General Information
The competition is open to Maryland residents/organizations and artists must be 18 years or older to apply. Artists, architects, engineers, and all sorts of creative teams are welcome to apply, and the selected project will be awarded $10,000 with an additional stipend for materials up to $5,000 (reimbursable).
Reviews will be done in two (2) rounds.
Round 1: Review of initial applications submitted using the form below (form will remain the same except date changes). The top three (3) candidates will be offered $500.00 to submit an extended proposal.
Round 2: In-person or virtual presentation of the extended proposal to the Public Art Committee.
If interested, you’re invited to review the rules below and submit a proposal.
Key Dates for the 2026 competition:
- October 15, 2025 – application portal opens
- January 30, 2026 – competition submissions due by 11:59 PM EST
- February 6, 2026 – Public Art Committee reviews all projects, and recommends their top 3 proposals
- March 2026 – Top 3 candidates present an extended proposal to TAG and PAC.
- Late April 2026- Winning artist notified, agreement signed, funds encumbered by City
- May 2026 – Announcement of winning design
- June 2026 – Construction and installation commences, completed within 6 months
Location:
The selected location for the 2026 Salisbury Prize public art installation is the kiosk area in front of the Salisbury-Wicomico Government Office Building, located at 125 North Division Street. This high-visibility space serves as a central hub for public engagement and has traditionally been used to promote upcoming City and County events and initiatives. Artists are encouraged to consider the site’s civic importance and its role as a public-facing platform when developing their proposals. The City of Salisbury is rich in history and heritage—elements that artists are invited to thoughtfully reflect in their concepts to honor and elevate the city’s cultural identity.
- All designs from Maryland artists/organizations will be considered, but Salisbury/local based artists are strongly encouraged to apply
- All designs must be original art. No trademarked or copyrighted images or phrases should be used. No AI generated art should be used. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image that was created by someone other than the artist or creative team is a violation of competition rules and will not be accepted.
- The winning design will become the property of the City of Salisbury. The City of Salisbury will assume full ownership of the content, as well at the art objects and maintenance.
- Design winner is solely responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, including taxes imposed on their income.
- Artists should bear in mind that the audience will be broad based and of all ages, and designs should be appropriate for public display. Designs that are religious, political or sexual in nature will not be accepted. Additionally, neither corporate logos nor advertising is allowed.
- Up to $5,000 will be budgeted for materials/supplies for the selected winning proposal. A reimbursement will be provided to the winning artist/artist team with proof of purchase.
Recognition of Winning Installation
- The artist whose design is selected will receive $10,000 stipendThe City will provide press opportunities and an unveiling event after or at the time of installation.
Criteria
Projects submitted will be ranked on the following criteria by the City’s internal Technical Advisory Group:
Technical review
- Is the project’s installation durable, safe, and meet applicable codes? Does it pose any safety or liability concerns?
- Does the project demonstrate structural soundness, surface integrity and inherent resistance to theft, vandalism, weathering and excessive maintenance?
- What are the necessary electrical, plumbing, or other utility requirements that are defined? Are they available at the site?
- Are there any required permits or approvals needed for the project’s installation?
- Does the project advance or align with any City plans or policies?
- Does the project address a priority that has been vocalized by the community?
- Is the project viable, in terms of City support and technical feasibility?
- Is the proposal broad-based and appropriate for public display? Does it have any religious, political, or sexual nature to it? Does it feature any corporate logos or advertising?
Projects submitted will be ranked on the following criteria by the City’s Public Art Committee:
Artistic Merit & Feasibility
- Does the proposal meet the definition of “public art” and does the artist meet the definition of “artist” as included in the City’s Public Art Masterplan?
- Does the artist/artist team have enough experience with the artistic medium they are proposing?
- Do you have confidence that they’d be able to execute the project?
- Is the artwork they are proposing unique or innovative? Does it offer a fresh perspective?
- Does the artist reside in Salisbury or have strong ties to the Salisbury area?
Creativity and Context
- Subjectively, would you enjoy looking at this piece of art? Is it enduring? Does it stand the test of time?
- Does it evoke an emotional response, whether joy, sadness, contemplation, or any other emotion? Is it interactive?
- Does the arrangement of elements within the artwork, in keeping with design principals, include balance, harmony, and visual interest?
- Is the proposal compatible in scale, material, form and content with the proposed location, and compatible with existing approved community or area plans, especially public realm strategies?
- Is the proposal compatible with the architectural, historical, geographical, and social/cultural context of the site or community?
Community Elevation & Diversity
- Does the proposal result in an improvement of the City’s public art collection as a whole, and does it improve the collection’s reflection of the artistic traditions and practices of the community, including its newest members and those whose cultural traditions are underrepresented?
- Does the project address a priority that has been vocalized by the community?
- Is the proposal broad-based and appropriate for public display?
Each criterion will be ranked on the following grading system:
| Excellent to outstanding | Good to very good | Satisfactory | Fair to marginal |
| 21-30 | 11-20 | 6-10 | 1-5 |
2024 Salisbury Prize Selection
Thomas Sterner, “Perpetual” stainless-steel sculpture
Below is his sketch of the project:
Below is the final installation:
Sterner is a full-time artist living near Union Mills, Maryland, where he built his Art Factory studio, with a large workshop, welding area, and a painting/printmaking loft, nestled in the forest on the edge of farmland. He works with various materials including metal, wood, paint, and ink.
Learn more about Thomas Sterner here and at his website, www.sternerartfactory.com.