Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition (California) – Call For Artists
[Side Arts Certified Sponsored Listing] The City of Newport Beach (City) announces a call for entries for Phase X of its ongoing Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition to further activate the splendor of its Civic Center Park.
Up to ten artworks may be selected and showcased for three years in the 14-acre, ocean-view site designed by renowned landscape architect Peter Walker as an intended sculpture garden.
The Civic Center is the heart of Newport Beach – home to City Hall, administrative offices, and the spectacular Central Library building. The Park welcomes residents and visitors year-round for free concerts on the lawn, art shows, docent-led sculpture tours, visits to the dog park, or leisurely trail walks among the environmentally-friendly native plant life.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 29 September 2025
The Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition transforms Civic Center Park into a “museum without walls,” constantly evolving as new, bold contemporary works from world-class artists rotate through, delighting and enriching park visitors. Artists, private collectors, galleries, and museums/non-profit institutions are invited to submit artworks for consideration to be installed from June 2026 to June 2029.
Newport Beach Sculpture Exhibition: Artist Benefits
Selected artists will receive an honorarium of $7,500 in exchange for a three-year loan of their artwork. No other fees or expense reimbursements are offered. Honorarium shall be used to cover round-trip transportation of the artwork to and from the exhibition site, structural engineering documents (if required,) any insurance needed or desired for artwork transport and display, and for the cost of on-site availability during installation and removal.
Artists will receive half of the honorarium upon delivery of the artwork to the site for installation, inspection and acceptance by the City; and the second half of the payment after de-installation at the conclusion of the three-year exhibition period.
Artists will be invited to be guests of honor at the official unveiling celebration on a date TBD in June 2026.
About Arts Orange County
Arts Orange County (ArtsOC) is the independent nonprofit arts council for Orange County, California, and is dedicated to sustaining, strengthening, and advancing its creative ecology. They recently celebrated 30 years of serving the region’s arts and culture needs. Designated by the County as its official local arts agency, ArtsOC is the community’s leading advocate and service provider for the arts and arts education.
With extensive background in public art installations and commissions as well as partnering with local governments on their arts plans and programs, they have proudly fulfilled the City of Newport Beach’s needs managing the submission and jurying process for all ten phases of this exhibition.
For more information, contact nthurkettle@artsoc.org
