26th Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition

The City of Lakeland, Florida, in cooperation with the Polk Museum of Art, is accepting submissions from sculptors for the 26th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. This call for entries is open to all sculptors working in North America. Submitted sculptures will be juried by representatives from the City, 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, from February 2026 through February 2027.

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $1,700 honorarium to cover transportation, installation, de-installation of the sculpture, and all incidental expenses involved. Additionally, a People's Choice Award of $1,700 will be awarded based on community voting. Artists may sell their work during the project period, but the work must remain on site for the duration of the exhibition. The City of Lakeland will provide insurance coverage throughout the exhibition period.

Work must be suitable for outdoor installation and must be structurally secured and surface mounted to a concrete pad, capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions and a high traffic public park environment, 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. Accepted sculptures must be installed no later than March 1, 2026, and removed by January 31, 2027. Submissions require a $25 non-refundable application fee per artist and must include images of up to three works with three views each, along with detailed specifications including dimensions, weight, and value.