Oxford and UM Open Call for 2026 Yokna Sculpture Trail Entries

City, university and arts council officials announced a coordinated call for entries on Jan. 9 for the 2026 Yokna Sculpture Trail, a public art initiative that will place 15 to 20 large-scale outdoor sculptures at campus and community locations. The initiative invites artists aged 18 and older to submit digital portfolios with up to three works created within the last five years; there is no entry fee and submissions must demonstrate suitability for outdoor display with minimal maintenance.

Selected sculptures will be exhibited from April 15, 2026 to March 1, 2028 at sites that include Pat Lamar Park, the Powerhouse Sculpture Garden, the University of Mississippi Sculpture Park and the University Museum. A selection committee composed of city and university representatives will review entries and notify chosen artists by Feb. 10. Each selected work carries a $3,000 honorarium intended to help cover transport and installation costs. Applicants seeking program details and installation or sales policies are directed to contact the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council or the university’s project staff.

The project is significant for Lafayette County civic and cultural life. A geographically distributed sculpture trail connects university property with public parks and museum grounds, shaping how residents and visitors move through and experience community spaces. The no-fee application and modest honorarium lower barriers for artists to participate, but the requirement for works to need minimal maintenance highlights longer term cost considerations for hosts and municipal budgets.

Institutional collaboration between the city and the university presents both opportunities and governance responsibilities. Shared stewardship of public artwork requires clear agreements on maintenance, liability, insurance and potential sales. Those terms are central to transparency and public accountability when taxpayer-supported public spaces host long-term installations. For residents, the sculpture trail could boost local cultural tourism and enliven park and campus programming, while also placing new demands on public maintenance schedules and city planning.

The timeline is tight for artists, with submissions due Jan. 19 and notifications by Feb. 10; installations will be in place in time for the April exhibition opening. Residents and community stakeholders will have the opportunity to see new work at multiple civic sites during the two-year display and to monitor how institutional partners manage upkeep, public access and any future disposition of the pieces.