Call for Submission of Sculpture for Permanent Installation in Benson Sculpture Garden

Loveland High Plains Arts Council is ready to purchase life-size or larger outdoor sculptures to add to the collection in Benson Sculpture Garden. While we always accept submissions for bronze pieces, we also consider stone, metal or other durable, permanent materials that are safe, easily maintained and that are able to withstand the year-round weather conditions in Colorado as well as the many, unsupervised children who may climb on and play with the sculpture. For future maintenance and repair reasons, pieces produced by reputable and well-established US facilities are preferred with the understanding that a three-year warrantee on workmanship, durability and materials is expected from the artist. All sculptures in the garden collection are professionally inspected, cleaned and maintained annually by the LHPAC and the City of Loveland’s Visual Arts Commission.

BENSON SCULPTURE GARDEN

Located at 2908 Aspen Drive in Loveland, Colorado, Benson Sculpture Garden has provided a beautiful and unique outdoor setting for showcasing sculpture since 1985. It is here that the Loveland High Plains Arts Council hosts its annual Sculpture In The Park Show & Sale event each August. Currently, there are 189 pieces of sculpture on permanent display by world-renowned artists worth well over $5 million. The 10-acre park is open to the public and may be viewed at any time of day.  It includes miles of handicap-accessible sidewalks, flower gardens, ponds and wetland features, a public restroom and several picnic areas.

This "public treasure" annually draws tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe. It has been recognized as "one of the 200 most important modern and contemporary art sites around the world” and as “one of the 20 must-see contemporary art sites across the USA". Additionally, it is the #1 attraction for Loveland on TripAdvisor.

Benson Sculpture Garden continues to grow. In 2015 it expanded across 29th Street with the installation of three new pieces. Today there are 28 sculptures located in this newer area, Benson Sculpture Garden at North Lake Park. Additional landscaping was added to this area of the park in 2018.

Following a very successful 2024 Sculpture In The Park Show and Sale, the Loveland High Plains Arts Council acquired 2 new pieces for permanent placement in Benson Sculpture Garden, Amanda Markel’s RIDGE RUNNERS, and Jack Kreutzer and Elijah Nugent’s ST. PATRICK. These new pieces were installed in 2025 and dedicated July 26th.

The garden is open all year except for the South West corner which is closed August 1 to August 16 for the Sculpture In The Park Show and Sale. There is no admission fee to visit Benson Sculpture Garden.

Budget:

Profits from the 2025, 41st Annual Sculpture In The Park Show and Sale are now allocated to purchase of new works for the Benson Park Sculpture Collection and other improvements to the park. Loveland High Plains Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Each year there is some variability in the funds available any given year. Normally 2 to 4 new sculptures are added each year.

• October 1, 2025 Deadline for submitting proposals with 3 images clearly showing the sculpture from different angles. If available, one video showing the sculpture in 360 degrees is also accepted but not required.

• November 20, 2025 Final selection of sculpture to be purchased by the Loveland High Plains Arts Council (LHPAC) pending approval by the City of Loveland’s Visual Arts Commission (VAC). Artist notified of LHPAC Intent to purchase pending VAC approval.

• December, 2025 First review of selected sculpture by the Loveland VAC and publication of intent for public comment.

• January 8, 2026 Final review of sculpture and public comments by the VAC and approval. Artist will receive purchase contract shortly thereafter.

• July 23 or before, 2026 Installation of sculpture. Artist is responsible for delivery of the sculpture to Benson Park, Loveland, CO 80538 in time for installation.

• Saturday, July 25, 2026 Public Dedication of the sculpture at Benson Park. Artist is requested to attend and speak.      

Submissions must be submitted via Café Call for Entry website at https://artist.callforentry.org by 12:00 pm MDT on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

• A 1–2-page (maximum) resume listing the artist’s education, experience, awards, commissions, collections, and galleries.

• An artist may submit up to 3 different pieces of work. Please fill out a separate entry/application for each piece proposed.

• Three (3) images of each proposed piece clearly showing the front, back and side view.  If available, one (1) video showing the sculpture in 360 degrees may also be submitted but is not required. The artist’s picture or name must not appear anywhere in the images of video.

• Please do not submit pieces that you have submitted more than once in previous years or that are duplicated in a permanent, public location within a 60-mile radius of Loveland, CO.

Open to all sculptors age 18 and older working in a permanent medium suitable for outdoor installation.