Open Call for Artists

Explore Denison Arts Council open calls for artists below. This page is updated with new calls as they are created.

517 Gallery has a total of 5 shows planned for 2025. We also have two festivals lined up! Click any of the events below to view more details & apply.

2025 North Texas Arts Festival

[May 17-18] North Texas Arts Festival (NTAF) returns for its third year this May! Thanks to our new venue, the Katy Depot, the festival will...

Altered Realities

[June 26-September 23] Altered Realities is all about technology-- the old, the new, the great, and the terrible. The theme is open to the artist's...

Salon des Artistes

[October 3-November 14] Fall 2025 marks the inaugural Le Salon des Artistes hosted by the Denison Arts Council. The juried exhibition and competition are intended...

2025 Holiday Art Market

[November 20-January 3] 517 Gallery's annual Holiday Art Market celebrates the winter season by providing a selection of affordable artworks that visitors can purchase and...

2025 Dia de los Muertos Festival

[November 1] Come celebrate the vibrant Mexican tradition of honoring our dearly departed at Denison Texas - Forest Park. Join us for a day filled...

517 Gallery showcases original art from Local, Regional, and Emerging Artists. Art is displayed on a rotating basis for approximately 4 months ensuring opportunity for more artists and an evolving show for our patrons.

If we are not currently accepting applications for a specific show, any application you submit will be filed and you will receive an email next time we have a show opening up applications.

General applications are accepted year round.

The Denison Arts Council and City of Denison invites proposals to paint dumpsters in the alleys of the Denison Cultural Art District. The dumpster project is part of the Activate the Alleys with a goal to beautify the Alleys in the District as well as encourage the public to use alternate entrances to the businesses on Main Street.

The dumpsters are public art and must be “family friendly”. Applicants can be Individual artists or teams. The City of Denison will prepare the Dumpster for painting, these are recycled dumpsters that will continue to be used for their original purpose of trash collection. The dumpster is the property of the City of Denison.