Public Art Competition

"A Pine in the Sand," by Harvard Graduate School of Design students Isaac Stein and Maggie Tsang, is the winning design of the fourth cycle of the Institute's Public Art Competition. More

The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study sponsors a biennial student competition to design and construct a site-specific installation for prominent display in the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Garden in Radcliffe Yard. We encourage bold, provocative designs that highlight the potential of public art, and the visual arts in general, to contribute to intellectual conversations at Harvard and beyond.

The current installation—100+ Years at 73 Brattle by John Wang ’16, which highlights the footprints of three buildings that previously occupied the site—was selected by a faculty jury and opened in September 2017.

The competition is open to all students currently enrolled in a Harvard degree program. In the case of teams, all team members must be currently enrolled in a Harvard degree program. The winning student or team is required to reside in or be accessible to greater Boston to participate in the design and construction process. Participation includes regular design and construction development meetings.

For full rules, regulations, and competition requirements download the Radcliffe Institute Public Art Competition Brief (PDF).

For questions, please contact publicart@radcliffe.harvard.edu or call 617-495-8185.

Competition Registration

A simple registration form is required for each student or team of students. Registration must be completed by January 25, 2018, via the web form at bit.ly/ripac. Only one registration per team is required; students submitting in teams should nominate a single point person and provide contact information for all teammates on the registration form.

Wintersession Workshop

This intensive workshop prepares students to compete in the Radcliffe Institute Public Art Competition. The workshop exposes students to the rich history and practice of public art and links students with mentors who can offer guidance on the more technical aspects of creating proposals exclusively for the competition. Participating students must register for the workshop by December 20, 2017, arrive with an idea that can be developed at the workshop, and attend all workshop sessions. Attending the workshop is encouraged but not required to participate in the competition.

Radcliffe Institute Public Art Competition Wintersession Workshop
Tuesday, January 16 through Friday, January 19, 2018
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Registration is closed
Contact publicart@radcliffe.harvard.edu for more information

Submission

Submissions are due by January 26, 2018, at 5 p.m. For full rules, regulations, and competition requirements download the Radcliffe Institute Public Art Competition Brief (PDF).

Public Art Competition budget worksheet

Award

The winning student or team of students will be awarded a $10,000 honorarium and a construction budget of $40,000. In the case of a winning team, the $10,000 honorarium will be split equally among all members.

The jury will look favorably on submissions that feature realistic, specific plans for construction within the given budget and schedule.