Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the eleventh annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $16,250. The exhibition opens in conjunction with the annual North Charleston Arts Festival, to be held April 29-May 7, 2016. The application is only available online and may be accessed via the link at NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com/apply. An application fee of $35 allows artists to submit up to four entries. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 25, 2016.
Organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, this 11 month exhibition offers established and emerging artists the opportunity to display their thought provoking, extraordinary sculptures throughout the picturesque North Charleston Riverfront Park. Set on the banks of the Cooper River, Riverfront Park features ten acres of walking paths, a boardwalk and fountain, an expansive lawn with performance pavilion, children’s play areas, and picnic sites. An estimated 50,000 people visit this public park annually to enjoy the amenities located in the heart of the city’s arts community.
The juror for this year’s exhibition is James G. Davis, ASLA, founder/ president of Sculpture in the Landscape, a NC based firm dedicated to simplifying the process of procuring while helping increase both the quality and quantity of the total outdoor art experience. Since 2008, Jim has enjoyed incorporating his skills as a landscape architect with outdoor art by working closely with artists, designers, developers, art councils, municipalities, and corporations as a consultant and in identifying and placing outdoor art. He is a longtime volunteer and past Board Member of Cary Visual Art, Inc. (CVA), a non-profit organization in Cary, NC, which has placed over 50 permanent pieces of sculpture worth in excess of one million dollars. Jim was instrumental in forming CVA’s Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit and has served as chair since 2006. With a degree in Environmental Design, Jim has over 40 years of experience in outdoor aesthetics and is registered to practice landscape architecture in his native state of North Carolina.
The 11th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition will be on display April 29, 2016, through March 26, 2017, at North Charleston Riverfront Park, located at 1001 Everglades Avenue in North Charleston. A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Friday, April 29, 2016. For more information about the North Charleston Arts Festival, the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854, email [email protected], or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.