We invite you to bring your creative concepts to life at Salina’s 49th Annual Smoky Hill River Festival. Each year, the festival commissions artists and roving performers to create unique works of art or performances and experiences to engage festival participants in unexpected ways. Nearly 60,000 people attend this multi-disciplinary celebration of the arts, highlighting music, fine arts, crafts, and food. The four-day event offers entertainment for all ages and retains its reputation as one of the Midwest’s most extraordinary cultural events.
Projects should respond to the spirit of community celebration, the need for audience accessibility, the scale of the surroundings, and the aesthetic qualities of the park’s natural landscape and existing architecture.
Eligibility & Submission Guidelines
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Proposals may be submitted by an individual or team.
- Works must be original, created, or adapted for the Festival.
- Artworks must be structurally sound…designed to function in sun, rain, or wind, and designed for the public realm.
- Proposals up to $2,000 are considered.
The Smoky Hill River Festival reserves purchase and reproduction rights, and credits are as agreed upon by both parties.
The Atmosphere
THIS IS A RAIN OR SHINE EVENT in historic Oakdale Park, providing the perfect setting for a myriad of site-specific creative projects in an outdoor space. Use the natural park features and infrastructure as a springboard for inspiration. New artists applying should schedule an on-site visit with the visual arts coordinator to determine the installation or performance location(s). Consider some of the following features as you brainstorm.
- Trees
- Chain-link fencing
- Grassy landscape
- Pedestrian footbridges
- Sidewalks winding through the park
We are looking for a variety of disciplines to include:
- Large scale sculpture
- Kinetic works
- Art installation
- Roving, aerial, or ground performance
- Live painting
- Community-engaged creative activity
- Large scale puppetry
- Wearable art
- New media and experimental
- Overhead hanging installation
* Digital media and lighting are encouraged, but the event occurs mainly during daylight hours. Illuminated or digital displays may not have the same impact as an indoor or nighttime presentation.
Your proposal should include the following information.
- Artist(s) name(s)
- Company or Troupe name (if applicable)
- Title of the installation/activity/roving act
- Concept statement (250 words max).
- Description of the installation to include technical needs such as electrical, mechanical, and safety.
- Visual representation (sketches, diagrams, or renderings). Up to five images at 300 dpi.
- Links to video for roving and performance applicants.
- Project budget, including materials, production, labor costs, installation, and de-installation of work.
- Proposed location(s) within Oakdale Park.
*All artists are required to complete an on-site visit with the Visual Arts Coordinator before the final proposal review is completed. Alternate arrangements are made if an on-site visit is not possible in advance of submission.
- A brief artist biography (200 words max).
- Curriculum Vitae highlighting relevant experience and exhibitions.
Electricity
- Electrical access is limited, and there may be location choices within the park.so you MUST include this in your project proposal. A request does not guarantee access.
Review
Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis as received. The festival coordinators make proposal selections based on artistic merit and potential for public interaction. Safety in design and installation is a key consideration, given the number of attendees and potential scope of public interaction with the artworks.
All projects are subject to approval by The City of Salina risk management department.
Timeline & Important Dates
- Returning Artists' proposal submissions are DUE by December 15.
- New Artists' proposal submission are DUE by December 31
Installation timeline
- Installation completed on site by noon, June 12, 2025.
- Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 4 pm. Gates OPEN
- Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 4 pm. Festival CLOSES.
*INSTALLATIONS REMOVED FROM THE PARK BY THE END OF THE DAY.
Artist Perks
- Lodging accommodations
- On-site Artist’s hospitality
- Free Reserved parking
For questions, please contact:
Crystal Hammerschmidt
Visual Arts Coordinator & Art Show Director
Crystal.hammerschmidt@salina.org
785-509-5770
