Morganton arts commission seeks sculpture submissions

Morganton, NC – The Morganton Cultural Arts Commission (MCAC) is issuing its annual "Call for Artists" early this year to prepare for a major influx of regional visitors. The city is gearing up to host the prestigious NC Main Street Conference from March 8–11, 2027, which will bring over 800 attendees from across North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, and Kentucky to downtown Morganton.

To ensure the city’s public art display is vibrant and fresh for the conference, MCAC is calling all sculptural artists to submit their work ahead of schedule for the upcoming year’s "Sculpture on the Town" exhibition.

Interested artists can find the easy, fillable application on the MCAC website at www.morganton.art. The submission deadline is September 30, 2026. Artwork will be chosen in October 2026 and installation is no later than January 30, 2027.

To maximize the town's visual appeal for both residents and conference guests, the annual rotating art exhibition is expanding. Sculptures will be added to two new gateway sites at major entry points into the city. These include the island at the South Sterling Street entrance, as you enter under the railroad bridge, and the island at the intersection of Avery Avenue and Lenoir Street.

These additions expand the project's footprint to a total of four new large-scale sculptures placed in high-visibility locations throughout the city. Meanwhile, the popular sculpture on North Green Street near the post office has officially become a permanent fixture of the city's collection, thanks to a generous donation by a private donor.

The newly selected rotating pieces will remain on display for approximately one year, aiming to increase community engagement with public art while offering artists an exceptional opportunity to showcase their original work to a multi-state audience.

“We are excited to host the NC Main Street Conference and to showcase our Sculpture on the Town project,” stated Sharon Jablonski, Director of Cultural and Creative Development. “Morganton cares deeply about the arts, and this exhibition helps promote that, creating continued excitement and a major attraction for tourists. With over 800 leaders from five states visiting our downtown in March, we hope to receive many submissions from talented artists near and far!”