heARTS of LYONS 2025 Call for Sculptures

The heARTS of LYONS Outdoor Arts Collection is a perennial celebration of art and sculpture displayed outdoors throughout Lyons, Colorado, a mountain town with a population of 2,200 located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The town attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually on their way to and from Rocky Mountain National Park. Currently, dozens of sculptures are showcased in the town's historic downtown and along the banks of the St. Vrain River, promoted through the town's social media, tourism campaigns, guided art tours, and a self-guided mobile app.

The Town of Lyons offers a $1,000 honorarium for the loan of artists' work ($500 upon install and $500 upon de-install). Artists must agree to a two-year placement and sign a formal Artist/Lender Agreement. All works on display can be made available for public purchase; if sold, the artist is asked to replace the work with a similar piece and provide a 5-10% commission to the Lyons Arts & Humanities Commission. The Town generally provides landing bases (usually red sandstone) for each work. Artists are responsible for transporting their works to and from the landing site and overseeing installation.

Artists may submit up to three works. Free-standing sculptures are preferred due to limited wall space. Wood materials are not recommended as they do not withstand outdoor elements. Selection criteria will consider durability, line of sight, public safety, aesthetic merit, and artistic merit. Eligibility is limited to Colorado artists only. Entry deadline is January 16, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MST. Jury dates are January 22-30, 2025.