must be submitted by May 1, 2026. Please submit one application per artist. Artists who wish to collaborate or work with an assistant must submit a separate application. Please note that only one artist will receive funding per 10’ x 10’ chalk block.

HOW WILL YOU BE NOTIFIED 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 8, 2026. If you have not been contacted by that date, please contact Laurie Gooseff, laurie@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.

Accepted artists must return their signed contracts by July 3, 2026. Artists will also be required to submit two concept images of their proposed work for this year’s festival by August 7, 2026; reminder emails will be sent. Artists are encouraged to ask any questions before submitting a sketch or design. All artwork must be family-friendly, as the festival does not permit nudity, profanity, explicit imagery, political statements, or violence. To ensure participation, artists are strongly encouraged to submit their images promptly upon acceptance.

QUESTIONS

Laurie Gooseff, laurie@mariettacobbartmuseum.org.

MCMA Chalktoberfest benefits the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, an American art museum whose mission is to “build community through art.” 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TERMS

There is no fee to submit an application.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATIONS

Eligibility
Both U.S. and international professional chalk artists are eligible to apply for the 2026 festival.

Assistants and Collaborators
Assistants and collaborating artists must submit a separate application.

Visa Requirements
International artists requiring a U.S. visa must secure their visa by July 1, 2026. MCMA is unable to obtain visas on behalf of artists.
 
TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION, AND STIPENDS

Travel Stipend
Accepted artists will receive a travel stipend based on travel distance and available funding. The stipend is intended to assist with airfare expenses. MCMA provides transportation to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. If the stipend does not fully cover reasonable travel expenses, artists should contact Laurie Gooseff and provide receipts. MCMA aims to ensure artists are not responsible for reasonable, approved travel costs.

Airport Transportation
Airport transfers between Atlanta Airport and the designated hotel will be provided via rideshare services (Lyft/Uber) and charged to the MCMA account using the discount code.

Shared Blocks and Stipends
One travel stipend is available per smaller-sized block. Up to two artists, or one artist and one assistant, may collaborate on smaller blocks and will share the stipend. Blocks measuring 10’ x 20’ or larger may accommodate two artists, each eligible for their own travel stipend.
 
LODGING AND HOSPITALITY

Hotel Accommodations
MCMA will provide hotel accommodations as follows:

• U.S. Artists: Three nights (Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 12, 2026)*
• International Artists: Four nights (Thursday, October 8 – Monday, October 12, 2026)
  *We provide a four-night hotel stay for artists from the far West Coast (three hour time difference).
  Additional nights may be requested and will be deducted from the travel stipend at a discounted rate of $100 per night. Artists must include travel dates in their application.
  If you fail to arrive to the hotel without providing advance notice, the cost of the missed nigh(s) will be deducted from your travel stipend. 

Room Sharing Policy
Artists are required to share hotel rooms to reduce costs. Artists who request a private room or chose to bring a guest will have $100 per night deducted from their travel stipend. Rooms include either two queen beds or one king bed, based on availability. MCMA will make reasonable efforts to accommodate room-type requests.

Artist Hospitality
Accepted artists will receive meals, festival T-shirts, and hotel accommodations for the event weekend. MCMA cannot provide meals, T-shirts, or accommodations for assistants, friends, or family members. Artist hospitality areas are limited to artists only.

Dietary Needs
MCMA provides meals for participating artists and makes every effort to accommodate dietary restrictions. However, as some food is donated, specific dietary accommodations cannot be guaranteed.
 
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE AND ATTENDANCE

Artist/Sponsor Reception
Artists are required to attend the Artist/Sponsor Reception on Friday, October 9, 2026, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at MCMA. The reception includes dinner, music, and opportunities to meet sponsors and fellow artists!

Attendance Requirements
Artists must arrive in Marietta on time and remain for the full duration of the festival or until their artwork is completed. Failure to complete artwork or remain on-site may result in partial or full forfeiture of the travel stipend at the Director’s discretion.
 
CHALK BLOCKS, ARTWORK, AND SETUP

Chalk Block Sizes
The standard chalk block size is 10’ x 10’. Artwork must fill the entire assigned block. A limited number of larger blocks and standing vertical boards are available. Artists may indicate their preferred size; however, final block assignments are determined by the Jury Committee. Artists requesting larger blocks or vertical boards may be reassigned to a 10’ x 10’ block due to availability.

Vertical Board Requirements
Artists applying for one of the four standing vertical boards must submit a concept image with their application. These boards are displayed year-round in Marietta Square and must receive approval from the City of Marietta. Once approved, designs may not be changed.

Block Setup
Artist block locations and sizes will be assigned by MCMA. Artists are responsible for taping their block outlines on Friday prior to the reception.
 
MATERIALS AND SURFACE PREPARATION

Artist Materials
Artists are responsible for providing their own materials, including chalk, gloves, blending tools, wipes, and other supplies.
MCMA will provide one 48-count box of chalk, Gorilla tape, 3M tape, paint pans, and rollers.

Chalk Surface Preparation
Street surfaces consist of black asphalt. MCMA will provide white and black tempera paint for block preparation (other colors may be used if desired). A tempera base must be applied before beginning artwork. Exceptions may be allowed for certain 3D designs.
 
WEATHER, APPAREL, AND POLICIES

Weather Policy
The festival takes place rain or shine. In the event of rain, MCMA will provide instructions for covering artwork. Artists are required to assist with placing tarps between blocks on Friday.

Festival Apparel
Artists are required to wear the current year’s Chalktoberfest T-shirt, provided by MCMA, throughout the festival. Each artist will receive two shirts.

Promotional Use
Artists grant MCMA permission to use their name, website, social media information, and images of their artwork for promotional purposes related to this and future events.