Entries sought for 20th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition
Cash prizes offered for outdoor sculpture
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, February 25, 2026; 11:59 p.m. ET
Sculpture artists from across the nation are invited to participate in the 20th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition, held in conjunction with the 2026 North Charleston Arts Fest.
‘Celestial Motion’ by Hanna Jubran. Provided photo.
Up to 14 sculptures will be juried into the exhibit and compete for cash prizes totaling up to $25,500, an increase from previous competitions. A $1,500 honorarium is given to all artists accepted into the show to assist with transportation, installation, de-installation, and incidental expenses.
Once all pieces are installed, the juror will award Best in Show ($2,000), Outstanding Merit ($1,000), and up to three Honorable Mentions ($500 each). The application is only available online. An application fee of $35 allows artists to submit up to four entries for consideration. Deadline for submissions is Wednesday, February 25, 2026. Artists in need of assistance with any part of the application process may contact the Cultural Arts Department to schedule a one-on-one meeting, which can be conducted over the phone or in person.
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 the 2026/2027 competition and exhibition is Mark E. Brown, artist and chair of the studio art and graphic design program in the David R. Hayworth School of Arts and Design at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. Brown holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University and his works have been featured in over 350 exhibitions across the U.S. at venues including the National Arts Club (New York), SECCA (Winston-Salem), and Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton, New Jersey). Internationally, his work has been exhibited in Japan, France, New Zealand, Australia, Hungary, Finland, and Spain. His sculptural works are included in numerous private and public collections including the Daura Museum of Art at the University of Lynchburg, the Meridian Museum of Art, the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, the Coca-Cola Company, Toyota Motor Racing, and the city of Kinston, North Carolina.
Brown is a past president of the Tri State Sculptors Educational Association and has contributed to and led panel discussions for the International Sculpture Center, FATE, Southeastern College Art Conference, the North Carolina Zoo, the NC Sculptors Consortium, and the Asheville Museum of Art. He has served as juror for the Virginia Commission on the Arts Sculpture Fellowship, the William King Arts Center, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission, the Central Piedmont Artist Grant Program for the North Carolina Arts Council, and the SECAC Artists Fellowship. Additionally, he has curated three traveling exhibitions.
The 20th Annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition will be on display April 29, 2026, through March 14, 2027, at North Charleston Riverfront Park (1001 Everglades Ave., North Charleston). A free public reception and announcement of awards will be held at the Charleston Area Convention Center on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 6-8 p.m.
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.