CSE Richard Hunt Award 2027 (Chicago, IL) – Call For Artists
[Verified Listing] Chicago Sculpture Exhibit (CSE) is thrilled to renew the CSE Richard Hunt Award in partnership with the Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation, honoring the internationally acclaimed Chicago artist. The award supports an emerging or mid-career sculptor in creating a new work for a prominent Chicago location, bringing diverse perspectives to the city’s public art landscape. The sculpture will be displayed for two years on the city streets of Chicago.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 30 October 2026
Application Requirements
Artists, aged 18+ must submit the following within the application link:
- Artist statement and bio (200 words or less)
- Sample images
- Artist proposal for new work for installation (350 words)
- Proposed project budget (may include studio rent, labor, materials, etc.)
Project Timeline
- October 30, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.: Applications due. Submit applications here: CSE Richard Hunt Application
- Mid-November 2026: Jury selection of winner, with notification shortly thereafter.
- December 15, 2026: Final drawings/plans due to CSE for review.
- May 30, 2027: Installation of the work completed and planned with CSE staff and contractors.
The Jury
Select curators from Chicago’s art community will comprise the Jury for the 2027/2028 CSE Richard Hunt Award including Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder and CEO of Pigment International and founder of Black Fine Art Month, Vicki Heyman, co-founder of Uncharted LLC, Illinois Arts Council Member and Richard Hunt Legacy Foundation Advisory Board Member, and Geof Oppenheimer, sculptor.
Artist Benefits
The selected artist will receive $10,000 toward production. The artist is responsible for transporting the sculpture to and from the site, while CSE will support installation and mounting costs. The work will be displayed for 24 months, must withstand Chicago’s climate, and will then be returned to the artist as the sole owner. Artists will benefit by having their works publicly displayed in Chicago for millions to encounter.
About Chicago Sculpture Exhibit
Chicago Sculpture Exhibit (CSE) is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. CSE was founded in 2001 by then-Alderman Vi Daley. The Lincoln Park Community Art Initiative was created to beautify the Lincoln Park neighborhood in a new way. The first show was mounted in 2002 with eight sculptures that were on display from May through October. The show continued to grow every year and has earned many accolades. In 2008, the show nearly doubled when Alderman Tom Tunney brought the Lakeview neighborhoods into the show. Following the 10 year Anniversary of the show, additional neighborhoods joined and the name was changed to reflect a growing interest in sculpture throughout the city, Chicago Sculpture Exhibit.
CSE issues a “Call for Artists” each year and a jury selects new artwork for placement in the spring. Selected artists are awarded a stipend in return for a one-year display of their artwork. A kickoff party is held after the installations are complete with additional events taking place periodically throughout the year.
The Chicago Sculpture Exhibit is an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. CSE is funded by charitable contributions from the private sector. The CSE mission is to bring art to the neighborhoods. The hope is that you will encounter art while going about your daily life; walking to the dry cleaners or the farmer’s market, out for a run/walk, or visiting a local restaurant.
For more information, contact chicagosculptureexhibit@gmail.com
