downtown putnam permanent sculpture installation

The Town of Putnam, in collaboration with the Putnam Arts Council (PAC) and the Putnam Business Association (PBA), invites professional artists and artist teams to submit finished artwork or proposals for one of three permanent, site-specific outdoor sculptures in Downtown Putnam, Connecticut.

This initiative is part of a joint effort to enhance the cultural vitality and visual landscape of the community through engaging and accessible public art.

The three sculptures will be installed along Main Street, in locations that previously housed trees. These tree sites, now available for creative reuse, are embedded within a highly visible and walkable area, making them ideal for impactful public art. Given this context, proposals inspired by arboreal themes, natural forms, or ecological concepts are strongly encouraged as a way to artistically reintroduce elements of nature into the urban setting.

Each installation will serve as a dynamic feature in the downtown corridor, reflecting Putnam’s unique character, history, and creative spirit. All sculptures must be:

• Durable and weather-resistant, suitable for year-round outdoor display in the New England climate
• Safe and accessible, as they will be placed in a public and walkable area
• Securely mountable to a 4-foot by 4-foot concrete slab with anchor bolts or comparable method
• Sized approximately at most 6 to 10 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide
• While submissions of completed, ready-to-install sculptures are preferred, they are not required. Artists may also propose new works to be fabricated following selection.
• The artist must be present to assist in the installation to ensure that the sculpture is properly placed and securely mounted.