22nd 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 22nd Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. Selected sculptures will be exhibited in downtown Lakeland for one year, from February 2022 through February 2023. Sculptures will be juried by representatives from the City of Lakeland, the Polk Museum of Art, and members of the local art community. A People's Choice Award will be given based on community voting.

This call is open to all sculptors working in North America. The entry deadline is December 31, 2021, with a $25 non-refundable application fee. Submissions must include up to three works with three views each in .jpg format, an image list with dimensions (in feet: h x w x d), estimated weight, value, and other applicable notes, and a current professional résumé and artist statement (optional). Work must be suitable for outdoor installation, structurally secured and surface mounted to a concrete pad with anchor bolts or similar devices, capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions and high traffic public park environments, maintenance-free during the exhibition period, and must consider audience safety. All entries must be completed prior to submission; incomplete works, project proposals, and previously displayed works will not be considered.

Selected artists will receive a $1,500 honorarium to cover transportation, installation, and de-installation, with any additional costs the responsibility of the artist. Sculptures must be installed no later than March 1, 2022, and removed by January 31, 2023. Installation will be coordinated by City of Lakeland staff, with crane and city crews available on weekdays before 3 p.m. Artists may sell work during the exhibition period, but it must remain on site for the duration. The City of Lakeland will provide insurance throughout the exhibition period. The People's Choice Award winner receives an additional $1,500.