Application

Eligibility

Open to all artists 18 years and older. The application process for the 24th annual Telluride Plein Air will open in October of 2026. Please stay tuned for details. 

Entry Form and Fee

Submission fee is $55 per person & includes 3-5 images and one bio/resume. Requested data will include the submission of three-five painting images (plein air work please) and a bio/resume of past art shows and awards.

Please submit a completed online entry form via juriedartservices.com.

Image Format

Each artist must submit 3-5 images of their Plein Air artwork. Please refer to the Juried Art Services Help File for new image requirements.

Entry Process

The Telluride Plein Air Celebration is a juried exhibition consisting of a panel of 3-5 jurors. The panel will review all submitted applications and select between 15-20 artists for a total of 20-25 artists to participate in the 2026 event (the top five revenue-generating artists and Artist Choice First Place winner of 2026 are invited back for the 2027 event). Notification of selected artists will be sent to each applicant via email no later than February 5, 2027. Artist agreement forms will be emailed to those who have been accepted following the announcement.

Telluride Exhibition Details

ARTISTS MUST BE ON-SITE FOR ALL THREE DAYS OF THE SALE. All artwork must be completed in the Telluride area between June 21 (a week before housing starts, so artists must secure their own housing if they arrive early to paint) and July 4, 2027. Canvases will be stamped with an approved insignia as they arrive; wet paintings produced on June 2 or later can be stamped. Only artwork with this stamp will be permitted in the Exhibition & Sale. In addition, all works must be suitably framed with proper backing. Wire hangers or a suitable hanging device must be attached and ready to hang. Artists are asked to paint a minimum of ten paintings of varying size. Paintings must fit on pro-panel displays which are 6” tall and 38.5” wide. Please do not bring canvasses that are wider than 38.5” wide.

Sales

This event is a fundraiser for the Sheridan Arts Foundation and the Historic Sheridan Opera House, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The sale takes place outside the Sheridan Opera House and in Elks Park for three days over the Fourth of July holiday. The Sheridan Arts Foundation will retain 40 percent of all sales revenue generated throughout the sale. Commissioned pieces will also be permitted at the above-mentioned rate. Artists should expect to be on-site all three sale days at their booth. Payments for all work sold will be mailed shortly after the exhibition closes.

Lodging/Transportation

Host lodging is available to each participating artist and spouse/partner at no charge for seven nights beginning June 28, 2027 (artists may NOT request additional lodging nights with their host). If an artist plans on bringing additional family members (i.e. children, siblings) or pets, they will be responsible for providing their own accommodations. Artists are also responsible for providing their own transportation to, from and around Telluride, Colo. Artists are asked to leave their host with a small or otherwise painting as a thank you for accommodations.

Telluride Calendar

TENTATIVE Schedule of Events for Plein Air 2027. Please note, some event dates during the festival may change (i.e. Quick Draw or Artist Choice Preview) but the actual festival dates (June 30-July 6) are final.

Jan. 8, 2027                  Online Application Cut Off

Feb. 5, 2027                  Artists notified of acceptance via email

Feb. 7, 2027                   Artist agreement sent out via email

March 5, 2027                Artist agreement signed and returned to the SAF

June 21-27, 2027            Early arrival dates (does not include housing)

June 28, 2027                 Host housing begins (for following 7 nights)

July 1, 2027                    Quick Draw Competition & Sale

July 1, 2027                    Artist Choice Preview

July 2, 2027                    Art Exhibition & Sale

July 3, 2027                    Art Exhibition & Sale

July 4, 2027                    Art Exhibition & Sale

July 5, 2027                    Host housing ends

For questions, please call Leah at 970.728.6363 ext. 2.

Eligibility

Open to all artists 18 years and older. The application process for the 22nd annual Telluride Plein Air will open October 1, 2024 and run until January 10, 2025.

Entry Form and Fee

Submission fee is $55 per person & includes 3-5 images and one bio/resume. Requested data will include the submission of three-five painting images (plein air work please) and a bio/resume of past art shows and awards.

Please submit a completed online entry form via juriedartservices.com.

Image Format

Each artist must submit 3-5 images of their Plein Air artwork in JPEG format, color space preferred format with a resolution of 300 DPI (max 1400 pixels on the longest side) as part of the online application process. If you have a Macintosh, please use only letters and numbers in your filename and only 1 (.) period. Help and tips on photographing your work and getting to the proper size can be found here. Help entering images, questions or concerns can be directed to support@jurying.net or by calling 561.832.0480.

Entry Process

The Telluride Plein Air Celebration is a juried exhibition consisting of a panel of 3-5 jurors. The panel will review all submitted applications and select between 15 and 20 artists for a total of 20-25 artists to participate in the event; the top five revenue-generating artists each year are invited back to join the following years’ event. Notification of selected artists will be sent to each applicant via email no later than January 31, 2024. Artist agreement forms will be emailed to those who have been accepted following the announcement.

Telluride Exhibition Details

All artwork must be completed in the Telluride area during the Plein Air event each year. Canvases will be stamped with an approved insignia as they arrive. Only artwork with this stamp will be permitted in the Exhibition & Sale. In addition, all works must be suitably framed with proper backing. Wire hangers or a suitable hanging device must be attached and ready to hang. Artists are asked to paint a minimum of ten paintings of varying size.

Sales

This event is a fundraiser for the Sheridan Arts Foundation and the historic Sheridan Opera House, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The sale takes place outside the Sheridan Opera House and in Elks Park for three days over the Fourth of July weekend. The Sheridan Arts Foundation will retain 40 percent of all sales revenue generated throughout the sale. Commissioned pieces will also be permitted at the above mentioned rate. Artists should expect to be on-site all three sale days at their booth. Payments for all work sold will be mailed shortly after the exhibition closes.

Lodging/Transportation

Host lodging is available to each participating artist and spouse at no charge for seven nights (we ask artists to NOT request additional lodging nights with their host). If an artist plans on bringing additional family members, they will be responsible for providing their own accommodations. Artists are also responsible for providing their own transportation to and from Telluride, Colorado. You are encouraged to arrive early and paint before the official June 30 kick-off date, but are responsible for your own lodging. You can bring wet paintings from as early as June 25, 2024 to be stamped as part of the festival.

Telluride Calendar

TENTATIVE Schedule of Events for Plein Air 2024. Please note, some event dates during the festival may change (i.e. Quick Draw or Artist Choice Preview) but the actual festival dates (June 30-July 6) are final.

• Jan. 10, 2026 – Telluride Artist Entry Online Application Cut Off
• Jan. 31, 2026 – Artist Notification emailed
• Feb. 7, 2026- Artist Agreement emailed
• March 5, 2026 – Artist Agreements signed and returned to the SAF
• June 25-30, 2026 – Artists may arrive early in Telluride to paint (host housing not provided)
• June 30, 2026 – Host housing begins (for following 7 nights)
• July 2, 2026 – Quick Draw Competition & Sale
• July 2, 2026 – Artist Choice Preview Sale
• July 3-5, 2026 – Telluride Art Exhibition & Sale ARTISTS REQUIRED TO BE ON-SITE
• July 6, 2026 – Host housing ends

For questions, please call Leah at 970.728.6363 ext. 1.