American Heroes
Organization:
National Sculpture Society
Location
New York, NY
Entry Fee
Free Entry
Deadline
March 20, 2026
The exhibition is open to all sculptors. Representational work inspired by nature is preferred.
ELIGIBILITY
The exhibition is open to members of NSS (Fellows, Elected and Associates) in good standing. American Heroes is a show of maquette sculptures to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What is the criteria that distinguishes a hero? War heroes, civil rights leaders, essential workers during Covid, 911 firefighters, teachers, and protestors are some of the possibilities. Works of various sizes, compositions and media will be considered (bronze, wood, stone, terracotta, paper, new materials, etc…). All entries are subject to jury. All work will be juried anonymously from images submitted.
GUIDELINES
Sculptures may be in any permanent medium. NSS will not be held responsible for any damage to sculpture no matter how or where it occurs. Selected works must NOT weigh more than 100 pounds and crated works must be able to fit through a standard doorway (84" tall x 34" wide). Bas-reliefs must NOT weigh more than 30 pounds. Works in fragile materials will be considered, but only on the condition that artists assume all responsibility for proper packaging and shipping of works. NSS will not be held responsible for any damages to sculpture no matter how or where it occurs.
ENTRY FEE:
FREE FOR NSS MEMBERS. $50 for non-members. Would you like to be an NSS member? It's more cost-effective to become a member of NSS and receive year-round notifications of exhibitions, awards, grants, events for only $75/year (US domestic). Become an Associate online at: https://nationalsculpture.org/become-a-member/
FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BECOME AN NSS MEMBER & STILL WANT TO ENTER
After submitting, National Sculpture Society will contact artist by email or phone for the $50 submission fee. Submissions will not be finalized until payment is received. Artists may pay with credit card or check. Checks must be made out to National Sculpture Society and mailed to: National Sculpture Society, 6 East 39th Street, Suite 903, New York, NY 10016. If payment is not received, submission will be eliminated.
CALENDAR
March 20: Receipt deadline for submission.
March 23 – April 3: Selection jury reviews submissions.
April 3: Notification sent to all applicants.
April 10: Information due back from artists
May 4 – 8: & May 11 - 15: Work received at NSS Gallery in New York City.
May 26: Exhibition opens at the NSS gallery.
July 17: Exhibition closes at the NSS gallery.
RECEPTION: TBD.
SALES
Sculptures accepted in the exhibition are not required to be available for sale. The National Sculpture Society will refer all inquiries back to artist. NSS will receive NO commission from sales. Retail prices established in the contract will not be subject to change during the exhibition.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Sculptors will be required to give their name, address, title of sculpture, date, medium, dimensions (height including base, base width and depth, and weight). Each sculptor may submit up to three works with three views of each piece, for a maximum of 9 images. All work is subject to jury, but it is possible that two works by one artist may be chosen for the exhibition.
JURY AND NOTIFICATION
The Jury of Selection will be composed of two NSS Fellows and Curator/Art Historian/Gallery Owner invited by the NSS Exhibitions Committee. Names will be hidden from jurors during the selection process and work is judged by the quality of the work and images submitted. The job of the jury is to balance the show by variety of style, material and subject matter. Notifications will be sent to all artists by email within one week after jury selection.
AGREEMENT
All accepted sculptors will be asked to sign a brief agreement stating that they agree to lend their accepted work of sculpture for the duration of the exhibition at the NSS Gallery.
SHIPPING/RETURN
Sculptors are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the exhibition. Insurance for individual works in transit is optional and is the responsibility of the individual sculptor.
NOTE:
National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery reserves the right to reject any work that is not received on time, is received in substandard condition or is not up to the standard represented in the photographs submitted to the jury of selection. Decisions on the placement of the works accepted in the exhibition are the sole responsibility of National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery. All due care will be given to material delivered to the exhibition. However, National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery will not be responsible for loss of, or damage to, works submitted, no matter how it may be caused, and all exhibited works are submitted and received subject to this condition.
By submitting, you accept the above terms of entry.
ELIGIBILITY
The exhibition is open to members of NSS (Fellows, Elected and Associates) in good standing. American Heroes is a show of maquette sculptures to honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What is the criteria that distinguishes a hero? War heroes, civil rights leaders, essential workers during Covid, 911 firefighters, teachers, and protestors are some of the possibilities. Works of various sizes, compositions and media will be considered (bronze, wood, stone, terracotta, paper, new materials, etc…). All entries are subject to jury. All work will be juried anonymously from images submitted.
GUIDELINES
Sculptures may be in any permanent medium. NSS will not be held responsible for any damage to sculpture no matter how or where it occurs. Selected works must NOT weigh more than 100 pounds and crated works must be able to fit through a standard doorway (84" tall x 34" wide). Bas-reliefs must NOT weigh more than 30 pounds. Works in fragile materials will be considered, but only on the condition that artists assume all responsibility for proper packaging and shipping of works. NSS will not be held responsible for any damages to sculpture no matter how or where it occurs.
ENTRY FEE:
FREE FOR NSS MEMBERS. $50 for non-members. Would you like to be an NSS member? It's more cost-effective to become a member of NSS and receive year-round notifications of exhibitions, awards, grants, events for only $75/year (US domestic). Become an Associate online at: https://nationalsculpture.org/become-a-member/
FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO BECOME AN NSS MEMBER & STILL WANT TO ENTER
After submitting, National Sculpture Society will contact artist by email or phone for the $50 submission fee. Submissions will not be finalized until payment is received. Artists may pay with credit card or check. Checks must be made out to National Sculpture Society and mailed to: National Sculpture Society, 6 East 39th Street, Suite 903, New York, NY 10016. If payment is not received, submission will be eliminated.
CALENDAR
March 20: Receipt deadline for submission.
March 23 – April 3: Selection jury reviews submissions.
April 3: Notification sent to all applicants.
April 10: Information due back from artists
May 4 – 8: & May 11 - 15: Work received at NSS Gallery in New York City.
May 26: Exhibition opens at the NSS gallery.
July 17: Exhibition closes at the NSS gallery.
RECEPTION: TBD.
SALES
Sculptures accepted in the exhibition are not required to be available for sale. The National Sculpture Society will refer all inquiries back to artist. NSS will receive NO commission from sales. Retail prices established in the contract will not be subject to change during the exhibition.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
Sculptors will be required to give their name, address, title of sculpture, date, medium, dimensions (height including base, base width and depth, and weight). Each sculptor may submit up to three works with three views of each piece, for a maximum of 9 images. All work is subject to jury, but it is possible that two works by one artist may be chosen for the exhibition.
JURY AND NOTIFICATION
The Jury of Selection will be composed of two NSS Fellows and Curator/Art Historian/Gallery Owner invited by the NSS Exhibitions Committee. Names will be hidden from jurors during the selection process and work is judged by the quality of the work and images submitted. The job of the jury is to balance the show by variety of style, material and subject matter. Notifications will be sent to all artists by email within one week after jury selection.
AGREEMENT
All accepted sculptors will be asked to sign a brief agreement stating that they agree to lend their accepted work of sculpture for the duration of the exhibition at the NSS Gallery.
SHIPPING/RETURN
Sculptors are responsible for all shipping costs to and from the exhibition. Insurance for individual works in transit is optional and is the responsibility of the individual sculptor.
NOTE:
National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery reserves the right to reject any work that is not received on time, is received in substandard condition or is not up to the standard represented in the photographs submitted to the jury of selection. Decisions on the placement of the works accepted in the exhibition are the sole responsibility of National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery. All due care will be given to material delivered to the exhibition. However, National Sculpture Society/NSS Gallery will not be responsible for loss of, or damage to, works submitted, no matter how it may be caused, and all exhibited works are submitted and received subject to this condition.
By submitting, you accept the above terms of entry.