Welcome to Cottonwood!

We are so glad you’re here! In case we haven’t met you face to face yet, here are some names to know if you need any advice or assistance:

Jon Khoury, Executive Director | 719.229.3306

Front Desk Staff | 719.520.1899
Jessica Jones, Director of Events | events@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
Chris Lawson, Finance/Leasing Manager | admin@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
Annie Pieper, Director of Education | classes@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
Jess Preble, Director of Curation | curation@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com
Samantha Abbott, Administration | info@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com

If you haven’t already, please share your contact information with the Front Desk Staff so we can let you know about events, opportunities, and information. If you have a website, social media page, or online store, the staff can add it to the Cottonwood website directory.

MONTHLY/ANNUAL EVENTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT:

First Friday
5 PM to 8 PM: Main Gallery Opening, Open Studios, several gallery openings upstairs.

Artist Café (join the Facebook Group page!)
Every third Saturday, 1 PM to 2 PM: a monthly round table discussion about the business of art--new topic each month. FREE for Cottonwood artists!

Artist Test Kitchen
Every third Saturday, 3 PM to 4 PM: Bring one to three pieces for free, friendly, constructive feedback from a curator and peers.

Spring Art & Gift Market
April or May, a Saturday TBD: a daytime public gift shopping event hosted by Cottonwood Artists.

Holiday Art & Gift Market
Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving): a daytime public gift shopping event hosted by Cottonwood Artists.

Ornament Auction
December, a Saturday TBD, 5 PM to 7 PM: a silent auction for handmade holiday ornaments, proceeds benefit Cottonwood.

COMMON SENSE GUIDELINES FOR ARTIST HAPPINESS

1. Aerosol sprays and other toxic substances: If you use spray paint, spray adhesives, or spray sealants, you should use them in the Spray Café, which is located on the 2nd floor to the right of the restrooms. If you use turpentine or mineral spirits, please use the “odorless” variety. We have several artists and visitors with respiratory sensitivities.

2. Art supply disposal: Please rinse pre-cleaned brushes and tools in the utility sinks (in the kitchen on the first floor, and by the Theater on the second floor). Our pipes are not able to handle paint, solvents, or sealants. There are buckets of sand beneath the utility sinks where you can dispose of small amounts of media. For larger amounts, El Paso County has a hazardous material disposal facility at 3255 Akers Dr, Colo. Spgs., CO 80922.

3. Trash/recycling disposal: Although we have several communal trashcans, it would be polite to our custodian and staff for you to take your studio trash to the large dumpster in the west end of the alley courtyard space. Especially food trash and heavy items! Access is through the alley door in the stairwell by the main entrance—prop the door on your way out and close it on your way in. Please take care to separate trash from recycling and deposit them in the appropriate dumpster if it is not full already. It is not permitted to leave furniture or other heavy items in the hallways in the hope that someone else will ‘be able to use it’ for longer than one week (or ever on First Friday).

4. Hallway Care: When you take down your artwork from a communal display space (see “Displaying Your Work” below), please patch the nail hole and paint the spackle. The standard white paint for the whole building is China White--you can borrow a touch-up container of it from the front desk. If you had vinyl lettering installed to title your show, please remove it before the next artist needs the space. DO NOT paint any wall outside your studio any color other than China White.

5. Lights in your studio: It’s a great idea to have lights on in your studio when you’re not there during business hours, but we must all work together to lessen our huge utility bill and turn the lights out when our public isn’t here. LED’s are required. And there is technology to help: timers or smart phones!

6. Pets: Non-dog creatures are generally not a good idea. Cottonwood is dog friendly if your dog is friendly to other animals and people of all ages. If the staff receives a report of aggressive behavior, you will be required to keep your dog out of the building. You are also responsible for any injuries, property damage, or messes your dog makes. Common sense suggestions: install a gate for your studio, keep your dog quiet as much as possible, don’t leave them alone, and keep your dog on a leash at all times when moving through common areas. Not everyone here is a ‘dog person’ so please make sure your fur friend isn’t able to jump on/at passers by. All dogs must be current on vaccinations and spayed/neutered.

7. Say hello! You are the best ambassador for Cottonwood. If you see a patron wandering our hallways, introduce yourself, help with directions, share information about First Friday and other events. The people who make connections here come back regularly and support our mission!

ARTIST RESOURCES

On our website, cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com, under the INFO tab there is an ARTIST RESOURCES menu option. The password is cca. There, you will find a form for letting staff know about issues that need attention within the building (i.e. burned out lightbulb, leaky sink, etc.). You will also find a form for having tags made to label your artwork, which our staff will create and have waiting for you at the front desk. If computers aren’t your thing, please feel free to visit the front desk in person.

Need a window, a door, or track lighting? Ask a staff member for a recommendation for someone who knows our building and can give you a great price.

If you would like to pitch an idea, find out about community opportunities, or learn about other ways to engage at Cottonwood, stop by the front desk and let someone know—we’ll make sure you connect with the right person and make an appointment.

Cottonwood Artists get a 20% discount on all Cottonwood classes. Get your discount by enrolling at the front desk, or register on the website and enter ARTISTDISCOUNT at checkout.

DISPLAYING YOUR WORK OUTSIDE YOUR STUDIO

A signed exhibition contract is required in order to display work in any public space in the building. Please turn your signed contract in to the front desk. Hard copies can also be obtained at the front desk. Please read the contract carefully, but here's a quick synopsis:

• Everyone is required to identify their work with Staff-made tags. Homemade tags are not allowed. You can find information about the culture of our building as well as the tag request form right here.

• Artists who sign up for free or rented gallery spaces will adhere to an installation/de-installation schedule and steward the space in preparation for the next artist. The sign up sheet for free exhibition spaces can be found at the front desk.

• Any sales that happen outside the interior of your studio will incur a 30% commission to Cottonwood.

• For those of you who aren't set up to run personal sales via credit card, the front desk can handle it for you. There will be a 10% commission to cover fees and staff time.

• Cottonwood will not be responsible for loss or damage to artworks displayed in public spaces within the building.

• You may (and are encouraged to!) hang your artwork up to 4 feet on either side of your studio door unless there’s a neighboring door closer than 4 feet. The unofficial friendly policy is that you may hang work on any hallway wall that corresponds to the inner walls of your studio, however some exceptions do occur. These exceptions are outlined in the exhibition contract.

Jess Preble, Director of Curation, can answer any question you have about where and how to hang your art in the building. Reach her at curation@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com.

GALLERY RENTAL:
There are three galleries on the first floor that you may rent for a month-long solo or group show: THE TUBE, the Hanson Gallery, and the Johnson Gallery. Those shows open corresponding with Cottonwood’s First Friday event. Reserve your gallery at the front desk. Cottonwood Artists get a 50% discount!

ARTIST REPRESENTATION

We do not represent individual artists, however we do offer opportunities for exhibition outside of our building through our curation + staging program. Click HERE for more information. Participation is free.

***PLEASE NOTE***

All sales of your art outside your studio are subject to the Cottonwood 70/30 split, and Cottonwood will handle the sales tax. Anything you display and sell within your studio is 100% yours and you are responsible for handling sales tax.