The Seaport Art Walk in New Bedford, Massachusetts, is now accepting artist proposals for its 2026 edition, which will run from July 9 to October 31, 2026. The juried outdoor exhibition, themed “Good Trouble” in honor of the late Rep. John Lewis and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, invites submissions of temporary sculptures, murals, or photography exploring civil disobedience, community organizing, and cultural resistance. Proposals are due by February 23, 2026, with stipends ranging from $250 to $2,500 per artwork.
This call for entries matters because the Seaport Art Walk is New Bedford’s first large-format outdoor public art exhibition, transforming the city’s working waterfront into a platform for civic engagement and social commentary. By linking art to themes of protest and healing, the 2026 edition connects local history—from the American Revolution to abolitionism—with contemporary activism, reinforcing the role of public art in community dialogue and cultural expression.