The Sculpture Walk of Decatur

The Sculpture Walk of Decatur is a public art exhibition organized by Decatur Parks Foundation in partnership with the Decatur Park District, Decatur Arts Council, and the Children's Museum of Illinois. Sculptures will be placed in highly visible locations between the Scovill Zoo and the Children's Museum of Illinois, which together attract approximately 165,000 annual visitors. The exhibition runs July 14-16, 2016.

Accepted artists receive a $3,000 honorarium ($2,000 on delivery, $1,000 at pickup), plus a potential $2,500 People's Choice Award. Artists retain ownership of their sculptures, which are loaned to the exhibit for two years with a possible one-year extension. Sculptures must be made of weather-resistant materials requiring only occasional water washing for maintenance. The standard sculpture pad is approximately 5 feet x 5 feet, with a few larger sites available. Artists must deliver work between July 14-15 and pick it up between May 1-June 1, 2018. Round-trip mileage reimbursement up to $250 and free hotel accommodations for 3 nights are provided. Artists are expected to attend an artist's reception on Saturday evening, July 16, and describe their sculpture to the public for up to 3 hours on Saturday afternoon, July 16.

Sculptures must be for sale at artist-determined prices; Sculpture Walk of Decatur receives a 20% commission on any sales. Submissions are juried based on artistic merit, public safety, appropriateness, durability, and creativity. Artists must submit a resume, photos of up to three sculptures (maximum three images each), and a brief description of each sculpture (500 words maximum). The $20 application fee is required. No substitutions are permitted; the selected sculpture must be delivered.