2026 Open Call for Art

Charlotte Carver Gallery: Art for Public Spaces Program

A program of the City of Sioux Falls Visual Arts Committee.

The City of Sioux Falls Visual Arts Committee (VAC) invites local artists to submit work for exhibition in the Charlotte Carver Gallery, located at City Hall. This juried exhibition highlights the depth, creativity, and vibrancy of the Sioux Falls regional arts community.

From the selected exhibition works, one artwork will be purchased for the City of Sioux Falls Public Art Collection, with a purchase budget of up to $3,500. Additionally, one piece will be awarded “People’s Choice” by public vote, and the artist will be invited to exhibit a solo show in the Carver Gallery. Artists are encouraged to submit work priced appropriately within this range for acquisition consideration.

Eligibility

• Open exclusively to artists who live or work primarily in the Sioux Falls area.
• Artists must be 18 years of age or older.
• Artists previously selected or collected by the City of Sioux Falls are eligible to apply; however, preference may be given to artists who do not yet have work in the City collection.

Artwork Requirements

• Artists may submit one original, completed artwork.
• Work should demonstrate strong artistic quality and may speak to the people, landscape, culture, history, or contemporary life of Sioux Falls or South Dakota.
• AI-generated artwork is not eligible.
• Artwork must be fully finished and ready for installation, including professional framing when required.
• Only two-dimensional artwork is eligible at this time.
• Reproductions (such as printed copies of paintings) will not be accepted.
• Work completed within the past three years may receive preference.

Additional Requirements

• No price substitutions or negotiations; if artwork sells during the jury period, it becomes ineligible for the City’s Purchase Award.
• Framed work (excluding wrapped canvas) must include professional finishing: paper backing, clean edges, glazing, and archival materials.
• Artwork printed on canvas wraps or adhered directly to glass, Plexiglass, or acrylic is not eligible due to durability and long-term maintenance concerns.
• The artist must hold all necessary rights to the imagery within the artwork.
• Submitted purchase price (up to $3,500) must include all framing or finishing costs and is final.

Selection Criteria

The Jury Committee will evaluate submissions based on:

• Artistic excellence and overall quality
• Relevance to Sioux Falls or the broader cultural context of South Dakota
• Artist’s professional experience
• Durability, safety, and suitability for long-term public display

Timeline

• April 1:Call for Art opens
• April 29, 11:59 p.m.: Submission deadline
• April 30 – May 7: Jury review period
• May 7: Exhibition selections announced
• By May 14: Artwork delivered and installed
• May: Exhibition reception and awards ceremony; Purchase Award announced
• May – September: People’s Choice voting open
• September: People’s Choice winner announced
• November – April: People’s Choice solo exhibition

How to Submit

Submissions should be emailed to the City’s Arts Coordinator at maren.engel@siouxfalls.gov

Please include:

• Image of the submitted artwork
• Title, medium, date of completion, dimensions, and price
• Brief artist statement (specific to the submitted work)
• Brief overview of your artistic practice and sample images of your broader body of work

Artists are encouraged to submit work that reflects the creativity and character of our region while meeting the professional standards required for public exhibition and long-term care.

Questions? Contact the City’s Arts Coordinator at maren.engel@siouxfalls.gov