Sculpture in the Garden

Sculpture in the Garden is an outdoor exhibit of three-dimensional artwork that takes place on the grounds of the North Carolina Botanical Garden each fall. 

Sculpture in the Garden is an outdoor exhibit of three-dimensional artwork that takes place on the grounds of the North Carolina Botanical Garden each fall. This year’s show will run from Sunday, September 13 through Sunday, December 6. It will be free and open to the public during normal Garden hours.

Through Sculpture in the Garden, we invite visitors to consider the relationship between art and nature. We aim to create a show that will appeal to – and be appropriate for – people of all ages and backgrounds. This includes works in a wide variety of media and sizes, by a diverse group of artists, with interpretation provided by the artist that will help visitors appreciate the art, whether they have a long interest in art or whether it’s their first time at a sculpture show. Ultimately, we hope visitors will walk away with renewed interest in both art and nature. 

Located off Fordham Boulevard in Chapel Hill, the North Carolina Botanical Garden (NCBG) is a center for the study, display, and conservation of southeastern native plants and natural areas. Ten fenced acres of display and habitat gardens surrounding the LEED Platinum certified Allen Education Center provide a number of distinct environments for sculpture. Our mission is to cultivate connections between plants, people, and place through science, engagement, and conservation.

Each sculpture in the exhibit is assigned a number, and visitors use a map and guide and numbered interpretive signs by each sculpture to take a self-guided tour.

Awards

While we are not able to offer an honorarium for participating in the show, we offer a series of monetary awards each year. We anticipate a similar award structure to previous years, with juror-selected Best-in-Show ($1,000) and three Honorable Mentions ($500), public-voted People’s Choice Awards ($1,000, $300, and $200 for first, second, and third places, respectively), and one Staff Pick Award ($500).

Sales

Sales are encouraged, and all works are assumed to be available for purchase unless designated not for sale. All sculptures must remain on site until the close of the show. Once the show has begun, we cannot change the listed sale price of the work. Sales take place in the NCBG Garden Shop.

The North Carolina Botanical Garden retains a portion of the pre-tax sales price of sold sculptures, which is used to perpetuate the show. We use a tiered commission system:

Artists may submit up to two individual pieces for consideration. (Note that each piece will be considered and juried independently). For each piece, you must include:

• Dimensions of piece
• Base type and dimensions of base or hanging mechanism (How does the sculpture stand? How much ground does it cover?)
• Approximate weight (in pounds)
• Any other relevant information we should know about siting, installation, or care for the piece

To participate in Sculpture in the Garden, you must be 18 or older. As each artist is responsible for bringing, setting up, and then eventually removing their work from the Garden, we encourage local, North Carolina artists to enter.

Work you submit to Sculpture in the Garden must be:

• Original: designed and created by you.
• Able to stand freely or be minimally anchored in grit or soil.
  • We have no dedicated sculpture pads or bases.
  • Sculptures designed to be mounted on a wall or hung must use hardware that doesn’t damage Garden buildings or trees.
  • We cannot accept sculptures into the show that require digging out and pouring a concrete base on site. (A concrete base you have already poured that can rest on top of a path may be accepted.)
• Able to withstand pressure from wind, rain, freezing temperatures, and the activities of visitors and Garden staff.
  • We consider a sculpture’s sturdiness when reviewing entries. Pieces with delicate, breakable pieces may not be admitted if our staff feels they are at high risk of damage.
  • Visitor safety is also a concern: sharp points and jagged edges can present a safety hazard, especially for children, and we take that into account when reviewing entries.
• Completed before the show and require only minimal assembly.
  • Any changes to the work after you submit your entry form must be approved by the exhibits coordinator. The Garden reserves the right to retract offers of entry if you have modified your work after the submission deadline.
• New to the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
  • It does not have to be a new work, but it can’t have been a part of a previous Sculpture in the Garden exhibit.
  • We typically do not select a sculpture that is technically distinct but virtually identical to one that has been in a previous Sculpture in the Garden exhibit (e.g. part of an identical series).