Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational 2026

The Cape Cod Museum of Art (CCMoA) and the New England Sculptors Association (NESA) invite all 3D artists to submit to the Cape Cod Open Sculpture Invitational 2026, a juried outdoor sculpture exhibition on the 22-acre campus of the Cape Cod Center for the Arts (35+ outdoor sites identified). The exhibition will be juried by Benton Jones, Director of Art, Cape Cod Museum of Art and Samuel Tager, Executive Director, Provincetown Public Art Foundation. In addition to the outdoor sculpture exhibition, there will be a 15-week indoor exhibition at the CCMoA featuring 25-30 works. Two separate calls for art will be held: one for the outdoor exhibition and one for the indoor exhibition.

The outdoor exhibition runs April 16 through November 14, 2026, with an opening reception on May 30, 2026 from 1:00-2:30pm and closing reception on November 14, 2026 from 1:00-2:30pm. The call for art for the outdoor exhibition is open December 1, 2025 through February 27, 2026. Artists will be notified on March 14, 2026. Delivery and installation are scheduled for April 9, 10 and April 13, 14, 2026. Sculpture pickup is available November 14 after 2:30pm until 4pm or November 15 from 10:00am-2:00pm. A machine for heavy sculpture placement will be provided on a date to be determined for installation and removal.

Works must be three-dimensional and suitable for long-term outdoor exposure, fabricated and installed in a viewer-safe manner and sensitive to the natural environment. Any anchoring must be removed during de-installation with the site restored to its natural state. Sculptures requiring maintenance during the exhibition or differing significantly from submitted images may be excluded. Stipends between $100 and $200 will be provided to selected artists to support installation expenses. Juror's Choice and People's Choice Awards of $250 each will be given for both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Artwork can be made available for sale with 60% of proceeds going to the artist, 30% to CCMoA, and 10% to NESA.

Submissions are made via OnlineJuriedShows. Artists may submit 1-3 works per call with an entry fee of $25.00 for up to 3 submissions. Images must be jpg format under 4mb, with 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi recommended. Selected entrants must join NESA as a Professional Member. Artists are encouraged to become members of CCMoA. The indoor exhibition runs July 23 through November 14, 2026, with a separate call for art from April 20 through June 26, 2026.