The Public Arts Commission (PAC) is on a mission to expand the types of art the commission supports and reach more residents through artistic expression. Inspired by other cities’ programs, the PAC modeled the Sidewalk Poetry Project after St. Paul, Minnesota, Santa Clarita, California and Cambridge, Massachusetts programs. The goal of the project is to celebrate Rowan County poets and create a trail of poems within Salisbury’s downtown. The project gives Rowan County residents the opportunity to display their own writing publicly and enables participation from poets who have not previously had public art experience
Guidelines (PDF)
Mail-In Application (PDF)
Online Application
Poetry Entry Process
The Salisbury Public Arts Commission launches an open call for Rowan County poets to participate in the first Sidewalk Poetry Project. Poets may submit their original short poems for consideration in this inaugural project.
Selection and Installation
Eight selected poets will receive a $125 stipend for their poem to be on display in Salisbury’s downtown Municipal Service District (MSD). Poems will be selected by a local jury. Work from individuals and student work is encouraged.
City staff will then have stamps made of the selected poems. City of Salisbury Public Works staff will install the poems as sidewalk repairs are made within the MSD.
General Criteria
General criteria for selected poems:
- display creativity and diversity
- be suitable for public display
- include no logos, commercial speech or advertising
- poems may be in any language as long as an English translation is included in your submission
- original poems by entrant only
- previously published poems will be accepted
- poems must not exceed 10 lines with a maximum of 40 characters per line including spaces and punctuation
- one (1) entry per individual may be submitted; no team entries are permitted
- short poem submissions may be free form or traditional short form, including Haiku, Distich, Cinquain, etc
Important Dates
| Deadline for postmarked submittal |
Monday, April 28, 2025 |
| Announcement of selection |
Friday, May 30, 2025 |
| Waiver and Additional Forms Due |
Friday, June 6, 2025 |