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Overview

Mid-South Sculpture Alliance (MSA) is excited to present 2026 Student Pop-up, a juried Exhibition in conjunction with the 2026 MSA Confab at The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. 

This exhibition will be held in the Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts, The North Carmen & Win Thompson Atrium (Thompson Atrium), and the South Hearts Foundation Gallery Atrium (Hearts Atrium).

All submitted work must be freestanding or pedestal-based work.

This exhibition fosters MSA’s mission to advance the creation and awareness of sculpture in its many and varied forms and promote a supportive environment for sculpture and sculptors. 

MSA Student Members are encouraged to submit up to three artworks for consideration.

Application and Exhibit Timeline:

Call opens: August 2026
Deadline for submission: Sept 1, 2026
Artists to be notified: Sept 7, 2026
Shipping artwork deadline: All works must be hand delivered.
In-person delivery deadline:  October 2, 2026 by 3pm.
Exhibition dates: October 2 – October 3, 2026
Exhibition Reception: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
De-installation dates: Sunday, Oct. 4 2026
In-person pick up Window: Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026

Artist Eligibility

• This opportunity is open to all Student visual artists, aged 18 and older, who are current or new members of MSA. 

• Each applicant may enter up to THREE artworks; all entries must have been conceived and created by the artist submitting the artwork; all submitted work must be freestanding or pedestal-based work. 

• Applying for membership can be made when submitting for this exhibition.

• Application is free for MSA Student members

Juror

The juror for the 2026 Student Pop-Up exhibition will be announced at a later date.

Site

Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts, The North Carmen & Win Thompson Atrium (Thompson Atrium), and the South Hearts Foundation Gallery Atrium (Hearts Atrium)

Artwork Themes 

The open call for submission requires no theme nor specific media or subject matter. Innovative, new, excellent examples of formal, process-driven, transformative, and strong conceptual or technical works in sculpture are desired. The shape and content of the show will be defined entirely by the jurors. All submitted work must be freestanding or pedestal-based work. This is a one-day student pop-up event with nominal prizes selected by the juror. The event coincides with the MSA 2026 Confab. 

Shipping, Installation, and Deinstallation

All accepted artwork should be hand delivered on Friday, Oct. 2 by 3pm. 

Delivery address:  Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts, 131

                              The University of Central Arkansas

                            201 Donaghey Avenue

                              Conway, AR  72035
                             

In-person delivery:

Please coordinate in-person delivery in advance with Dr. Bryan W. Massey, Sr. Email: bryanm@uca.edu  to schedule an appointment for October 2nd

2150 Bruce Street

Conway, AR  72035

Deinstallation 

Deinstallation will begin Evening of October 3rd and early October 4th 

In-person pick up:

Please coordinate in-person pick up in advance with Dr. Bryan W. Massey, Sr.. Email: bryanm@uca.edu   to schedule an appointment for October 3 – 4,2026

Artwork remaining on site after 180 days following the conclusion of its associated exhibition is considered the property of University of Arkansas for dispersal as it sees fit.

Artwork Scale

The exhibition space allows for free-standing, pedestal work ONLY. The footprint of pedestal works should be max 36” x 36”.  

All packaging and artwork must fit through a 6’ (height) double door.  

Packaging requirements

Reusable Shipping Package/Crate, weight limits: 175 lbs or less

Limitations & Restrictions

1. All work must be original.

2. All shipping or hand delivery and the return of work for the exhibition is the responsibility of the artist.

3. University of Central Arkansas and MSA reserve the right to reject works that are misrepresented in the application process or are not properly outfitted to display in the gallery.

Artist Responsibilities

Exhibiting venue will supply power, tools, pedestals, basic installation materials and assistance for installation. The artist will provide any specialty hardware that is needed. Selected artists are encouraged to send a detailed installation instruction of artwork. If special arrangements are needed for installation, please email Dr. Bryan W. Massey, Sr.

For further information regarding MSA and this exhibition, please visit www.midsouthsculpture.org, or contact Chelsea Moulder, Administrative Assistant, at admin@midsouthsculpture.org.

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Application Requirements

1. Completed entry form 
2. Artist statement - about artwork conception. Submissions should be no more than 400 words in length. These statements will be used for exhibition didactics including artist labels and exhibition catalogue.
3. Artist biography statement - 100 to 150 words in length
4. Images - please submit up to three artworks. Detail images are encouraged with a maximum of up to ten image files total. Works in progress will be considered only if images clearly depicting where the sculpture is to this point and a detailed technical drawing are included. For work better suited for representation by video (installation, kinetic sculpture, etc), post a video and include a link in the application form.

Image upload directions - each image must be:

• Saved in jpeg or png format

• Set color to RGB

• Image size should not exceed horizontal pixel dimension of 1600 pixels or vertical pixel dimension of 1200 pixels

• each file must be less than 1MB

• Saved as the artist's last name and image title.
  Example: DOE_UNTITLED.jpg

5. Image list - for each image, include:

• Title

• Date completed

• Media

• Dimensions (please be as accurate as possible)

• Weight of artwork

• Description of how the artwork would be installed/hung etc

• Optional description about the artwork

Submitting your application indicates that you have read and understood all guidelines and criteria contained within this prospectus. To the best of your knowledge, you are eligible to be considered for this for exhibition. Your application contains your work and the information in your statements is complete and true. You understand that if accepted, it will be your responsibility to ship/deliver your exhibition ready artwork to the correct location and on time, concurrent with any schedules given to you upon acceptance. If accepted, the artwork presented with this application is the artwork that will be installed in the exhibit.  University of Central Arkansas and MSAdo not provide insurance for the artwork during the exhibition. The Artist assumes all liability and any injury or damages incurred directly from the artwork or associated malfunctions of equipment/technology in the exhibition. This includes damages to networks in conjunction with internet or server access required for the exhibition.

No person will be excluded from participation in or otherwise subjected to discrimination in regard to services, programs and employment, provided by the exhibition venue based on color, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age or religion.