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We're Getting Ready For The 2025 Sculpture Show!

ARTIST ENTRIES

Artist Application

Sculpture Show Entry Process

The Salisbury Public Arts Commission launches an open call for artists to participate each year in the Salisbury Sculpture Show. Artists may submit their outdoor pieces for consideration in the award-winning art installation program by December 20 each year.

Selection and Installation

The Salisbury Public Arts Commission invited sculptors to submit their favorite outdoor pieces for consideration for the Salisbury Sculpture Show. Selected pieces will be carefully sited to enhance the sculpture’s visibility and ease of access. Cost for entry is $30 per artist and a 25% commission on work sold during the show, which builds funds for future public art in Salisbury.

Selected artists will receive a $1,400 stipend for each piece chosen. Sculptures will be selected by a local jury. Work from individuals or teams will be considered; student work is encouraged.

Artists may submit up to 3 entries. Including up to 3 high resolution images per sculpture with completed entry form.

Selected artists will transport and install pieces with City on-site assistance where needed and prearranged. The City will assist with installation, support and bases when able. Sculptors are responsible for anchoring systems and bases if unable to fit on existing concrete pads. Work will be insured by the City of Salisbury.

In addition to filling out the online form, make $30 entry checks out to the City of Salisbury/Sculpture Show and mail to the Salisbury Sculpture Show, PO Box 479, Salisbury, NC 28145. To pay by credit card, please call Jenni Pfaff at (704) 638-5240. Entry fee is $30 per sculptor.

General Criteria

The selected pieces will:

  • Demonstrate creative vision and use of materials
  • Show integrity of structure and craftsmanship
  • Be weather-resistant
  • Be suitable for public display
  • Be stable, free-standing or mountable, or site specific
  • Be large enough to be easily seen

Important Dates

Deadline for postmarked submission* December 20
Announcement of selection February
Installation of sculptures May 1, 2025
Meet the Artists Reception On installation day each year
Exhibition dates May - April
Removal of Sculptures April

CALL FOR NEIGHBORHOODS

Neighborhood Application

About the Neighborhood Application Process

The City of Salisbury’s Public Arts Commission welcomes neighborhoods to apply to host a sculpture in the upcoming Salisbury Sculpture Show.

If your application is selected, your neighborhood will display a sculpture for the duration of the Sculpture Show, May - April. There is no cost for neighborhoods to host a sculpture. Funding is made possible by the Rowan Arts Council NC Grassroots Program as well as the Salisbury-Rowan Community Foundation.

For questions or more information please email public.art@salisburync.gov or call Alyssa Nelson at (704) 638-5235.


NC Arts Council Logo

About the Sculpture Show

Sculptures by artists from across the Eastern United States now have temporary homes in downtown Salisbury, at local colleges, and throughout our community. The Salisbury sculpture Sculpture Show runs from May to April each year.

Works are carefully selected from an open application process and represent a wide range of sculptural styles and materials. Each sculpture is placed to best complement the piece and its setting. The first stop on your tour is the Visitor’s Center at 204 East Innes Street where you may pick up a brochure and begin your walking tour of the sculptures within historic downtown Salisbury. Brochures are also available at the Rowan Public Library, Rowan Museum, Waterworks Visual Arts Center and at local downtown businesses, restaurants and galleries.

The Salisbury Sculpture Show is divided into two sections. The first section is our downtown sculpture show, which has been ongoing since 2008. The Community section features sculptures throughout Salisbury and at local colleges.

On your way in or out of town, take note of “Salisbury Foursome” at I-85 Exit 76, the permanent colorful 4-piece sculpture installed in each quadrant of the interchange.

Download 2024 Sculpture Show Brochure (PDF)

Download Audio App

Enjoy a free mobile audio guide using your phone! The Otocast app is used around the country for public art, historic sites, murals, landmarks, architecture, monuments, and other points-of-interest. Download the Otocast App and look up Salisbury, NC!

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Contact Us

Staff Liaison

Alyssa Nelson
(704) 638-5235
anels@salisburync.gov​


Connect with us on social media:

FACEBOOK   INSTAGRAM

To purchase a sculpture:

All sculptures are for purchase. To see if a sculpture is still available, please send inquiries to Public.Art@salisburync.gov.


To host a sculpture:

To host a sculpture, please contact Public.Art@salisburync.gov or call (704) 638-5235.


To donate for more public art in Salisbury:

Please send checks to:
Public Arts Commission
P.O. Box 479
Salisbury, NC 28145
(donations are tax deductible)

2024 Sculpture Show


Acknowledgements

The 2024 Salisbury Sculpture Show was made possible by contributions from the following organizations, groups and individuals:

  • City of Salisbury
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • Rowan Creates
  • Visit Rowan
  • Otocast
  • The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Catawba College
  • Enkay properties
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • Historic Salisbury Foundation
  • Horizons Unlimited
  • June Goodman and Sons
  • La Cava
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • Planning and Neighborhoods
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan County Tourism Development Authority
  • Rowan County Government
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Rowan Museum
  • Salty Caper
  • Salisbury Public Works
  • Salisbury-Rowan Utilities
  • St. John’s Lutheran Church
  • St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
  • Susan & Edward Norvell
  • Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things
  • Trinity Oaks
  • Understanding Your Dog, LLC.
  • WaterWorks Visual Arts Center
Photography by Christopher Derrick.

2023 Sculpture Show


Acknowledgements

The 2023 Salisbury Sculpture Show was made possible by contributions from the following organizations, groups and individuals:

  • City of Salisbury
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • Rowan Creates
  • Visit Rowan
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • Otocast
  • The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Catawba College
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • Heart of Salisbury
  • Horizons Unlimited
  • La Cava
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Pottery 101
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Rowan Museum
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • Salty Caper
  • Salisbury Public Works
  • St. John’s Lutheran Church
  • St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
  • Sweet Meadow
  • Susan & Edward Norvell
  • Novant Health
  • Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things
  • Trinity Oaks
  • Understanding Your Dog, LLC.
  • White Rabbit

2022 Sculpture Show


Acknowledgements

The 2022 Salisbury Sculpture Show was made possible by contributions from the following organizations, groups and individiuals:

  • City of Salisbury
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • Rowan Creates
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • Otocast
  • The Blanche & Julian Robertson Family Foundation
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Catawba College
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • Heart of Salisbury
  • Horizons Unlimited
  • La Cava
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Pottery 101
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Rowan Museum
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • Salty Caper
  • Salisbury Parks & Recreation
  • Salisbury Public Works
  • Salisbury Symphony
  • St. John’s Lutheran Church
  • St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
  • Susan & Edward Norvell
  • Novant Health
  • Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things
  • Trinity Oaks
  • Understanding Your Dog, LLC.

2021 Sculpture Show


Acknowledgements

These individuals, organizations and businesses have made the City of Salisbury Public Art Committee's 2021 Salisbury Sculpture Show possible:

  • Otocast
  • Blanche and Julian Robertson Family Foundation
  • Catawba College
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • Heart of Salisbury
  • Hive
  • La Cava
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
  • Pottery 101
  • Rowan County Arts Council
  • Rowan County Tourism Development Authority
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Rowan Museum
  • Salisbury Business Center
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • Salty Caper
  • St. John's Lutheran Church
  • St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  • Susan and Edward Norvell
  • Timeless Wigs and Marvelous Things
  • Trinity Oaks

Photography by Shannon Stapleton, DBA / Stapleton Media Products.

2020 Sculpture Show


Acknowledgements

These individuals, organizations and businesses have made the City of Salisbury Public Art Committee's 2020 Salisbury Sculpture Show possible:

  • Otocast
  • Rowan County Arts Council
  • Rowan County Tourism Development Authority
  • Catawba College
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
  • Pottery 101
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Rowan Museum
  • Salisbury Business Center
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • St. John's Lutheran Church
  • St. Luke's Episcopal Church
  • Susan and Edward Norvell
  • Trinity Oaks

Photography by Shannon Stapleton, DBA / Stapleton Media Products.

2019 Sculpture Show

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Salisbury Sculpture Show:

First Place: Roger Martin, Sanctuary

Second Place: Harry McDaniel, Exploratory Unit #2

Third Place: Charles Pilkey, Mosozoic Bench

Read the Full Article

Acknowledgements

These individuals, organizations and businesses have made the City of Salisbury Public Art Committee's 2019 Salisbury Sculpture Show possible:

  • Otocast
  • Rowan Arts & Agriculture
  • Rowan County Arts Council
  • Rowan County Tourism Development Authority
  • Catawba Colleges
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • F&M Bank
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • First United Methodist Church
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing/La Cava/Salty Caper
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Novant Health Rowan Medical Center
  • Pottery 101
  • Rowan Investment Company
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Salisbury Business Center
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • St. John's Lutheran Church
  • Susan and Edward Norvell

Photography by Sean Meyers.

2018 Sculpture Show

Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Salisbury Sculpture Show:

First Place: Dane Winkler, Perigee

Second Place: Jeff Kiefer, Beacon

Third Place: Richard Pitts, Dancing Down The Staircase

Honorable Mention: Dana Gringas, Tinker Toy

Read the Full Article

Acknowledgements

These individuals, organizations and businesses have made the City of Salisbury Public Art Committee's 2018 Salisbury Sculpture Show possible:

Sponsors
  • Fine Frame Gallery
  • North Carolina Arts Council
  • Otocast
  • Pottery 101
  • Susan and Edward Norvell
  • Rowan Arts & Agriculture
  • Rowan County Arts Council
  • Rowan County Tourism Development Authority
Hosts
  • Catawba Colleges
  • Downtown Salisbury, Inc.
  • F&M Bank
  • First United Methodist Church
  • Historic Salisbury Foundation
  • Livingstone College
  • New Sarum Brewing
  • Rowan Investment Company
  • Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
  • Rowan Museum
  • Rowan Public Library
  • Salisbury Community Foundation
  • St. John's Lutheran Church

  • Photography by Sean Meyers.

    2017 Sculpture Show

    Congratulations to the winners of the 2017 Salisbury Sculpture Show:

    First Place: Charles Pilkey, Ark

    Second Place: Cathy Perry, Oasis II

    Third Place: Jim Gallucci, Oak Leaf Shade Bench

    Honorable Mention: Stephen Hayes, Speaking Without

    Read the Full Article

    2016 Sculpture Show

    Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Salisbury Sculpture Show:

    First Place: Robert Winkler, “Moving Along”

    Second Place: Hannah Jubran, “Blue Planet”

    Third Place: Richard Pitts, “Candle”

    Read the Full Article

    2015 Sculpture Show

    Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 Salisbury Sculpture Show:

    First Place: Stephen Hayes, Under the Maple Seeds

    Second Place: Todd Frahm, Fighting for Alpha

    Third Place: Ray Katz, Red Green Construction

    Read the Full Article

    2014 Sculpture Show

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