CITY OF SALISBURY LAUNCHES THE SALISBURY PRIZE COMPETITION

Salisbury, Md. - The application period is open for the City of Salisbury's first Salisbury Prize, a public art competition with a $10,000 award.

Maryland artists, architects and creative teams are invited to submit proposals for a public art project at the Riverwalk Games Park in Downtown Salisbury for the 2024 Salisbury Prize. The deadline to submit an application is Feb. 29 at 5 p.m.

In addition to the $10,000 award, the winner will receive an additional stipend of up to $5,000 in reimbursement for materials.

"The Salisbury Prize is an important step in growing public art in Salisbury, and we're looking forward to having a new piece in the Riverwalk Games Park this year," said Allen Swiger, director of the Arts, Business and Culture Department. "It's also a great opportunity for local artists to come up with a creative project for the space and apply."

Once submissions close, the City's Technical Advisory Group will review the entries for feasibility, and then the Public Art Committee will review the projects and recommend their top three proposals for community voting. After the announcement of the winning design on May 1, the artist or group will have from June 1-Dec. 1 to complete the project.

The Salisbury Prize follows last fall's unveiling of the Salisbury Public Art Master Plan. Todd W. Bressi, a public art planning consultant, led the process, which included community input. This will be the first major initiative of the Public Art Committee, formed in 2023.

"We are very excited to launch this public art competition," said Susan Holt, chair of the Public Art Committee. "It will be the first of a series of unique and engaging artworks that will enhance our urban landscape and showcase great talent. The location is optimum, and we look forward to seeing a large and diverse pool of dynamic design proposals."

To learn more about the process or to apply, visit www.bit.ly/SalisburyPrize. For questions, contact info@downtownsalisbury.org.