"Truce" by Adam Walls (2016/17 Best in Shoe)

Entries Sought for 12th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition

Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the twelfth annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, which opens in conjunction with the 2017 North Charleston Arts Fest. Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $19,750. This year, honorariums for artists accepted into the show have increased to $1250 to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses. Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($1000), Outstanding Merit ($500), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($250 each).  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 Saturday, February 25, 2017.

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 Robin R. Salmon, Vice President of Art and Historical Collections and Curator of Sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Robin is currently the chair of the National Sculpture Society Exhibitions Committee, which is the oldest organization of professional sculptors, and has more than thirty years of museum, curatorial, and programming experience.

The 12th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition will be on display May 1, 2017, through March 25, 2018, 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 Wednesday, May 3, 2017, from 6:00-8:00pm.  For more information about the North Charleston Arts Fest, the National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, or other exhibition opportunities, contact the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit NorthCharlestonArtsFest.com.