The Matthews-Sanders Sculpture Garden in Cleveland, Mississippi, is seeking an open call for outdoor sculpture for exhibition on the grounds of the Bologna Performing Arts Center on the campus of Delta State University, the Grammy Mississippi Museum, and downtown in the city of Cleveland.  We anticipate selecting eighteen works:  Ten sculptures at the BPAC, five sculptures downtown, and three sculptures at the Grammy Mississippi Museum.   

The call is open to all artists and artist teams, age 18 and over, using durable materials suitable for outside elements and change in temperature that requires little to no maintenance during the display period.  The call is open to sculptures of all types.  Preference will be given to artworks with a musical theme at the Grammy Museum and downtown Cleveland.  The Bologna Performing Arts Center presents the best in the arts and entertainment through a series of national and international multi-disciplinary performances and hosts over 200 events per year. 

The work will be on exhibition from August 1, 2019 to August 6, 2021, at the end of which time a purchase award will be granted for one sculpture. The purchased sculpture will remain in the sculpture garden as part of the permanent collection.  

This competition provides opportunities for regional and national artists to exhibit their work, make visible the University’s commitment to and appreciation of artistic endeavors, enhance the vitality of the campus environment, and offer students firsthand educational experience with sculpture.  Thirty-four pieces of sculpture have been purchased from the seven previous competitions and have been permanently placed at various locations on the Delta State campus and Grammy Mississippi Museum.  

Application Submission

1.    Artists may submit up to nine digital images of sculpture THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE DURATION OF THE COMPETITION. Two views of each work should be submitted. High-resolution digital images are preferred with a minimum of 300 dpi saved in a jpeg format.

2.    An identification sheet must accompany the digital submission and provide the following:
          a.   Title, medium, and dimensions (h x w x d) for each submission
          b.  Footprint dimensions
          c.  Purchase price for each submission
          d.  A statement of long-term upkeep must also be included and speak directly to the following: maintenance of surfaces, potential cost, and any equipment needed for maintenance. 

*A crane will be available during the installation in August.   The artist will furnish any additional installation materials and will be responsible for anchoring all work during the installation.  

3. Resume

4. Artist Statement

Honorarium

Each artist exhibiting sculpture will receive a $2,000.00 honorarium, which includes the transportation, installation, and de-installation of one to three pieces.  

Selection Criteria

1.  Strong aesthetic merit and technical qualities, six to fifteen feet in height.

2.  Appropriateness to the site, aesthetically and conceptually.

3.  Maintainability and durability

4.  Liability, based on susceptibility of the artwork to wear and vandalism and potential danger to the public.

5. Delivered work must be identical to electronic file submission.  

Liability

The Matthews-Sanders Sculpture Garden will enter into loan agreements with artists and will insure the work during exhibition, but will assume no responsibility for works in transit or for damage incurred as a result of installation.  Artists are responsible for shipping, handling, and installation, and may wish to carry their own insurance to cover these activities. Work not retrieved during the de-installation period will become property of Delta State University.

Selection Panel

The selection panel will be composed of art professionals from the Southeast.  

Important Dates:

Entry Deadline: May 1
Notification:  June 9
De-Installation: August 1
Installation:  August 1/2

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria