Join the competition! ARTsites takes the artwork out of our galleries and places it in public spaces across Howard County. Each year we select new sculptures, which are installed in August and remain in place until July of the following year.
The deadline to apply as a SITE and as an ARTIST for ARTsites 2024 has passed. Please check back after December 1 for application information for ARTsites 2025.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all professional visual artists, aged 18 and older, with public art experience. Our Board, our staff and their immediate family members, as well as our selection panelists and their immediate family members, are not eligible to participate. In addition to finished pieces, we’ll also consider proposed work based on previous examples of public work.
Selection Process
Each year, our ARTsites panel selects the host sites located throughout Howard County and narrows down the artwork submissions to 30 finalists. The individual sites then select the work to be installed at their locations from among those finalists.
We’ll provide an identification plaque for each work and promotional support for the exhibit.
Grant Awards
We’ll provide up to 12 artists with a $3,000 grant to cover the temporary loan, insurance, installation, de-installation and repairs to the sculpture. If multiple pieces are selected from one artist, a separate grant will be awarded for each piece. Selected artists will receive two grant payments, one after the contract is signed and the sculpture is installed, the other after the sculpture is de-installed and the site is returned to its original condition.
Sales
A 20% commission will be retained by the Howard Count Arts Council on all sales of artwork that are part of the exhibit. Work is not required to be for sale.
