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Event History
Dubuque's Art on the River sculpture exhibition is celebrating it's 20th year, inviting artists to submit designs based on the theme of Stillness in the Driftless. Up to 11 sculptures will be chosen by a juried panel to display their work on Dubuque's riverfront for one year.
The City of Dubuque (Iowa) is now soliciting sculpture proposals for consideration for the 2026-27 Art on the River public art sculpture exhibit, to be held along the Mississippi Riverwalk in the Port of Dubuque from August 2026 through August 2027. The theme for the 2026-27 exhibit is "Stillness in the Driftless". Stillness in the Driftless invites artists to explore the quiet strength and reflective beauty of the Driftless landscape. This theme celebrates moments of pause and presence, and how stillness reveals connection, renewal, and belonging within Dubuque’s riverfront environment. The City of Dubuque welcomes proposals for existing and new 3D public artworks that embody this theme through form, texture, and light. Works may interpret stillness and driftless as spiritual, natural, emotional, or communal, encouraging visitors to slow down and engage more deeply with the landscape and with one another. Up to eleven sculptural works will be selected for the 20th edition of this annual temporary public art exhibit. There is no fee to apply and artists can submit completed works or those to be fabricated by the August 2026 install dates. Artists may submit multiple works for consideration; a separate application must be completed for each artwork. Online applications are due by 11:59 p.m. CST on Friday, January 16, 2026. Selected artists receive an $1,800 stipend for each work included in the exhibition. Additional cash prizes of $1,000 for Best in Show and $200 for People’s Choice are also available. Artworks are encouraged to be for sale as the City makes special efforts to promote purchasing throughout the year.
