17th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition

The City of Lakeland, Florida, in cooperation with the Polk Museum of Art, is accepting submissions from sculptors to participate in the 17th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. This call is open to all sculptors working in North America. Submitted sculptures will be juried by representatives from the City of Lakeland, the Polk Museum of Art, and members of the local art community. The top scoring sculptures will be selected for a one-year exhibition in downtown Lakeland, Florida, on loan from February 2017 through February 2018. Sculptures will be publicized and a People's Choice Award will be given based on community voting.

Work must be suitable for outdoor installation and must be structurally secured to a concrete pad with anchor bolts or similar devices; capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions such as high winds, high temperatures, heavy rain, and storms; able to withstand a high traffic, public park environment; take into consideration the safety of the audience; and be maintenance-free during the exhibition period. All entries must be completed prior to submission. No incomplete works, project proposals, or works previously displayed will be considered. Sculptures must be installed no later than March 3, 2017, and must be removed by January 26, 2018.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. The City of Lakeland will provide insurance throughout the exhibition period for a maximum claim of $15,000. Artists may sell work during the exhibition period, but it must remain onsite for the duration. The People's Choice Award winner receives an additional $500. Entry fee is $25 per application, with up to 3 applications allowed per artist. Submissions require 2-6 images in .jpg format, an image list, professional résumé, and artist statement. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2016.