20th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition

The City of Lakeland, Florida, in cooperation with the Polk Museum of Art, is accepting submissions from sculptors for the 20th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. 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 2020 through February 2021. A People's Choice Award will be given based on community voting via the City of Lakeland Facebook page.

This call is open to all sculptors working in North America. The entry deadline is December 31, 2019, with a $25 nonrefundable application fee per artist. Work must be suitable for outdoor installation and must be structurally secured and surface mounted to a concrete pad with anchor bolts or similar devices; capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions; able to withstand a high traffic, public park environment; safe for audiences; and maintenance-free during the exhibition period. Installation must be accomplished with tools provided by the artist, with access to a crane available if notice is given in advance. All entries must be completed prior to submission; no incomplete works, project proposals, or previously displayed works will be considered.

Each selected artist will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Sculptures must be installed no later than March 1, 2020, and removed by January 31, 2021. 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 $1,000. Submissions must include up to three works with three views each in .jpg format, an image list with dimensions in feet, current professional résumé, and artist statement. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.