The Red Brick Center for the Arts invites artists living and working in Colorado to apply for exhibition opportunities during our 2027 season. We are committed to recognizing exceptional art being created throughout the state and presenting innovative exhibitions that showcase a diverse range of artistic voices, mediums, and perspectives. 

Through exhibitions, artist talks, and public programs, Red Brick fosters artistic exchange, dialogue, and discovery while strengthening connections between artists and audiences. Our exhibition program includes solo exhibitions in the West Gallery as well as curated group exhibitions in the Main Gallery. 

Artists selected through this call will be considered for inclusion in the 2027 exhibition season. The Gallery Committee will review submissions and make recommendations of artists whose work demonstrates artistic excellence, originality, and meaningful engagement with contemporary ideas and practices. 

Eligibility 

• Open to artists residing in Colorado. 
• Artists working in all mediums are encouraged to apply. 
• Submissions may be considered for either the Main Gallery or the West Gallery. 
• Selected artists will be required to sign and agree to the terms outlined in the Red Brick Exhibition Agreement. 

Media Accepted 

The Red Brick Center for the Arts welcomes original 2D and 3D artwork across all genres and mediums, including but not limited to: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, Textiles and Fiber Arts, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Experimental and Nontraditional Media 

Submission Requirements 

Please include: 

• Artist Statement 
• Artist Biography 
• Resume or CV (optional) 
• Artist website and/or social media links (optional) 
• 8–12 images of recent artwork representative of your current artistic practice 
• A brief exhibition proposal (250–500 words) describing:  

                      - The themes, concepts, or ideas you intend to explore in the proposed exhibition 

                      - New work currently in development or planned for 2027 

                      - How the proposed work relates to your broader artistic practice 

Submitted artwork samples are intended to demonstrate the artist's style, approach, and body of work. Artists are not required to submit completed exhibition work; however, the proposed exhibition should be consistent with the style, subject matter, and medium represented in the application materials. 

Accepted file formats include PDF, JPEG, TIFF, and MOV. 

Important Dates 

• Submission Deadline: September 30th, 2026

2027 Exhibition Schedule 

•  February 11, 2027 - March 26, 2027 
• June 10, 2027 - July 31, 2027
• August 12, 2027 - October 15, 2027
• December 2, 2027 - January 10, 2028 

Exhibition Details 

Artists are responsible for all costs associated with the delivery of artwork to the Red Brick Center for the Arts, as well as all costs associated with the packing and return shipment of unsold artwork following the exhibition. 

Artwork will be available for sale during the exhibition. Sales are split 60% to the artist and 40% to the Red Brick Center for the Arts. Red Brick processes all sales and issues commission payments following the close of the exhibition. 

Selected artists will be required to sign and agree to the full terms outlined in the Red Brick Exhibition Agreement.

Aspen City Council established the Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship in 2023 to enrich Aspen's cultural environment by providing direct funding opportunities and fostering community connections between local artists. The fellowship provides direct funding for emerging and established artists to advance careers, sustain practices, and encourage innovation. The fellowship also aims to strengthen Aspen's artistic network, fostering collaboration, connection, and building a cultural foundation that enhances the greater community. 

Local artists are important, and their work positively contributes to the community and culture of Aspen. This grant encourages these contributions through monetary support to adult artists who need it to further their career, creative practice, or pursue innovative ideas. There is a parallel youth fellowship to provide monetary support to further their skill and exploration of art. Along with funding, recipients will participate in convenings intended to foster sharing, learning, and relationship building. 

This fellowship is an important part of fostering a network of support, growth, and celebration of Aspen's local artists. The required fellow convenings will be facilitated by Renee Prince (an experienced local artist and co-founder of local nonprofit, VOICES) will guide conversations around identity and intention, sustaining creating work in the Roaring Fork Valley, creative risk and experimentation, visibility, and much more.  

Eligibility Requirements

• Artist must be at least 18 years old (Note: If you are 18 or older but are still in high school, please complete the Youth Application)
• Artists working in all artistic disciplines are encouraged to apply. 
• Artist's primary residence must be within the Aspen Urban Growth Boundary, OR
• Artist's primary work must be within the Aspen Urban Growth Boundary (Note: your primary job does not have to be in an arts-related field as long as it's located within the required geographical zone) 
• Applicants must demonstrate that grant funding is needed and will meaningfully further the applicant's career, creative practice, and/or help them pursue innovative ideas.
• Artists who received a fellowship in last year's program are not eligible to apply again this year. 

Sample Work Requirements

Sample work requirements vary by submission type. Please review the requirements for your selected submission type carefully to ensure you submit files in the correct format and length. 

• Video Submissions: 1–3 pieces not to exceed 10 minutes in total length.
• Audio Submissions: 1–3 pieces not to exceed 10 minutes in total length.
• Literary Submissions: 1–2 pieces not to exceed 3,000 words in total length. 
• Image Submissions: 8–10 pieces of recent work that reflect your current artistic practice.

Submitted artwork samples are intended to demonstrate the artist's style, process, and current body of work.

Accepted file formats include: PDF, JPEG, TIFF, MP3, and MOV. 

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: September 24th, 2026 at 4:00 PM
• Applicant Notification of Decision: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
• Contract & Tax Documents Due: Tuesday, December 15, 2026
• Cultural Vibrancy Celebration: Thursday, May 13, 2027, from 5:30–7:30 PM

Aspen City Council established the Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship in 2023 to enrich Aspen's cultural environment by providing direct funding opportunities and fostering community connections between local artists. The fellowship provides direct funding for emerging and established artists to advance careers, sustain practices, and encourage innovation. The fellowship also aims to strengthen Aspen's artistic network, fostering collaboration, connection, and building a cultural foundation that enhances the greater community. 

The youth fellowship aims to provide monetary support to aspiring artists to further their skill and exploration of art. Along with funding, recipients will participate in convenings intended to foster sharing, learning, and relationship building. 

This fellowship is an important part of fostering a network of support, growth, and celebration of Aspen's local artists. The required fellow convenings will be facilitated by Cassidy Wiley (an experienced multi-lingual and multidisciplinary artist and professional theater maker) will guide conversations around identity and intention, sustaining creating work in the Roaring Fork Valley, creative risk and experimentation, visibility, and more. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Artists must be between the ages of 14 and 18 (Note: If you are 18 or older but attending high school, please complete this application)
• Artists working in all artistic disciplines are encourages to apply including but not limited to visual art, performing art, literary art, film/video, and interdisciplinary arts.
• Artist’s primary residence must be within the Aspen Urban Growth Boundary, OR
• Artist must attend Aspen High School.
• Applicants must demonstrate that grant funding is needed and will meaningfully further the applicant’s creative practice and/or help them pursue innovative ideas. 
• Artists who have received the fellowship already must demonstrate that requirements of the previous fellowship were met and demonstrate why they should receive the fellowship again. 

Sample Work Requirements

Sample work requirements vary by submission type. Please review the requirements for your selected submission type carefully to ensure you submit files in the correct format and length. 

• Video Submissions: 1–2 pieces not to exceed 5 minutes in total length.
• Audio Submissions: 1–2 pieces not to exceed 5 minutes in total length.
• Literary Submissions: 1–2 pieces not to exceed 1,500 words in total length. 
• Image Submissions: 4–10 pieces 

Submitted artwork samples are intended to demonstrate the artist's style, process, and current body of work.

Accepted file formats include: PDF, JPEG, TIFF, MP3, and MOV. 

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: September 24th, 2026 at 4:00 PM
• Applicant Notification of Decision: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
• Contract & Tax Documents Due: Tuesday, December 15, 2026
• Cultural Vibrancy Celebration: Thursday, May 13, 2027, from 5:30–7:30 PM

Issue Date: July 31, 2026

Information Session: September 1, 2026, 11am MST (NEW! Meeting Link)

Due Date: September 30, 2026, 5pm MST

Budget: $50,000

Project Overview

Aspen Public Art, in partnership with Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), is seeking qualified, professional creative teams, including artists, architects, designers, and builders, to design and construct a temporary, human-scale birdhouse at ACES Hallam Lake property, sited outside the entry gates. This 120-sf elevated structure, with interior and exterior space for listening to birdsong-inspired music, will engage the community, serve as a public art and education space, and reflect the natural history and cultural vibrancy of Aspen. This RFQ invites design/build teams to submit their qualifications and a simple, back-of-the-napkin conceptual sketch only. No design proposals are requested at this stage. Three finalists will be selected to develop a site-specific proposal with maquette and receive a stipend of $1,000. The winning team will have a $50,000 project budget.

Project Goals + Vision 

We aim to commission a project that:

• Creates an iconic, memorable, and delightful destination and experience
• Enhances the sense of place and community pride
• Reflects Aspen’s cultural vibrancy, natural history, and avian community
• Has an accessible route to the structure
• Is structurally sound and attached to the ground
• Is designed for outdoor exposure with minimal maintenance for six months

2027 Public Art Theme

This initiative is part of Aspen Public Art’s 2027 theme, to provide calming and restorative public art spaces outside of the core during next year’s especially busy construction season. The artwork is intended to be part of a proposed self-guided art walk on the NW side of town.

Project Partners

Aspen Public Art is the City of Aspen’s public art program, housed in the Red Brick Center for the Arts. Through temporary commissions, permanent installations, and community partnerships, Aspen Public Art brings art into everyday life by transforming public spaces into meaningful art experiences that are free and accessible to all.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a nonprofit environmental science education organization. ACES has worked since 1968 to inspire a life-long commitment to the earth by providing immersive programming for all ages. Our programs focus on ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration, and environmental leadership.

Eligibility

Professional creative teams (e.g. artists, architects, designers, builders), at least 18 years of age and residents of Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley (Glenwood Springs to Aspen) are eligible to apply. City of Aspen staff and Artist Selection Panelists are not eligible to apply. Artists must demonstrate:

· Experience with outdoor, durable, and large-scale public artworks and/or construction

· Ability to manage a project of this scope from concept through installation

· Capacity to meet deadlines, collaborate with project staff, and coordinate with engineers and contractors

Project Details

Location: ACES Hallam Lake, 100 Puppy Smith Road, Aspen

Dimensions: not to exceed 120 sf

Space: unconditioned

Power: off-grid solar

Comprehensive specs, site plans, aerials, and surveys will be provided to selected finalists.

Budget

The total budget for this project is $50,000, inclusive of all costs associated with the project, including but not limited to: team expenses, design, administration, professional fees and services, site preparation, materials, labor, equipment/tools, project management, insurance, bonds, permit administration, taxes, security, hauling, storage, transportation, and participation in opening celebration. Project partners’ budget will cover: solar power system, audio equipment, marketing, public programming, maintenance, deconstruction and removal. Any expenses that exceed the contracted amount will be the creative team’s responsibility. No additional funds are available.

Selection Process

Phase 1: Qualifications Review

A Selection Panel comprised of Red Brick and ACES staff, arts professionals, and community representatives will review submitted qualifications and select finalists based on the following, equally weighted criteria:

· Artistic merit of past projects 

· Technical capacity + project management experience

· Creative quality of submitted project idea 

Phase 2: Finalist Proposal Development

Three finalists will receive a stipend of $1,000 each to develop and present a site-specific

concept proposal including:

• Concept narrative

• Preliminary sketch/renderings

• Maquette

• Materials & fabrication methods

• Maintenance needs

• Budget breakdown

• Construction management plan

Phase 3: Community Voting

Finalists will display concept proposals in a gallery exhibition at Red Brick Center for the Arts and be selected by community voting during the exhibition.

RFQ Submission Deadline and Submission Requirements

The following RFQ application materials are due and must be submitted by 5:00pm MST on

Friday, September 30, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

Submission requirements:

1. Letter of Interest/Project Narrative (one 8.5” x 11” page, single sided)

2. Quick Conceptual Sketch (one 5” x 5” napkin, single sided)

3. Professional Resume or CV (include all team members; lead applicant must reside in Roaring Fork Valley)

4. Portfolio (5–10 images of related and completed public artworks or builds)

5. Image Inventory Sheet (one 8.5” x 11” page, single sided)

How to Submit Qualifications

Responses shall be submitted exclusively via the Submittable app. Applicants will receive an email confirming their submission.

Tentative Project Timeline

July 31, 2026:  RFQ/Call for Artists Release

September 1, 2026: Info Session

September 30, 2026:  RFQ Submission Deadline (5:00pm MST)

October 16, 2026:  Selection and notification of finalists

November 16, 2026: Finalists’ Proposals Deadline

November 18-19, 2026:  Exhibition installation 

November 30-early January: Exhibition

November 30-December 4 Community Voting

December 3, 2026:  Opening Reception 

December TBD, 2026:  Announcement of winner

January 4-15, 2027:  Develop conceptual site plan for City Council review

March 1-April 2, 2027:  Develop construction drawings

April 5-May 3, 2027:  Building permit process

May 10-21, 2027:   Construction

May-October, 2027:  Exhibition with various public programs

TBD:  Dedication and opening celebration

October, 2027:  Deconstruction + removal

The proposed schedule may be subject to change.

Information Meeting

Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 11am MST

Contacts for Questions

For questions or clarifications, contact:

Lara Whitley, Program Lead, Aspen Public Art, City of Aspen

Email: lara.whitley@aspen.gov

Sarah Roy, Executive Director, Red Brick Center for the Arts

Email: sarah.roy@aspen.gov

Phone: 970-429-2777

More Information

Please refer to Aspen Public Art Community Engagement Report and Program Framework available on the Aspen Public Art webpage for more information about community preferences, input, and public art strategies.