HAPA OPENS 4th ANNUAL PUBLIC SCULPTURE COMPETITION, SEEKS ENTRIES

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Dec. 30, 2024) — The Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art is relaunching its public sculpture competition and exhibition after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A call for entries has been issued for the organization’s fourth outdoor sculpture show, which is set to open in March 2025. 

Artists whose works are selected for the exhibition will each receive a $3,000 honorarium, with one sculpture chosen for purchase to join HAPA’s permanent collection. The collection currently features 18 large-scale sculptures located throughout Hattiesburg. 

“For nearly a decade, HAPA has focused on making art accessible in everyday spaces, and this competition is an important way we engage artists to help beautify our community,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director of Visit Hattiesburg. “Through this initiative, we aim to inspire creativity while expanding Hattiesburg’s vibrant public art offerings.” 

HAPA plans to select nine to 12 outdoor sculptures for the 2025-27 exhibition. The works will be installed in March 2025 and remain on display through March 2027. Sculptures will be placed in parks and green spaces in downtown Hattiesburg’s historic district.

Artists must be at least 18 years old and present original works suitable for outdoor public display. Pieces must be available for the full two-year exhibition period. While preference will be given to works available for purchase, sculptures do not need to be for sale to qualify.      

Submissions will be reviewed anonymously by a panel of professional artists and community members. Final selections will be displayed in high-visibility locations for public enjoyment through 2027.    

Detailed submission instructions and application forms are available at hburgart.com/call/sculptures. Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. 

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A program of VisitHATTIESBURG, HAPA began in 2014 through the leadership of community members and generous donors passionate about publicly sharing art and making it accessible to all. HAPA continues to purchase and place art throughout the city – in parks, neighborhoods, public buildings, and businesses – while also raising awareness for works of art already in the area. The organization is partially funded by VisitHATTIESBURG, Mississippi Arts Commission grants, the City of Hattiesburg, and other local organizations and individuals who believe in the importance of public art.