Call Description

CALL FOR SCULPTURE (2026)

Silverwood Park is seeking proposals for outdoor sculpture to be installed in August 2026. One proposal will be selected and awarded a $10,000 honorarium to support its creation. Info session: Monday, June 23, 2025 from 6 – 7 pm. Deadline: July 15, 2025. Juror: John Fleischer

ABOUT THE PARK

Silverwood Park, a Three Rivers Park District facility located in St Anthony, MN, is devoted to the integration of artistic creation and nature-based experiences. We are a unique 120-acre park in the Twin Cities area, offering views of Silver Lake, restored prairie, and mature oak forests. The main visitor’s center includes a gallery, café/coffee shop, sales gallery, and large event hall. Other amenities include education facilities, picnic sites, fishing opportunities, and paved trails. Nature-inspired artwork is exhibited in the gallery, performances are scheduled in a multi-use amphitheater, and art and nature classes are offered throughout the year. More information about the park is available at https://www.threeriversparks.org/location/silverwood-park 

ELIGIBILITY

Artists 18 years of age or older who primarily live or work in the Midwest are invited to submit proposals individually or collaboratively.

ABOUT THE JUROR

John Fleischer is a Minnesota-based artist working primarily at the intersection of drawing and sculpture. Born into a family of bricoleurs, John first began drawing in the shadows of fiery steel mills of the Mahoning Valley. Recent projects draw on transformational processes such as compression and rarefaction to create sculptural works that leak, filter, and withhold. John holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota and has exhibited at venues such as the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art (Grand Rapids, MI), Kunstverein Graftschaft Bentheim (Neuenhaus, Germany), the Rochester Art Center (Rochester, MN), Foreign & Domestic (New York, NY), and Hair+Nails (Minneapolis, MN).

https://www.johnjfleischer.com/

GUIDELINES

Proposals are accepted for individual and collaborative works. Artwork may include but is not limited to freestanding sculpture and site-specific installations. Preference given to site-specific projects designed for Silverwood. Due to the 2-year duration, seasonal or ephemeral work will not be given priority. Materials used in construction should be appropriate to an outdoor environment and should not negatively impact natural habitat, wildlife, or park guests. Certain work might require the submission of additional information or materials for consideration. In your proposal, you may suggest a specific location or site in park that is ideal for your project. However, the final site will be determined once work is accepted. The park and artist will work together to determine this and approve the final site.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals will be judged on artistic merit, capability, budget, and impact as evidenced by past work and supporting materials. A panel including John Fleischer and Park District staff members will review proposals and select one project. Ideal proposals will support the mission of Silverwood Park. Work designed specifically for the park and interactive designs are encouraged.

BUDGET 

The artist is responsible for all associated expenses related to design, fabrication, transportation, installation, de-installation, and removal. Artists should factor these costs into their $10,000 budget. Please include a specific budget in your proposal.

INSTALLATION

Work is to be installed by August 15, 2026. Costs related to transport and installation of the work will be the responsibility of the artist unless otherwise stipulated. Limited assistance and equipment from Silverwood’s maintenance department is available on a case-by-case basis at park’s discretion. Silverwood will provide signage, an audio stop associated with the work, and basic maintenance of site. Upon installation, Silverwood will assume limited liability for any gross damage (unrepairable by the artist) or theft of the artwork, excluding ceramic, glass, and other fragile sculpture materials or damage resulting from faulty construction or materials. 

DURATION

Duration of installation is a minimum of 2 years. Work is to be continuously displayed during this time. Silverwood Park reserves the right to request that the artist remove or repair the work at any time during this period if circumstances require. The artist retains ownership of the work. If agreed by both parties, the duration of display can be extended. 

PROMOTION

Silverwood Park retains responsibility for advertising through listing in a quarterly events calendar and onsite fliers as well as through the Three Rivers Park District website and social media sites. Silverwood may include sculptures in educational programs at the park. Any additional desired advertisement will be the responsibility of the artist. 

INFO SESSION

Join us on Monday, June 23, 2025 from 6 – 7 pm to ask questions about your proposal and learn about the park. Please RSVP to eileen.cohen@threeriversparks.org.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Deadline:  July 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time Zone

Submission must include the following items listed below. Please put first and last name on each document.

1.       Resume. 2-page max.

2.       Artist Statement. 1 page max.

3.       Proposal. 1 page max. Proposal should be clear and specific, outlining a plan and description of sculpture. Consideration should be given to location or site, materials, connection to natural world, and how viewers will engage with the work. You are encouraged to submit a rendering of your proposed sculpture.

4.       Budget. 1 page max. Budget should support activities, purchases, costs, artist fees, etc., as related to proposal. Consider design, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, de-installation, and removal.

5.       10 images. 10 works samples. Multiple views and details allowed. You are encouraged to include a rendering of the proposed project within your written proposal.

6.       Title, materials, size, year completed, dimensions, and optional description for each image.

CALENDAR

Info Session: Monday, June 23, 2025 from 6 – 7 pm

Submission Deadline: July 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time Zone

Artist Notification: September 15, 2025 

NOTIFICATION

You will be notified by email of application status by September 15, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about the park or prospectus, please contact Eileen Cohen at eileen.cohen@threeriversparks.org or 763-694-2091.

Silverwood Park / Three Rivers Park District

2500 County Road E

St. Anthony, MN 55421

Application Requirements

APPLICATION MATERIALS

Deadline:  July 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm Mountain Time Zone

Submission must include the following items listed below. Please put first and last name on each document.

1.       Resume. 2-page max.

2.       Artist Statement. 1 page max.

3.       Proposal. 1 page max. Proposal should be clear and specific, outlining a plan and description of sculpture. Consideration should be given to location or site, materials, connection to natural world, and how viewers will engage with the work. You are encouraged to submit a rendering of your proposed sculpture.

4.       Budget. 1 page max. Budget should support activities, purchases, costs, artist fees, etc., as related to proposal. Consider design, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, de-installation, and removal.

5.       10 images. You are encouraged to include a rendering of the proposed project as one of your images or within your written proposal.

6.       Title, materials, size, year completed, dimensions, and optional description for each image.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY
Artists 18 years of age or older who primarily live or work in the Midwest are invited to submit proposals individually or collaboratively.