Phoenix’s Heard Museum is offering Indigenous artists a rare and lasting honor. The museum has opened a call for an American Indian or First Nations sculptor, living in the United States or Canada, to create a permanent outdoor sculpture celebrating its beloved World Championship Hoop Dance Contest.
The finished work will stand near the main entrance of the historic campus at 2301 N. Central Ave., on a concrete base produced by the museum. It can be bronze, steel, stone, wood or another medium, as long as its largest dimension reaches at least five feet and it can brave Phoenix weather – fierce sun, heat over 100 degrees, monsoons and dust storms.
The timeline is fast: applications close Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 9 p.m. Arizona time, with a portfolio of past work – no concepts are requested yet. A juried committee will choose three semifinalists in December 2026, each receiving a $2,000 honorarium to present a concept in February 2027. The final artist, announced in March 2027, will receive a $100,000 project budget, and the sculpture is set to be installed in December 2027, in time for the 38th contest in February 2028.
Artists can apply through the museum’s artist opportunities page or write to [email protected]. It is a beautiful chance to leave a permanent mark on one of Phoenix’s most cherished cultural landmarks.
Photo: Heard Museum
