Call for Artists:
Sculpture on the Hilltop

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Background

Perched on a dramatic 125-acre campus overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, St. George's School is a community dedicated to academic excellence and aesthetic appreciation. Located in Middletown, Rhode Island, just minutes from historic Newport, "The Hilltop" offers a world-class setting for public art. The campus, originally designed by the Olmsted Brothers, features a prestigious blend of National Register-listed historic buildings and award-winning modern facilities. This exhibition will weave through the heart of our vibrant campus, creating a bridge between the tradition of our Gothic Revival chapel and the innovation of our LEED-certified STEM center. The Hilltop is highly accessible, situated in the coastal hub of Aquidneck Island and within an hour's drive of both Providence and Boston. By placing art within our daily pathways and gathering spaces, we aim to provide artists with a high-visibility platform that connects the maritime beauty of the Rhode Island coast with the intellectual energy of our global community.

EXHIBITION GUIDELINES: Sculpture on The Hilltop

General Requirements:

• Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

• Submission Integrity: All entries must be fully completed at the time of submission. Maquettes or models will not be considered. The work must be in its final form and appear exactly as represented in the application.

• Exhibition Period: Selected works will be exhibited in designated outdoor locations across the St. George's campus from August 7, 2026, until November 14, 2026.

• Commitment: Sculptures must remain on exhibit for the full duration specified. Early removal is prohibited unless prior written arrangements have been made with the St. George's Arts Committee.

• Honoraria & Award: Selected artists will receive an honorarium to offset transportation, insurance, and incidental expenses, disbursed upon the successful delivery and secure installation of the sculpture: $2,000 honorarium.

• Travel Stipend: Artists traveling from outside the New England region will receive an additional $250 travel stipend upon completion of a successful installation.

• Logistics: All travel, lodging, and transportation arrangements are the sole responsibility of the artist.

• Post-Exhibition: Artists are responsible for all removal and storage fees incurred after July 1, 2027.

• People's Choice Award: One artist will be selected by a community vote (comprising students, faculty, and visitors) to receive a $1,000 People's Choice Award. Voting will occur over a 4-week period following installation, with the award announced in December 2026.

Outdoor Suitability & Safety: To ensure the safety of our student body and the integrity of the coastal landscape, all work must meet the following criteria:

• Structural Security: Must be able to be structurally secured to existing concrete pads via anchor bolts or otherwise safely ballasted/secured to the ground to prevent tipping.

• Coastal Resilience: Must be capable of withstanding extreme coastal weather conditions, including high-velocity salt winds, freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and snow.

• Material Safety: Must be fabricated and finished with non-hazardous, non-toxic materials.

• Maintenance: Works must be maintenance-free for the 4-month duration of the exhibition.

• Public Safety: Sculptures will be placed in an active pedestrian environment (a school campus). Designs must be appropriate for high-traffic areas with proper consideration for the safety of curious viewers and students.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Artistic quality is paramount, but works will be strictly reviewed for durability, safety, and site-appropriateness. Artwork that is misrepresented in the application, deemed structurally unreliable, or identified as a safety hazard to the public will be excluded from the exhibition. St. George's School is not required to provide compensation or honoraria if the artwork is rejected upon arrival due to safety or misrepresentation.

Media and Publicity: St. George's School reserves the right to photograph or video any sculptures and/or the participating artists for documentation, educational materials, and institutional publicity purposes (including social media, website, and promotional catalogs) without additional compensation.

Evaluation Criteria: A selection panel consisting of St. George's arts faculty, community representatives, and external arts professionals will jury the submissions based on:

• Visual Impact: Aesthetic excellence and "The Hilltop" presence.

• Creativity & Interpretation: Originality of the concept and artistic voice.

• Composition & Design: Mastery of form and spatial relationships.

• Structural Integrity: Ability to withstand an active, high-traffic school environment.

• Contextual Appropriateness: Harmony with the school's historic and coastal setting.

Installation and De-installation:

• Timeline: Installation is scheduled for August 1–6, 2026. A telehandler will be provided by the St. George's Facilities Department as pre-arranged. Removal is scheduled for November 15–20, 2026.

• Transportation: Artists are solely responsible for the delivery and retrieval of their work. St. George's School cannot accept or sign for shipments on behalf of the artist.

• Self-Sufficiency: Artists must provide all tools and materials necessary for installation. The school cannot provide ladders, hand tools, or power cords. Any requirements for external power or specialized heavy equipment must be disclosed in the initial application; the school is under no obligation to accommodate requests made at the time of arrival.

• Foundations & Rigging: St. George's will provide a level concrete pad or a mutually agreed-upon platform. If lifting equipment is required (e.g., a forklift or crane), the school will provide the equipment and rigging components.

• Anchoring: Artists must provide Red Head wedge anchors (or equivalent), sized appropriately for the weight and wind-load of the piece.

• Responsibility: While school staff will assist with placement, the artist remains fully responsible for the final securement and safety of the sculpture.

• Note: Participation is contingent upon the artist's ability to meet the scheduled installation and de-installation dates.

Insurance and Liability: To participate, artists or their designated installers must provide proof of General Liability Insurance of at least $500,000, naming St. George's School as an "Additional Insured" for the duration of the installation and de-installation process. St. George's School will not alter, modify, or change the condition of any sculpture during the exhibition period unless specifically authorized by the artist via detailed written instructions. In the event of any damage or required maintenance, the school will notify the artist immediately to determine the best course of action.

Agreement: Participation in the entry process constitutes a full understanding and formal acceptance of all conditions, safety requirements, and timelines set forth in this Call for Artists.

Project Timeline:

• Entry Deadline: June 1, 2026

• Application Review: June 2–10, 2026

• Notification to Artists: June 12, 2026

• Contracting & Agreements: June 25, 2026

• Installation: August 1–6, 2026

• Exhibition Dates: August 7, 2026 – November 14, 2026

• De-installation: November 15–20, 2026

Call Summary & Restrictions:

• Originality: All sculptures must be original designs by the submitting artist.

• Vision: We highly encourage creativity, innovation, and works that engage with the unique coastal and architectural landscape of the Hilltop.

• Audience: As a residential academic community, all sculptures must be suitable for viewing by all ages.

• Commercial Restrictions: Sculptures may not be used for advertisement or to promote specific businesses, products, or external commercial interests.

• Intellectual Property: Designs must not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, business names, or corporate/organizational branding. Imagery of drugs or illegal substances is strictly prohibited.

• Durability: While any medium is welcome, artists must prioritize structural and surface soundness. Materials must be capable of withstanding the highly corrosive saltwater environment and extreme weather of the Rhode Island coast, as well as being resistant to theft or vandalism.