Calling All Artists-

The deadline for Socrates Sculpture Park 2008 exhibitions is Jan. 28, 2008 for:

- Spring Exhibition - Emerging Artist Fellowship

- Open Space

Guidelines and applications are available at www.socratessculpturepark.org.

Socrates Sculpture Park, an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite until 1986 was transformed into an open studio and exhibition space for artists, and a neighborhood park for local residents by sculptor Mark di Suvero.

Once a rubble-strewn lot, Socrates Sculpture Park flourishes as an ever-evolving natural landscape and oasis on the East River. Located in Long Island City, this waterfront park overlooks Manhattan and is an inspiration for artists. To date, Socrates has hosted some 700 artists and attracts about 72,000 visitors annually.

Socrates Sculpture Park is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with the opportunity to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multimedia installations. It is world renowned for its experimentation and innovation to expand, reinvent and redefine art in public spaces.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the park before submitting their application in order to account for the site's rugged, urban outdoor environment and know that sculptures installed in the park must meet safety requirements and be able to withstand the effects of weather and public use.

Artists can apply for one or more of the exhibition categories and need to send only one application package.

Grants and fellowships are not available to artists who are enrolled in a school, college or university program.

About the Spring Exhibition:

From May to August 2008, Socrates Sculpture Park will present an exhibition based on interpretations, goals, realities, politics and practices of recycling.

The exhibition encompasses many perspectives of adaptive re-use, the global trend toward going green, the results of a world-wide focus on sustainability and share a common theme of repurposing wasted or cast off resources both material and intangible.

For this exhibition, the park will provide artists with funding, administrative and technical assistance, a one to three month residency in the outdoor studio and access to facilities, materials and equipment. The amount of financial support available is contingent on the requirements of the artist's project and funding that Socrates receives.

Socrates Sculpture Park will not provide any housing or transportation, and artists outside New York will have to make their own travel arrangements.

Emerging Artist Fellowship Program:

Fellowship artists are selected through an open application process and proposals are reviewed by an advisory committee. If selected the artist will meet with Socrates staff members to discuss their proposal and get assistance with the development, engineering and fabrication of the project.

The fellowship grant consists of $5,000, a two to six month residency in the outdoor studio, access to facilities, materials and equipment, technical assistance to create work for the Emerging Artists Fellowship Exhibition which opens Sept. 7, 2008. Fellows also have access to administrative assistance for additional fundraising, procuring inkind support and pursue future commissions, residencies and placement for their work.

Fellowship eligibility is for artists who are not yet well established, must be New York state residents and are in need of financial assistance.

Open Space:

A single artist project and collaboration is presented as separate exhibitions throughout the year.

Through the Open Space program, Socrates can provide funding, administrative and technical assistance, a one to six month residency in the outdoor studio, access to facilities, and materials and equipment to create new work for the park.

Funding varies from year to year and the amount of financial support is contingent on the requirements of their project and the grants that Socrates receives to support the Open Space exhibitions.

The Open Space program is open to all artists, nationally and internationally. The park cannot provide any housing or transportation, and artists living outside New York will have to make their own living and travel arrangements.

For more information go to Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd (at Broadway), Long Island City or call, 718.956.1819.