2018 Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry seeks proposals for large-scale outdoor sculptures for the 2018 Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The biennial exhibition will be held October 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019 on the grounds of Coastal Discovery Museum. The 2018 theme "Envisioning Connections" invites submissions that foster discovery, exploration, interaction, recreation, education, and surprise within the Lowcountry region. Artists are encouraged to interpret connections around ideas such as people and place, history and future, local and global, humanity and nature, and the material and ephemeral worlds. Up to 20 large-scale outdoor sculptures will be selected by jury based on artistic excellence, innovation, interactivity, originality, and the work's ability to interpret the exhibition theme.

The exhibition will be planned along the "Around the Horn" trail at Coastal Discovery Museum's historic Honey Horn, a 68-acre property with salt marshes, open fields, centuries-old live oak trees, and historic buildings. All sculptures must be designed to withstand coastal South Carolina's natural elements with little to no maintenance and must not exceed 4,000 pounds. Proposals for site-specific installations and works not yet fabricated will be considered. Artists selected by jury will receive a $2,000 participation stipend for travel, shipping, meals, and lodging. One sculpture may be purchased and donated to the Town of Hilton Head Island's public art collection. Three additional sculptures will be selected as "People's Choice" award winners with cash awards. An online exhibition catalogue and curatorial essay will be developed, and selected artists will be required to record a segment for an Otocast mobile audio guide.

Submission deadline is January 31, 2018. Entry fee is $50 non-refundable. Artists must submit one image of the proposed sculpture, artist statement, interest level in educational outreach opportunities, and artwork details including dimensions, medium, and price. The exhibition is open to all artists from any country. A 30% commission on all sales will benefit Community Foundation of the Lowcountry's Public Art Fund. Selection notification will be in March 2018, with installation dates September 26-27, 2018 and exhibition dates October 1, 2018 - January 31, 2019.