Old Town Cape is calling for artists to apply for the 2026 Downtown Sculpture Exhibition, a revamped public art program that will install six large-scale sculptures along Cape Girardeau's Broadway corridor from June 2026 to June 2027. The juried exhibition is open to local, regional, and national sculptors, with applications due by June 5. A kickoff event on June 27 at Historic Ivers Square will feature artist meet-and-greets, demonstrations, live music, and family activities.
The exhibition matters because it revitalizes public art in a historic downtown district, fostering community engagement and supporting local economic development through cultural programming. By inviting artists from across the country, it also raises the profile of Cape Girardeau as a destination for contemporary sculpture, while the partnership with the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District and the city underscores the role of public-private collaboration in sustaining the arts.