Dazzle & Discord

In partnership with the city of Alpharetta, Arts Alpharetta seeks 7 - 10 artists' entries for a juried temporary outdoor sculpture exhibition that will extend from the City Center and into city parks.  

Dazzle and Discord will be a collection of sculptures that celebrate imagination, inspire visual delight, exciting yet unpredictable…generating a joyful but unexpected surprise us as we walk about town. Musically, discord is defined as an effect “to create tension, surprise, or a feeling of unease, but it can also be a pleasing effect.” These sculptures will be selected to focus on the pleasing effect of discord. 

Targeted installation dates: July  6 - August 1, 2026

Arts Alpharetta is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on advancing Alpharetta as a cultural arts community. The City of Alpharetta contracts with Arts Alpharetta to curate its public art program. 

Selected artists for Dazzle and Discord will receive a $6,000 honorarium for the temporary lease of the artwork for 24 months, transportation of the work to and from the installation site, and artist fees for on-site availability during installation and de-installation. The honorarium will be paid in two equal payments: one payment at installation and the at de-installation. If multiple pieces are selected from one artist, an honorarium will be awarded for each sculpture. Arts Alpharetta and the City of Alpharetta will provide logistical and staff support and will incur the costs associated with site preparation, physical installation, and promotional events and materials. 

Targeted installation dates: July  6 - August 1, 2026

Outdoor sculpture entries must fill these requirements: 

• maximum weight of 1600 lbs
• minimum of 4 anchor points
• engage viewer through sight, sound, and/or touch
• constructed and prepared for outdoor, year-round weather exposure
• maintenance plan for 2-year lease period for weather and wear

Arts Alpharetta will incur the cost of installation at each site. Concrete wedge anchors with a minimum shear rating of 4000 lbs will be used at installation. 

The opportunity to enter is open to all professional visual artists, aged 18 and older. Each applicant may enter up to three (3) artworks; artists are allowed to add up 2 additional views for each sculpture in each entry . This call for art is for preexisting works only. All entries must have been conceived and created by the artist submitting the work.