Rotating Public Art Exhibitions
2027 Call for Artists
Applications due by 4:30 pm on December 5, 2026
OVERVIEW
Polk County Conservation invites artists to submit an application(s) for pre-existing artwork to participate in our 2027 Rotating Public Art Exhibitions. Exhibition pieces will be placed at either the Jester Park Nature Center or Easter Lake. These exhibits are temporary outdoor exhibits, displayed behind the Jester Park Nature Center in conjunction with our permanent outdoor Prairie Sculpture Trail or along Easter Lake’s Sculpture Trail along the Mark C. Ackelson Trail.
EXHIBIT DETAILS
- Selected artist will receive a $2,000 stipend for each use of their artwork.
- The artist retains ownership of their work and agrees to loan it to the exhibit. During the exhibit, the artwork will be covered under the County’s insurance policy for the retail value of the artwork; however, artist must also carry standard liability insurance coverage. Artist will be required to provide proof of liability insurance if selected.
- Selected sculptures will be promoted through local media. Marketing efforts will include but are not limited to:
- An article in Nature News (18,000+ subscribers)
- News and information on the Polk County Conservation’s websites
- Polk County Conservation’s social media accounts (combined following of over 19,000)
- Jester Park & Easter Lake Visitors (1.4 million+ visitors annually)
*Polk County Conservation reserves the right to photograph and reproduce images of the artwork on exhibit for promotional and educational purposes.
EXHIBIT LOCATIONS
Jester Park
The Jester Park Nature Center is located in Granger, Iowa and offers 1,600 acres of prairie, wetlands, and forests for visitors to explore. Hiking, bird watching, camping, fishing, golfing, and horseback riding are just a few of the activities visitors can enjoy at the park. The Nature Center is located in the heart of the park and serves as a gateway to the outdoors. The Prairie Sculpture Trail features five unique nature-inspired public works of art. Each sculpture is located along a beautiful nature trail beginning at the front entrance of the Jester Park Nature Center. The sculptures on the trail are meant to educate, inform, and nurture our fascination and curiosity about the natural world. Selected work will be bolted to a 4’ x 4’ steel plate located behind the nature center, adjacent to the patio.
Easter Lake
A beautiful 165-acre lake is the centerpiece of this 468+ acre park in southeastern Des Moines. Surrounding the lake, visitors enjoy the Mark C. Ackelson Trail, a 4-mile paved trail, nature trails, picnicking, playgrounds, and viewing Polk County’s last remaining covered bridge. The Athene North Shore Recreation Area is the newest addition to Easter Lake Park. Accessible. Welcoming. Recreation. Those are the guiding principles that have driven Polk County Conservation’s efforts to create the most universally designed waterfront in Iowa - maybe even America. This is a place where people of all ages and abilities can feel the spray of water on their face and the soft sand between their fingers or toes. The Athene North Shore Recreation Area is where you can enjoy nature on your own terms - not in spite of your limitations, but in full acceptance and celebration of them. Selected work will be bolted to a 4’ x 4’ concrete pad on one of the 5 pads on the sculpture trail that follows the Mark C. Ackelson Trail.
INSTALLATION OF ARTWORK
Artist is responsible for all costs, equipment, and labor necessary for the delivery, installation, and removal of their work and assume all risk and damage to their work before and during installation and during and after removal. Work not appropriate for installation onto 4’ x 4’ base plate/pad will not be allowed. Lighting and power will not be provided at the artwork locations. The artist shall affix their artwork to the plate in such a way that non-authorized removal would not be possible. Polk County Conservation will not provide labor or equipment for install.
SALE OF ARTWORK
The selected piece of artwork must have a pre-determined purchase value or sale price that is set by the artist. If someone desires to purchase the displayed artwork, artwork must remain on display throughout the duration of the exhibition. The $2,000 stipend provided to the artists is not part of any sales transaction.
ARTWORK CRITERIA
All artwork must be the original work of the artist (in concept, composition, and execution) and suitable for outdoor public display. Work will be selected by a selection panel. The following criteria will be used in the selection process.
Required Artwork Characteristics
- Artwork that is suitable for public viewing
- Artwork that displays high quality of technical skill, imagination, and innovation
- Artwork that is suitable for outdoor display in adverse weather conditions
- Artwork that has soundness of construction, is durable, and is safe for viewing.
Desirable Artwork Characteristics
- Artwork that creates a sense of discovery, surprise, and emotional connection
- Artwork that uses kinetic devices, optical effects, dynamic shapes, or bright colors to create a vibrant and interesting exhibit
- Artwork that is participatory
- Artwork that is whimsical, uplifting, and creative
- Artwork inspires curiosity about our natural world
EXHIBIT TIMELINE
- Call for Artists issued November 3, 2026
- Artwork applications due December 5, 2026
- Selection panel deliberation and recommendation December, 2026
- Notification of selection to artist January 14, 2027
- Delivery and installation of artwork April 15-30, 2027
- Removal of artwork April 1-14, 2028