outdoor downeast sculpture exhibition 2027-28

This is the year long outdoor component of the DownEast National Juried Sculpture Exhibition is located in Pitt County, North Carolina. This year, we celebrate 21 years of DownEast Sculptures! 

The exhibition has two components: a month-long indoor exhibition and a year-long outdoor exhibition. 

What is DownEast?

The DownEast National Juried Sculpture Exhibition began as a local showcase of student sculptural work in 2006. It has grown into two components: a month-long indoor exhibition and a year-long outdoor exhibition. Sculpture is the art of making objects in three dimensions. This art type creates art in the physical space using techniques like carving, modeling, and casting with materials such as stone, metal, and wood.

The DownEast outdoor sculpture exhibition is a joint exhibition in Pitt County with partnerships including Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge, ECU Student Galleries, City of Greenville, Pitt County Cultural Arts and Recreation, Town of Winterville, Town of Farmville, Town of Ayden, Wahl-Coates Elementary School for the Arts, Pitt-Greenville Airport, and the Greenville Museum of Art. 

Outdoor Exhibition Information

This exhibition is open to all artists ages 18 and up. All entries must be submitted digitally. Work should be large scale to fit one of the sculpture pads in various locations throughout Pitt County, NC. Sculpture pads range from 4’x4’ to 10’ round in diameter. Artists must be available to install and remove their own work. They may have some help from the entity where the sculpture is placed, but this is not guaranteed. Liability insurance may be asked for in the City of Greenville’s locations. All work must remain on exhibit from installation in February 2027 through removal in February 2028. Work must be able to be exhibited outdoors for the length of the exhibition and utilize materials that are exterior grade.