About ZAPP
The ZAPP® System
ZAPP enables artists to apply online to multiple art shows through one central website, ZAPPlication.org. The online application process also allows artists to directly upload digital images of their artwork for jury review. The result is that all artwork in the system is in a consistent, high-quality, digital format. The digital images are presented to the jurors of each show and the system allows them to score online.
Benefits to Artists
- Using ZAPP® is free to artists
- Artists can upload 1000 MB of digital images to their online, individual image bank
- Jurors see high-quality digital images of artists' work
- Artists can manage applications to multiple shows through ZAPP®
- Artists save money on postage and no longer have to mail slides or CDs of images
- Artists can access their ZAPP® accounts and image bank online from any computer with an Internet connection
- Artists only have to enter contact information into ZAPP® once
- Artists no longer have to complete multiple-page paper applications
- Artists receive email notifications with application status and other relevant information
- Artists' images and personal information are kept secure and confidential
The ZAPP® Team
Christina Villa, WESTAF Director of Business
Christina Villa (she/her) is the director of business at WESTAF. She guides all operational and strategic business initiatives to support the execution of WESTAF’s strategic plan and the short, medium, and long-term objectives of CaFÉ, CVSuite, GO Smart, Public Art Archive, and ZAPP. Serving as part of WESTAF’s leadership resource team, Villa ensures the business department initiatives and projects complement the overall work of the organization and its guiding principles. Prior to joining WESTAF, she worked with the city of Aurora, Colorado’s Art in Public Places program, and Colorado’s state arts agency, Colorado Creative Industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a leadership development certificate from the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation.
Ashley Arias, ZAPP® and CaFÉ™ Customer Experience Coordinator
Ashley Arias (she/her) assists in providing support for users of both the ZAPP® and CaFÉ™ programs to ensure customer satisfaction. Prior to joining WESTAF, Arias worked as a medical assistant and COVID tester. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and baking.
Michelle Baca, Business Financial Specialist
Michelle Baca oversees pricing models, payment processing, and overall departmental goals for CaFÉ and ZAPP. Baca is a licensed realtor in the state of Colorado and is currently working on building her real estate investment portfolio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Metropolitan State University Denver and has three adult children, one of whom also works at WESTAF. During her downtime, Baca enjoys time with family, practicing meditation, traveling, eating delicious food, watching movies, and reading the occasional book when time permits.
Mareike Bergen, ZAPP® Manager
Mareike Bergen (she/her) serves as the ZAPP manager. She oversees the ZAPP product operations team to ensure customer satisfaction and retention along with technological growth for the ZAPP site. Bergen has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a computer science minor from Bethel College and a background in customer service and event planning. Originally from Kansas, she relocated to Denver after graduating from college. Outside of work, she enjoys snowboarding, hiking, and cooking.
Justine Chapel, ZAPP® and CaFÉ™ Communications and Marketing Manager
Justine Chapel (she/her) is the communications and marketing manager for the ZAPP and CaFÉ programs. She leads the creation of communications for both programs’ audiences, including newsletters, product announcements, system alerts, customer support material, and website text. She also develops the annual marketing plans for CaFÉ and ZAPP, including marketing campaigns, sponsorship opportunities, and advertising relationships. Chapel received her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Colorado Boulder and currently resides in Denver, CO. In her free time, she enjoys seeing live music, hiking, cooking, and picking up new craft projects.
Aliah Chavez, Business Project Coordinator
Aliah Chavez (she/her) assists in providing customer support for the ZAPP and CaFÉ programs. She is currently attending Red Rocks Community College and will soon transfer to the University of Colorado to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids and reading.
Drew Chavez, ZAPP® Customer Experience Coordinator
Drew Chavez (he/him) assists in providing customer support for the ZAPP program. Prior to joining WESTAF, he worked as a sales representative and dog walker in the Denver metropolitan area. In his spare time, Chavez enjoys playing basketball and passing the time by going to the gym, reading, and spending time in nature.
Ken Cho, Sales Coordinator
Ken Cho (he/him) is the sales coordinator at WESTAF and primarily handles the sales efforts for CaFÉ and ZAPP. He is responsible for all inbound and outside sales initiatives that promote WESTAF's SaaS (Software As A Service) platforms while also coordinating with all related internal departments to create an exemplary customer service experience for all of WESTAF's clientele. Prior to joining WESTAF, Cho lived on the East Coast in Washington, DC, and served as the senior local foods advocate for 4P Foods, a benefit corporation dedicated to helping small-scale organic farmers thrive in today's food economy. Cho holds a bachelor's degree in English from Elmhurst College. Outside of the office, he enjoys bicycle touring and fancy bike rides such as the Tweed Ride (where he met his wife Laine), and is fascinated by 3D printing.
Amelia Leinbach, ZAPP® Operations Coordinator
Amelia Leinbach (she/her) supports various ZAPP operations and processes, including contract renewals, client communication, and technical growth. Leinbach grew up in Colorado and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colorado State University. One of her favorite art pieces is “O Pescador de Violão” by Marcel Caram. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, watching tv, and eating pasta.
Erika McCloud, Business Operations Coordinator
Erika McCloud serves as the business operations coordinator at WESTAF, where she contributes to the organization’s business initiatives. In her role, she is responsible for overseeing contracts for CaFÉ and ZAPP, managing payment processing, and handling mail. McCloud is currently pursuing a business degree. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, painting, and cherishing moments with loved ones.
Natalie Villa, Project Management Specialist
Natalie Villa facilitates communication and technical processes among the internal technology team, program teams, and external development companies for CaFÉ, CVSuite, GO Smart, Public Art Archive, and ZAPP. She creates and manages project plans, coordinates technical releases, and aids in the development of new site features. Villa also supports the director of business by coordinating and managing the objective and key results, streamlining and improving operations, and developing training materials for staff across all five earned income products. In addition, Villa creates and produces many of WESTAF’s online help and promotional videos, including WESTAF’s National Endowment for the Arts 50th Anniversary promotional video. She has received awards for her personal film work as well, including Best Amateur Film and Audience Choice awards at the Ridgway Moonwalk Film Festival and Best Documentary Short Film at the Oklahoma Cine Latino Film Festival for her short film, With the Power of a Thousand Suns. Villa earned a bachelor’s degree in film and television from the University of Colorado Denver.
The History of the Project
In 2001, WESTAF convened several meetings with representatives of the National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA) and several major art shows to discuss the feasibility of developing a web-based system that would enable artists to apply to art fairs, festivals and shows online. Discussions regarding this technology continued over the next few years. In March 2004, WESTAF began the development of an online application system in consultation with the NAIA and eight major art shows across the U.S. The system was branded as ZAPP®, the universal online arts application, and was launched in September 2004.
ZAPP® is brought to you by the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) in partnership with:
- ArtiGras Fine Art Festival
- Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
- Bayou City Art Festivals
- Cherry Creek Arts Festival
- MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival
- Uptown Art Fair
- St. James Court Art Show
About WESTAF
WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) is a regional nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to strengthening the financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure of the arts in the West. WESTAF assists state arts agencies, arts organizations, and artists in their quest to serve diverse audiences, enrich the lives of local communities, and provide access to the arts and arts education for all. Through innovative programming, advocacy, research, technology, and grantmaking, WESTAF encourages the creative advancement and preservation of the arts regionally and through a national network of customers and alliances.
Founded in 1974, WESTAF is located in Denver and governed by a 22-member board of trustees comprised of arts leaders in the West. WESTAF serves the largest constituent territory of the six U.S. regional arts organizations and includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
WESTAF is an experienced technology developer, with five projects that benefit the arts and creative industries: ZAPPlication.org® (ZAPP®), the premier online application and adjudication system used by over 80,000 artists and 800 art fairs and festivals nationwide; CallforEntry.org™ (CaFÉ™), the leading call-for-entry application and adjudication system for public art commissions, exhibitions, fellowships, and juried visual art competitions; Public Art Archive™ (PAA™), a free, online and mobile-accessible catalog of completed public artworks across the U.S.; GO Smart™ (GO™), a powerful, flexible, and affordable online grants management system designed for local and state art agencies; and Creative Vitality™ Suite (CVSuite™), a research-based economic development tool that offers high quality creative economy data and reporting to arts advocates, organizations, and researchers
The Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) is a regional non-profit arts service organization dedicated to the creative advancement and preservation of the arts.