Call for Submissions: Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2023

Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2023
Call for Artists

Submission Deadline: March 12, 2023

After a successful inaugural season in 2022, the 2023 edition of the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail will create a 1km long experience linking the Art Gallery of Burlington, Spencer Smith Park, the Downtown Burlington BIA and Elgin Promenade through a series of 20-30 temporary sculptures created by local, regional and national artists.

The trail will be a fully accessible experience, free of barriers and admission for all to engage in.

The project will exhibit works for the period of April 24 – June 3, 2023.

THE OPPORTUNITIES

This year the BWST is offering two different opportunities for exhibition.

Base Installations (15-25 selections)
Base installation works must be completed works that fit on a 24” x 24“ inch base.
For each work the piece must meet the following technical criteria.

weight not to exceed 800 lbs.
height not to exceed 8 feet tall
overhang from base not to exceed 24 inches

BWST will manage installation and create custom mounts for each selected work.
Plexiglass cases will be created for select works in order to provide a safe outdoor exhibition for works in delicate materials.

Selected 2022 works by Mary Philpott, Ted Fullerton, Nicole Clouston and Teresa Seaton

Large Scale Installations (3 selections)
Three large scale installations will be exhibited as key nexus points along the trial. These works will require custom engineering for temporary bases, and will be given more technical staffing and support for installation. We are seeking works of scale and mass that can fill space and create focal points along the trail.

For each of the large-scale works artists will be expected to provide:

detailed fabrication specs
stamped engineered drawings for installation plan
transportation to site of installation

SELECTION PROCESS

Under the management of Cobalt Connects, the project jury will consist of members from the Art Gallery of Burlington, Downtown BIA and the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection.

The selection committee is seeking 3D works in a variety of media that showcase the sculptural discipline. Acceptable media include metal, clay, plastics and rubber, wood, drywall, found objects, mixed media, stone, fabric, etc. We will not be accepting works in wax, paper or digital media.

All selected works will undergo a final technical approval by the City of Burlington Public Art Implementation Team (PADIT).

ARTIST FEES

Each artist will be paid an exhibition fee based on the fee schedule below.

Large-Scale Works: up to $10,000
Senior: $4000
Mid-Career: $3000
Emerging: $2000

The BWST Team will also work with our networks to sell works on behalf of the artists at their stated price. Artists will receive 100% of the sale price, less 50% of the exhibition fee.

THE TIMELINE

February – Open Call for Artists
March 12 – Submission Deadline
March 17 – Selection of Artists
April 21–23 – Install sculptures on Trail
April 24–June 3 – Exhibition Open
April 29 – International Sculpture Day Programming
June 3 & 4 – Removal of works

2022 Exhibition Fly-By Video