Invites Early Career Artists to Propose Interdisciplinary Works in Response to the Theme “Up/rooted”
Long Island City, NY — Socrates Sculpture Park (Socrates, the Park) today announced its Open Call for proposals for the 2025 Socrates Annual Fellowship. The Park invites early career artists to submit proposals for new public works responding to the complexities of uprooting for long-term sustainability and resilience.
For the first time, Socrates is encouraging proposals that span across creative disciplines including sculpture, performance, social practice, ecology, and more. The Socrates Annual Fellowship reflects the Park’s commitment to nurturing artists, experimentation and risk-taking, providing invaluable support for the development of ambitious public art projects. Applications are open on October 24th and must be submitted by Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM.
The 2025 Socrates Annual Fellowship will focus on the theme “Up/rooted,” exploring the tension between dislocation and resilience. The theme considers how removal or extraction may sometimes be essential for survival, and how thoughtful relocation can foster growth, understanding, and a thriving ecosystem. As Socrates prepares for the upcoming Seawall Reconstruction Project in partnership with the City of New York, the 2025 theme invites artists to reflect on how ecological preservation and community needs intersect to foster regeneration of place. Proposals are encouraged to take a multi-disciplinary approach, creatively engaging overlooked areas of the Park and exploring the relationship between the visible and the hidden—between the nourishing systems underground and the expansive possibilities overhead.
The Fellowship culminates in The Socrates Annual, an exhibition showcasing the Fellows’ completed works from September 2025 to March 2026. Selected artists will work closely with the Park’s staff to develop production timelines and budgets, with installations occurring on a rolling basis from May to September 2025.
“We are continually inspired by the innovative approaches artists bring to public art, and this year’s Fellowship theme, ‘Up/rooted,’ invites deep reflection on both ecological and social resilience.” said Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park. “As we navigate the transformation of our park and community in the coming months, this year's fellowship cohort will have a unique opportunity to respond to the dual forces of disruption and regeneration. We encourage proposals that challenge conventions of public art by engaging overlooked spaces, and pushing the boundaries of how art can foster community and environmental stewardship.”
“At Socrates Sculpture Park, we have always believed that art has the power to catalyze conversation and action. The 2025 Fellowship embodies our commitment to nurturing early career artists while advancing dialogues about sustainability and community care,” said Socrates Co-Directors Katie Dixon and Shaun Leonardo. “We see the 2025 Annual Fellowship as a critical moment to bridge art and environmental resilience, allowing artists to create works that speak not only to the beauty of our landscape but also to the challenges of adapting to a changing world. We encourage artists across disciplines—whether working in sculpture, performance, ecology, or new media—to engage with our unique site and this year’s theme, exploring the intersection of art, nature, and community in ways that can inspire lasting impact.”
Socrates is renowned for its commitment to supporting public art that engages with pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues. Since 2000, the Fellowship program has worked with artists such as Leilah Babirye, Sable Elyse Smith, and Hank Willis Thomas, among others. The Socrates Annual Fellowship is open to early career artists residing in the New York tri-state area.
Socrates Annual Fellows Receive:
- Production Grant: Up to $8,000
- Artist Honorarium: $2,000
- Resources: Seven-days-a-week access to the outdoor artist studio, technical and administrative support, and collaboration with Socrates’ curatorial and public programs staff.
Important Dates:
- Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Finalist Notification: January 2025
- On-site Fabrication: April 2025 – August 2025
- Public Programming: May 2025 – March 2026 • Exhibition Opening: Mid-September 2025
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit socratessculpturepark.org/open-call-2025. To explore past works and the history of the Fellowship, visit Socrates Sculpture Park at socratessculpturepark.org.
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About Socrates Sculpture Park
For over 35 years, Socrates Sculpture Park has been an award winning model of public art production, community activism, and socially inspired place making. Most recently Socrates was honored with the Public Art Dialogue 2023 Founders Award. Over 1,200 artists have created and exhibited new works on its five waterfront acres and outdoor studio facilities. Past exhibiting artists include Agnes Denes, Jeffrey Gibson, Guadalupe Maravilla, Virginia Overton, Jean Shin, Sable Elyse Smith, Nari Ward, Meg Webster, and Hank Willis Thomas. Socrates is free and open to the public 365 days a year from 9am to sunset. It is located at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard (at Broadway) in Long Island City, New York. Socrates Sculpture Park is a not for profit organization licensed by NYC Parks to manage and program Socrates Sculpture Park, a New York City public park.
For the first time, Socrates is encouraging proposals that span across creative disciplines including sculpture, performance, social practice, ecology, and more. The Socrates Annual Fellowship reflects the Park’s commitment to nurturing artists, experimentation and risk-taking, providing invaluable support for the development of ambitious public art projects. Applications are open on October 24th and must be submitted by Friday, November 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM.
The 2025 Socrates Annual Fellowship will focus on the theme “Up/rooted,” exploring the tension between dislocation and resilience. The theme considers how removal or extraction may sometimes be essential for survival, and how thoughtful relocation can foster growth, understanding, and a thriving ecosystem. As Socrates prepares for the upcoming Seawall Reconstruction Project in partnership with the City of New York, the 2025 theme invites artists to reflect on how ecological preservation and community needs intersect to foster regeneration of place. Proposals are encouraged to take a multi-disciplinary approach, creatively engaging overlooked areas of the Park and exploring the relationship between the visible and the hidden—between the nourishing systems underground and the expansive possibilities overhead.
The Fellowship culminates in The Socrates Annual, an exhibition showcasing the Fellows’ completed works from September 2025 to March 2026. Selected artists will work closely with the Park’s staff to develop production timelines and budgets, with installations occurring on a rolling basis from May to September 2025.
“We are continually inspired by the innovative approaches artists bring to public art, and this year’s Fellowship theme, ‘Up/rooted,’ invites deep reflection on both ecological and social resilience.” said Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, Curator and Director of Exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park. “As we navigate the transformation of our park and community in the coming months, this year's fellowship cohort will have a unique opportunity to respond to the dual forces of disruption and regeneration. We encourage proposals that challenge conventions of public art by engaging overlooked spaces, and pushing the boundaries of how art can foster community and environmental stewardship.”
“At Socrates Sculpture Park, we have always believed that art has the power to catalyze conversation and action. The 2025 Fellowship embodies our commitment to nurturing early career artists while advancing dialogues about sustainability and community care,” said Socrates Co-Directors Katie Dixon and Shaun Leonardo. “We see the 2025 Annual Fellowship as a critical moment to bridge art and environmental resilience, allowing artists to create works that speak not only to the beauty of our landscape but also to the challenges of adapting to a changing world. We encourage artists across disciplines—whether working in sculpture, performance, ecology, or new media—to engage with our unique site and this year’s theme, exploring the intersection of art, nature, and community in ways that can inspire lasting impact.”
Socrates is renowned for its commitment to supporting public art that engages with pressing social, environmental, and cultural issues. Since 2000, the Fellowship program has worked with artists such as Leilah Babirye, Sable Elyse Smith, and Hank Willis Thomas, among others. The Socrates Annual Fellowship is open to early career artists residing in the New York tri-state area.
Socrates Annual Fellows Receive:
- Production Grant: Up to $8,000
- Artist Honorarium: $2,000
- Resources: Seven-days-a-week access to the outdoor artist studio, technical and administrative support, and collaboration with Socrates’ curatorial and public programs staff.
Important Dates:
- Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
- Finalist Notification: January 2025
- On-site Fabrication: April 2025 – August 2025
- Public Programming: May 2025 – March 2026 • Exhibition Opening: Mid-September 2025
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, visit socratessculpturepark.org/open-call-2025. To explore past works and the history of the Fellowship, visit Socrates Sculpture Park at socratessculpturepark.org.
###
About Socrates Sculpture Park
For over 35 years, Socrates Sculpture Park has been an award winning model of public art production, community activism, and socially inspired place making. Most recently Socrates was honored with the Public Art Dialogue 2023 Founders Award. Over 1,200 artists have created and exhibited new works on its five waterfront acres and outdoor studio facilities. Past exhibiting artists include Agnes Denes, Jeffrey Gibson, Guadalupe Maravilla, Virginia Overton, Jean Shin, Sable Elyse Smith, Nari Ward, Meg Webster, and Hank Willis Thomas. Socrates is free and open to the public 365 days a year from 9am to sunset. It is located at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard (at Broadway) in Long Island City, New York. Socrates Sculpture Park is a not for profit organization licensed by NYC Parks to manage and program Socrates Sculpture Park, a New York City public park.
Media Contacts:
Joyce Chan
Socrates Sculpture Park
jc@socratessculpturepark.org
Socrates Sculpture Park
jc@socratessculpturepark.org
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ElevenThirtySix Strategies
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ElevenThirtySix Strategies
ayofemi@itseleventhirtysix.com