National Road Milestone Public Art Project
Call for four artists to design weather-resistant artwork on stainless steel milestone sculptures along the National Road in Grantsville, Maryland.
The Garrett County Arts Council (GCAC), in partnership with the Town of Grantsville and the Grantsville Arts & Entertainment District, is inviting artists to apply for the next phase of the National Road Milestone Public Art Project. This project features stainless steel replica milestones created using historic molds that will be permanently installed along the National Road and within the Grantsville Arts & Entertainment District.
The project seeks four artists or artist-teams to design and complete durable, weather-resistant surface artwork on these milestone sculptures. The theme is "National Road & Motion," inviting artists to explore motion on the National Road in its many forms—including the movement of people traveling and settling, hands at work, stories and goods exchanged, the passage of time, and the quieter motion of the landscape.
Designs may be literal, abstract, symbolic, traditional, or poetic. Artists are encouraged to root their ideas in personal experience, regional heritage, craft traditions, or imaginative interpretation. The project welcomes established and emerging artists working across a wide range of styles and materials, including those working in traditional, heritage, folk, or craft-based practices. No formal training, degree, or prior public art experience is required.
Applications must be submitted under one primary artist's name who will serve as the main point of contact, sign the contract, and be responsible for communication, scheduling, and completion. While collaborative assistance is allowed and encouraged, the submitted concept and finished artwork should clearly reflect the vision of the primary artist.
The National Road Milestone Public Art Project is supported by a Maryland State Arts Council Public Arts Across Maryland planning grant. Stainless steel milestones are provided to selected artists, and the completed artworks will become permanent public installations celebrating Grantsville's role as a gateway, crossroads, and cultural connector.