Underwater Sculpture Commission

The City of Pompano Beach is commissioning an artist or artist team to design and fabricate a sculpture with a budget of $35,000. The sculpture will be displayed at a beach location for one year, then submerged into the ocean and attached to the Lady Luck shipwreck at Shipwreck Park.

Shipwreck Park is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating an underwater park system with artificial reefs and public art to raise awareness of coral reef preservation. Lady Luck is a 324-foot tanker vessel sunk on July 23rd, 2016, approximately 1.5 miles off Pompano Beach's shore. The ship serves as the centerpiece of Shipwreck Park, surrounded by 16 other wrecks and functioning as a unique underwater cultural arts park with rotating art exhibits.

Materials must be approved for permanent ocean submersion and include concrete, ferrous and/or aluminum-alloy metals (¼ inch or more in thickness), clean steel, and limestone boulders. The sculpture must weigh more than 500 pounds and be free from asphalt, petroleum, hydrocarbons, and toxic residues. Artists should provide documentation that materials are approved for ocean submersion. There is no specific theme requirement. Designs must be appropriate for public display and cannot be religious, political, or sexual in nature. Text, words, alpha-numeric characters, corporate logos, and advertising are prohibited. The City will cover sinking fees and permits. Artists must work with an engineer if necessary and contact Shipwreck Park for final approval details regarding artwork attachment specifications. Applications are limited to 3 submissions per artist, with 4-6 image samples required.