Sculpture on the Town: Morganton Public Art Call

The Morganton Cultural Arts Commission has issued its annual call for sculptural artists for the next Sculpture on the Town exhibition, the city's rotating public art program in downtown Morganton, North Carolina. The commission is putting the call out early as the city prepares to welcome more than 800 visitors for the 2027 N.C. Main Street Conference in March.

The exhibition is expanding, adding sculptures at two new gateway locations: the island at the South Sterling Street entrance under the railroad bridge and the island at Avery Avenue and Lenoir Street. The expansion brings four new large-scale sculptures to high-visibility locations throughout the city. The new rotating sculptures remain on display for about one year.

The deadline to apply is September 30, 2026. Artists will be selected in October, and installation is expected no later than January 30. Sharon Jablonski, director of cultural and creative development, said the city hopes to receive many submissions from talented artists near and far as it showcases the project to leaders visiting from North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina and Kentucky.

Artists can find full details and apply at morganton.art. The opportunity suits sculptors working at an outdoor, public scale who can deliver and install durable large-format work for a roughly year-long display.