2027 beam camp project open call

Beam Center seeks design proposals for an ambitious public artwork that will be brought to life through collaborations between youth, Beam Camp staff and the selected proposer. Projects will be realized by a community of more than 100 young people at Beam Camp in July 2026.

Beam Camp is a specialized summer camp for building and collaboration located in Strafford, NH. Our award-winning program offers youth (ages 9-17) the opportunity to cultivate hands-on skills while exploring innovative thinking, design, problem solving and the creative process.

Every year, Beam Camp solicits proposals for unique and spectacular large-scale projects that serve as the centerpiece for the four week session of camp. Our Project Team works with the winning designers to translate their vision into a real construction reflecting a high level of craftsmanship and skill by 100 campers and 20+ staff. Projects are always ambitious and technically challenging, and in many cases our Big Project becomes the world we live in during our time at camp. The themes and questions introduced by our project circulate to all parts of camp and make each Summer at Beam distinctly exciting from the next.. Please take some time to familiarize yourself with our past projects.

Winning proposals will be selected by a committee composed of Beam Center staff, youth, past project designers, and community members. We welcome proposals from all over the world and from people of any age, and while we recognize the usefulness of AI, we ask that you use it sparingly. We would rather see and hear about an idea from its human designer(s) because they are the ones who can tell the story best. 

Beam Camp is looking for the following:

• Proposals from creative individuals with big ideas, including but not limited to Artists, Engineers, Architects, Builders, Filmmakers, Musicians, Designers, Technologists, etc.

• Big ideas that result in a unique, ambitious, and spectacular product

• Proposals that communicate a clear vision (sketches, diagrams, and other visuals are always helpful) and represent your/your team’s expertise

• Projects that are ambitious enough to occupy and challenge 100 campers and 20+ staff members for approximately 50 hours

• Projects that take advantage of Beam’s facilities, community, landscape and rural setting

• Projects that use a range of materials, processes and techniques

• Projects that incorporate entry points for camper and staff worldbuilding.

• Projects that allow us to create the majority of the components onsite and from scratch

Beam Camp Disciplines and Facilities include:

• Full wood and metal shops, equipped with a range of hand and power tools

• Welding facilities

• Textile, dye and sewing stations

• Ceramic studio

• Molding and casting facilities

• Technology lab

• Audio equipment and instrument selection

• Commercial Kitchen

Award, Project Budget and Selected Artist Expectations:

• Selected proposers should have a general understanding of the processes, techniques, and materials involved in their proposal

• Selected proposer must be available for bi-weekly meetings beginning 6 months before project completion in order to facilitate any necessary development, prototyping, and problem solving

• Selected proposers must be able to provide plans according to the project development schedule listed below

• Selected proposers are invited to join us at camp for some portion of the camp session (reasonable travel expenses to reimbursed)