The Art In Public Places Sculpture Exhibition (AIPP) brings art outside, adding character and beauty to city streets and public spaces! Sculptures are installed in prominent locations throughout Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Alcoa, TN. Our sculpture program began in 2007, has since installed over 310 works of art in our region, and gained national recognition as a platform for exhibiting world-class sculptors.
30+ large-scale outdoor* sculptures will be selected for the 2024-2025 exhibition with over $8,000 in awards and $40,000 in stipends presented to participating artists. Sculptures sites include: Downtown Knoxville [Krutch Park], the Maker Exchange, McGhee Tyson Airport, Zoo Knoxville, University of Tennessee Gardens, and several ORNL Federal Credit Union branches.
*There are now 2 indoor sculpture locations as well (at the Maker Exchange)
Art In Public Places is produced by Dogwood Arts, a (501c3) organization that promotes and celebrates the art, culture, and natural beauty of our region. We have a 67-year history of arts advocacy, environmental stewardship, and economic impact in East Tennessee. Art In Public Places is one of 20 year-round programs and events that help make Knoxville a great place to live, work and play!
AIPP is open to artists 18 years of age or older residing in the United States. Sculptors may enter three (3) completed artworks. All works entered must have been created in the last five years and not previously exhibited in AIPP Knoxville.
Awards:
Lease Agreement & Travel Stipend:
GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS
Work must be suitable for outdoor installation: a) must be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions (high winds, below zero temperatures, snow storms); b) must withstand high traffic environment; c) should take into consideration the safety of the audience; d) artwork must be durable and require limited to no maintenance; e) concrete sculptures pads and electricity will be provided for installation and removal; f) at least one measurement of the submitted artwork (HxWxD) must be over 4 feet.
Sculptures must be installation ready. Artwork will be reviewed by Dogwood Arts staff and City of Knoxville officials upon arrival. If the piece is deemed structurally unsound or misrepresented by the corresponding application, acceptance into the exhibition and the artist stipend will be revoked.
Artists are responsible for delivering the sculpture to the installation site on the scheduled installation dates: June 17-23, 2024 (exact date will be determined by your assigned install location and the type of equipment required to install). Installation will occur between 8AM-6PM on those dates and artists will be assigned a specific time slot at the discretion of Dogwood Arts. Artists are also responsible for timely removal of the artwork within scheduled dates and times [TBD - June 2025].
Again, the artist (or their appointed representative) MUST be present for the installation and removal of their work. If an artist is not present during the designated installation and de-installation dates, they will be 100% responsible for additional costs that may be incurred during an installation or de-installation outside AIPPK’s schedule. Additional costs could include those resulting from contract labor, crane rentals, and road closures. Any additional cost incurred by Dogwood Arts due to untimely installation/removal will be deducted from the 2nd installment of the artist stipend. Any artwork not picked up within 30 days of their scheduled removal date will become property of Dogwood Arts.
Dogwood Arts will provide equipment (crane & forklifts) and expert hands-on assistance. However, the artist must lead the installation/removal process and should bring required tools and appropriate hardware to secure or remove their work. Dogwood Arts staff, contract labor, and volunteers shall not be held responsible for loss or damage to the artwork during installation or removal.
DOCUMENTATION & PROMOTION
Copyright of the artwork remains with the Artist. Dogwood Arts will credit the Artist whenever the artwork is exhibited in public or published by Dogwood Arts. Dogwood Arts may use images of the artist and artwork in promotional or educational materials.
APPLICATION & FEE
Our non-refundable application fee is $30 per application. Artists may submit up to three (3) artworks per application with three views of each piece. We also require a current artist statement and bio. Upload 1-3 views of each sculpture (9 photographs total). Please address the sculpture's footing method, weight, installation requirements, and overall dimensions.
JUROR & FINAL SELECTION
Our juror will be announced by December 1, 2023. Previous jurors have included John Henry, Isaac Duncan III, John Douglas Powers, and Justin Rabideau. Jurors are chosen for their expertise in the field or extensive curatorial experience. After the juror makes their selections, the artworks are reviewed by the City of Knoxville's Engineering Department and the City of Knoxville Public Art Committee.
SALES & COMMISSION
Artists are encouraged to sell their sculptures during the exhibition period. However, the work must remain on site for the duration of the exhibition. Every effort is made to promote sales. All sales are handled by Dogwood Arts. The commission split is 80/20, with 80% going to the artist and 20% donated to Dogwood Arts. To date, Dogwood Arts has permanently placed over 19 sculptures.
QUESTIONS
Contact Emily Curran: ecurran@dogwoodarts.com or call (865) 637-4561. Emails are typically answered M-F 9am-5pm.
