Hello Muralists!
Thank you for joining us for Colfax Canvas year six! Before you dive into the application process here are a few important points and a list of everything that we’ll ask you in the application process. This page won’t save until you press submit, so we suggest writing down the answers elsewhere if you want to take your time.
If you have any questions, please email Aaron@ColfaxCanvas.com to clear anything up.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO APPLY.
FAQs:
1: This is the first step in our application process. We want to learn more about you, your experience, and your previous work. We won’t ask for designs until you’re invited to the second phase.
2: We want our festival to be diverse. One of our core values is to honor all the forms of diversity - that’s every type of muralist, every age, gender identity, experience level, and every possible community or culture that we can represent. We ask these questions to encourage you to show us what makes you unique and who you’re representing/speaking for when you put your art on the wall. Keeping in mind that all art will need to be youth appropriate.
3: Your answers don’t have to be long - just answer them honestly. We don’t need multiple paragraphs, just give us a taste of where you’re coming from.
4: Muralists will be paid no less than $1,250, total. Know that paying folks as much as we can is at the heart of our work. Muralist pay will always be a significant majority of our total budget, and we wish to grow that number every year with the help of our generous sponsors.
5: We will be giving additional weight to the applications of artists who live, work, or grew up in Aurora.
6: We will only consider 1 application per artist.
7: Housing and travel are not provided.
8: In an attempt to expand opportunities, if you have painted at Colfax Canvas within the past year, your application will not be considered.
9: Colfax Canvas is a collaborative festival. You will be assigned at least one collaboration partner.
10: Our application was created with the help of our IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access) Committee in 2021: Alicia Cardenas, Detour, Joon, Moe Gram, Annie Phillips, and co-founder Ryan Foo. Finalists will be chosen by our Selection Committee of neighborhood residents, business owners, and sponsors based on a rubric also created by our IDEA Committee.
Submissions Close: May 31, 2026
Finalists Chosen by: June 15, 2026
Painting Begins: August 31, 2026
Festival/First Friday: Friday, September 4, 2026
Painting Ends: Sunday, September 6, 2026
We’re looking forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions at all, don’t be afraid to reach out.
All the best,
The Team at Colfax Canvas