sculpture scape: outdoor sculpture-on-loan exhibition

Tallahassee is proud to be the Capital City for the State of Florida. From canopied roads to miles of greenways, Florida’s capital is more Southern charm than bustling city and more majestic oak tree than palm. Nestled among the rolling hills of northwest Florida, Tallahassee is located in the center of the eight-county “Big Bend” area. Tallahassee distinguishes itself as a national leader in public art through its many accomplished public art projects, programs, and awards. Funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation, The Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) and the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority (TDIA) invite artists to submit up to three original, prefabricated outdoor sculptures that resonate with the environment, culture, and/or history of the area.

We invite artists from all around the United States working in the design, construction, and installation of outdoor sculpture, to submit applications. This two-year outdoor exhibition, opening in the beginning of 2025 and running for two years, seeks to showcase the diverse talents and creativity of artists while complementing the stunning natural landscape and history that defines Tallahassee. There are three total locations within Downtown Tallahassee for these sculptures to be placed.

TIMELINE: Application deadline is October 25th, 2024. Semi-finalists will be presented to the public as a voting forum. Finalists will be notified on or before December 16th, 2024. Artists will be required to deliver or ship their sculpture to Tallahassee and assist in the mounting between January 13th and January 17th, 2025. Sculpture Exhibition events will be scheduled during the week of the opening ceremony and artists are encouraged to attend. Event details will be provided once finalists are selected. Complimentary lodging for two nights will be provided to sculptors participating in events.

DURATION OF EXHIBITION: Opening to the public in January 2025 and running through January 2027.

DESIGN PARAMETERS:

Sculptures must adhere to the following design parameters:

• Pose no risk of injury to the public (i.e. sharp edges, slip hazards, flammable materials).
• Must be able to be semi-permanently fixed/not easily removed from a heavy base.
• Must not require high maintenance for the duration of the exhibition.
• Able to withstand all weather conditions, high temperatures, direct sunlight, humidity, and strong winds.
• Guaranteed against defects and deterioration.
• Must be safe, stable, and durable enough to be placed in public spaces and may be touched, climbed on, etc. by the public.
• Able to be viewed in-the-round to enhance the three-dimensional characteristics of each piece.
• Are original, complete works of art created by the artist.
• Artworks must be able to be secured in multiple spots to square concrete pads measuring 4.5 feet in diameter through tabs, brackets, or a plate welded to the bottom of the structure.
• Can be created using any medium, such as metal, wood, stone, glass or any combination thereof. Interactive or kinetic sculptures are also welcome.

INSTALLATION: Artists are responsible for the transportation, installation, and removal of their sculptures. On-site assistance will be provided by COCA staff.