Finlay Park Sculpture Stroll, Columbia, SC

Finlay Park is Columbia's primary urban park, consisting of 17.5 acres in the heart of downtown. This call invites artists to submit three-dimensional outdoor public artwork for a two-year exhibition (October 2025 – July 2027). Eight sculptures will be selected and displayed on 4' x 4' concrete pads throughout the park.

Artwork must be able to withstand high traffic in a public, family park environment and adverse South Carolina weather conditions (high humidity, hot temperatures, heavy rain, frequent thunderstorms). Work must be maintenance-free for the two-year duration, completed within the last five years (2019 or after), and capable of being fastened to the concrete pad with 5/8" anchor bolts. Work may not have been previously displayed in Columbia or submitted for this competition. Only completed work, or work guaranteed to be completed three months before installation, is eligible.

Selected artists will receive a $2,000 honorarium to cover transportation, insurance, installation, and de-installation. Additional costs are the artist's responsibility. The City will provide insurance for the listed work value and will supervise installation and de-installation. Artists may sell work during the exhibition, but it must remain on site for the full duration. Awards include Best in Show ($2,500), 2nd Place ($1,000), Honorable Mention ($500), and People's Choice ($500). Installation is September 8-13, 2025; de-installation is July 9-10, 2027. Sculptures must be installed by September 13, 2025, or will be disqualified.

Eligibility: Open to artists currently working and residing in the United States with experience designing, fabricating, and installing three-dimensional outdoor public artwork. Submit three professional quality digital images (jpg, 180ppi) of each work, CV/resume, artist's statement, and a document with name, address, phone, email, work title, materials, date, dimensions (h x w x d in feet and inches), weight, and work value. Up to three different works may be submitted. Entry fee: $10. Deadline: May 30, 2025, 11:59 p.m. MDT via CAFE software. Notification of acceptance: June 20, 2025.