Description

Finlay Park is Columbia’s (SC) primary urban park, which consists of 17.5 acres in the heart of downtown. The revitalization of Finlay Park respects original iconic features within the park, while also incorporating community driven goals in the new construction.

Objectives

• To encourage public engagement by inviting interaction and engagement from residents and visitors, creating opportunities for people to connect with art in their everyday lives.

• To increase awareness and understanding of public art

• To encourage social interaction by creating a venue for social gathering and interaction, contributing to the vibrancy of the City of Columbia.

• To promote Finlay Park and the City of Columbia as a cultural destination for visitors.

Artwork Criteria: All complete applications submitted will be reviewed. Applications not meeting the submission guidelines will not be considered. All work must meet the following criteria to be eligible for consideration:

• Be able to withstand a high traffic, public, family park environment for a period of two years, while taking into consideration the safety of the audience and other outdoor elements.
• Be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions common to South Carolina (high humidity, hot temperatures, heavy rain, frequent thunderstorms, etc.)
• Be maintenance free for the duration of the two-year exhibition. Materials with potential problems with rust and fading should be avoided.
• Work must have been completed within the last five years (2019 or after.)
• Be built in a manner to fit a 4' x 4' concrete pad and allow fastening to the pad with anchor bolts measuring 5/8” (unless an optional anchoring system is provided by the artist and approved by the city prior to installation.)
• Work may not have been previously displayed within the City of Columbia or previously submitted for this competition.
• Only entries that have been completed, or that are guaranteed to be completed three months before installation, are eligible. If a proposal is submitted and proof of completion is not received by three months prior to installation the work will be disqualified.

Budget:
Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $2,000 honorarium to cover transportation, insurance, installation, and de-installation of the sculpture. Any additional costs are the sole responsibility of the artist. Sale of exhibited artwork will be encouraged and a 30% commission on works sold during the exhibition will remain with the City in the Public Art Maintenance Fund.

Awards:
Best in Show: $2,500
2nd Place: $1,000
Honorable Mention: $500
People’s Choice: $500
Grand Total $24,500

Timeline:
• Postmark Deadline for Entries: May 30, 2025
• Notification of Acceptance/Decline: June 20, 2025
• Install Accepted Sculptures: September 8-13, 2025
• Park Grand Opening: October 2025
• Deinstallation of Sculptures: July 9 – July 10, 2027

Sculptures MUST be installed no later than September 13, 2025. Any sculpture that cannot be installed by that time will be disqualified, and an alternative will be chosen. Sculptures must be removed by July 10, 2027. Sculptures cannot be removed prior to the end of the show.

Important Additional Information:
• Artists may sell the work during the project period. However, the work must remain on site for the duration of the exhibition. If a selected work is sold prior to the exhibition, it is expected to be exhibited and stay for the duration of the show.
• 4’ x 4’ concrete pads are constructed by the City of Columbia. The City of Columbia will supervise, assist, and supply equipment, if necessary, for the installation and deinstallation of the work.
• The City of Columbia will provide insurance for the listed value of the work during the exhibition. The City of Columbia will not be held responsible for damage due to inherent vice or poor construction materials.
• The City of Columbia reserves the right to photograph the work and/or the artist for documentation, education, and publicity purposes.
• Upon selection, the Artist shall execute the City’s Agreement form and shall provide all necessary proof of all required insurance as specified herein.
• Exhibiting artists or their representative(s) must provide explicit instructions and be present for installation and de-installation. A diagram showing installation and anchoring plan will be required prior to execution of contract. Completed installation must pass inspection, meeting all safety requirements.

Deadline:

Friday, May 30, 2025, Midnight EDT via Café software. Proposers must be registered with CAFE and must respond using CAFE software. No other method of proposal transmission shall be acceptable.

Application Requirements
Required Images – 3 Total
Video - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 0
Total Media - Minimum: 3, Maximum: 3

Entry Fee: $10.00

Application Requirements:
• Artists may submit up to three different works
• Three professional quality digital images of each work in jpg. format with a resolution of 180ppi., preferably from different angles. Label each image with the last name of the artist and the name title of the work. Printed photographs, drawings, or slides will not be accepted.
• CV or Resume
• Artists’ statement
• Word document or pdf with the following information
1. Name
2. Address
3. Phone number
4. Email
5. Title of work
6. Material(s) of work
7. Date
8. Dimensions (in ft and in: h x w x d)
9. Weight
10. Value of work

Eligibility Criteria
This call is open to artists currently working and residing in the United States with experience designing, fabricating, and installing three-dimensional outdoor public artwork.

Selection Criteria:

• Aesthetic merits of artwork.

• Style and Appropriateness for the site.

• Artist’s experience in completing public art projects.

• Safety and maintenance considerations proposed, including its resistance to theft and/or vandalism.

• Fulfills the public art goal of a range of style, scale, media and artists working in traditional and contemporary art forms.

Selection Process:
• The eight works for the exhibition will be selected by a jury composed of art professionals, art & culture agency representatives, community representatives and artists. This year’s Merit Juror is artist and faculty member with the art department at Clemson University, Joey Mason. Mason will select the Best in Show, Second Place, and Honorable Mention award winners once they are installed.
• The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be determined by a simple majority vote of the attending public at the Finlay Park Grand Opening in October 2025.