ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (May 12, 2023) — In its seventh year, the Quad Cities Chalk Art Fest will take place June 24–25, 2023, at Schwiebert Riverfront Park in downtown Rock Island, Illinois. The festival starts at 10AM on both days and goes till 7PM on Saturday and 5PM on Sunday. Inspiring and engaging for people of all ages, this FREE, two-day street painting festival brings together hundreds of local and regional artists that spend hours transforming the blank cement pavement into a museum of chalk art, while competing for cash prizes. Visitors strolling by can see the wonderful works of art as they come to life, vote for their favorite, and even do some chalk art of their own, by taking part in the collaborative community piece.
A full line-up of live music, food trucks, concessions, craft brews, face-painting, a bounce house, and a kid’s chalk-zone area, are all part of the festivities. Over $1,800 in cash prizes will be awarded, including a people’s choice and youth category award. The “paintings” are temporary, lasting only until the next rainfall, so you’ll want to catch a glimpse before they are gone.
DATES & TIMES:
June 24, 10AM-7PM
June 25, 10AM-5PM
Awards announced at 4PM, Sunday, June 25
PRIZES:
1st Place — $500
2nd Place — $300
3rd Place — $250
People’s Choice Award - $250
2 Honorable Mentions — $100 each
Best 3-D $50
Best Reproduction $50
Best Use of Color $50
YOUTH AWARD (Age 12-17)
1st Place — $150 + $200 in art supplies awarded to artists’ school.
2nd Place — $100
3rd Place — $50
COMMUNITY PIECE
For just a $5 donation, interested participants are given a set of chalk pastels to fill in a 2’ x 2’ portion of a larger image. When finished, the larger piece will come to life as a complete work of art. Plus, participants get to keep their chalk, take it home, and create a masterpiece on their own sidewalk. Stay tuned as we announce this year’s design.
ARTIST REGISTRATION
Artist registration is FREE for all artists and includes a 48-ct box of chalk pastels and a festival T-shirt. Over $1,800 in cash prizes will be awarded in various categories including people’s-choice and youth category award. The youth award gives students, age twelve to seventeen, the opportunity to compete for cash prizes and art supplies for their respective schools. You can either register as an individual or a team of up to four people. Deadline to register is May 27 to receive a free t-shirt. (We cannot guarantee that you will receive a shirt after the registration deadline.)
For more information, or to register as an artist: quadcityarts.com/chalk-art-fest
