---
title: Call for Common Snapping Turtle Sculpture at Phinizy Nature Park
description: $9,500 commission for a permanent, safe-to-touch Common Snapping Turtle sculpture on the Beaver Trail at Phinizy Nature Park, Augusta, Georgia. Southeastern US sculptors.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/c8f32da1-469d-491d-959a-09d18db3d85a
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: "2026-09-04"
updatedAt: "2026-09-26"
programType: Commission
organization: Greater Augusta Arts Council
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/greater-augusta-arts-council
deadline: "2026-09-25"
location: Phinizy Center for Water Sciences and Nature Park, Augusta, GA, United States
isOnline: false
compensationRange: $9,500 stipend covering all project costs including design, fabrication, transportation, insurance, installation, and site preparation
disciplines:
  - sculpture
  - public art
---

# Call for Common Snapping Turtle Sculpture at Phinizy Nature Park

**Hosted by:** Greater Augusta Arts Council

**Type:** Commission | **Location:** Phinizy Center for Water Sciences and Nature Park, Augusta, GA, United States | **Deadline:** September 25, 2026

## About This Program

> "Georgia's native wildlife, wetlands and waterways of the Savannah River Basin — Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)"

The Greater Augusta Arts Council, on behalf of the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences and Nature Park, is requesting proposals from qualified sculptors or artist teams to create a unique, durable, low-maintenance, safe-to-touch sculpture titled "Snappy." The sculpture will depict a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) and will be installed along the Beaver Trail within the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences and Nature Park. Artists are invited to create an original sculpture that celebrates one of Georgia's most iconic freshwater reptiles while inspiring curiosity about the wetlands, wildlife, and waterways of the Savannah River Basin.

The work should serve as both a destination and educational landmark, encouraging visitors to engage with the surrounding natural environment. While the sculpture should be recognizable as a Common Snapping Turtle, artists are encouraged to interpret the subject creatively and develop a work that complements the park's mission of environmental education and conservation. The GIS coordinates for the sculpture site are 33°23'25.0"N, 81°58'03.6"W. This commission will become the sixth permanent sculptural installation at the Phinizy Center for Water Sciences and Nature Park, further expanding the park's growing sculpture trail.

The selected proposal should depict a Common Snapping Turtle, be approximately 8 to 10 feet long and 6 to 8 ft wide, suitable for permanent outdoor installation, constructed of durable materials such as steel, stainless steel, bronze, stone, concrete, or other weather-resistant materials, structurally sound and designed for minimal maintenance, safe for pedestrian interaction without creating climbing hazards or injury risks, able to withstand Augusta's climate, including heat, humidity, heavy rainfall, occasional flooding, and severe weather, designed with an anticipated lifespan of at least 20 years, and appropriate for visitors of all ages and abilities.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** Regional
- **Disciplines:** sculpture, public art
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** This request for proposals is open to all professional sculptors and artist teams. All members of any team that applies must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the Southeastern Region of the United States. Artists may submit up to five (5) separate proposals; each application must contain only one sculpture concept, and applications containing multiple concepts within a single submission will be disqualified.

### Additional Requirements

*Required to include from Café Portfolio: 5-10 images of past work.*

- Artist resume
- Image of sculpture proposal in PDF or JPG format
- Description of proposal
- Installation plan
- Project budget
- Professional references

## Compensation & Benefits

$9,500 stipend covering all project costs including design, fabrication, transportation, insurance, installation, and site preparation

**Includes:** Commission fee, Stipend

Selected artists will receive a **$9,500 stipend** to cover all expenses associated with the design, engineering (if required), fabrication, transportation, insurance, installation, site preparation, and any other costs associated with the completion of the sculpture.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** July 24, 2026
- **Deadline:** September 25, 2026
- **Program Start:** October 1, 2026
- **Program End:** February 28, 2027

## Contact

**Email:** heather@augustaarts.com

**Phone:** 706-826-4702

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://artist.callforentry.org/agreetoterms.php?ID=17780