Call for Proposals Now Open for Art on the River 2025-26

January 24, 2025

The City of Dubuque, Iowa, is soliciting sculpture proposals for its 19th Art on the River public art sculpture exhibit to be held along the Mississippi Riverwalk in the Port of Dubuque from August 2025 through July 2026.
 
"Flow of Wellness” " has been selected by a community planning committee as the theme for the 2025-26 exhibit and is described as follows:

Flow of Wellness will explore the transformative power of art on personal and communal well-being. Centered around themes of health, healing, and wellness, the exhibit encourages reflection on how art nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. Featured works will celebrate nature’s restorative forces, the healing power of movement, and the soothing effects of light, sound, and color. Through carefully selected sculptures and installations, each piece will evoke tranquility, resilience, and renewal. Works inspired by elements such as water, earth, and air will emphasize the connection between art and the natural world, fostering a sense of calm and introspection.

With that vision in mind, the City of Dubuque welcomes and encourages submissions for existing and/or proposed 3D public art works that reflect upon and embody the theme and ideas embracing wellness. The exhibit will offer opportunities for mindful observation and meditative river walks. Flow of Wellness seeks to create a ripple effect, inspiring visitors to consider wellness as both an individual journey and a collective experience, rooted in the city’s riverfront landscape.

Up to 11 sculptural works will be selected for the exhibition to be displayed at the Port of Dubuque from August 2025 to July 2026. There is no fee to apply, and artists can submit completed works or those to be fabricated by the August 2025 installation dates. Artists may submit up to three works for consideration; a separate application must be completed for each artwork. Online applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Access to the online form is at www.cityofdubuque.org/AOTRapply.

Selected artists receive a $1,800 stipend for each work included in the exhibition. Additional cash prizes of $1,000 for Best in Show and $200 for People’s Choice are also available. Artworks are encouraged to be for sale as special efforts are made to promote purchasing throughout the year. The City coordinates all financial transactions related to sales of artwork and retains a 25 percent commission of the retail price.

 Art on the River is part of the Dubuque City Council’s ongoing efforts to foster diverse arts and culture experiences that will improve the social and cultural vibrancy of the community. Since its inception, the program has featured 176 sculptures representing the work of 115 artists at the Port of Dubuque. 

This 90-acre riverfront campus welcomes 200,000+ visitors each year with features like the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the Grand River Center, Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark, Diamond Jo Casino, the historic Dubuque Star Brewery, Dubuque Shot Tower, and the Port of Dubuque Marina.

More information is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/artontheriver or by contacting the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs Manager Bonnie Spurling at bspurlin@cityofdubuque.org or 563-690-6059.

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