Call for Artists – The Show Place Arena Public Art Project
Overview / Introduction
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County invites Artists (both individual artists and artist teams) with interest and professional experience in creating public art and site-specific commissions to submit qualifications for an original interior public art feature at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.
Project Goals
- Enhance the aesthetic of the interior Winners Circle Lounge Bar of The Show Place Arena.
- Reflect on the history, culture, or community of The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, MD.
- Create an engaging and meaningful experience for visitors.
Eligibility
Open to professional artists or artist teams aged 18 and over. Artists living or working in Prince George’s County and the surrounding region are strongly encouraged to apply.
Site Description
The Show Place Arena is looking for art to be installed in their Winners Circle Lounge Bar. Artwork is to be installed above their bar.
Wall Dimensions: 21 feet wide by 6 feet 6” tall
Artwork Specifications
- Durable and suitable for interior public space
- Artwork must fit thematically with the history and culture of the Show Place Arena
- Must meet ADA and safety requirements
- No offensive or overtly political content
Submission Requirements
- Artist Statement (PDF, 300 words max)
- Resume/CV
- Up to 10 images of past work
- Image List (include title, date, medium, dimensions, and brief description)
Selection Criteria
- Artistic excellence and innovation
- Relevance to site and community
- Feasibility and durability of proposal
- Demonstrated experience with similar projects
Application Process
The application process will consist of three phases:
1. Open Call for Artists - Artists submit their qualifications and materials by the deadline.
2. Finalist Selection - Finalists will be invited to participate in an interview and be asked to expand upon their initial proposal to include: Project proposal, timeline and itemized budget
3. Final Commission Award - One artist or team will be selected to move forward with the project
Timeline
- Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
- Finalist Selection: September 19, 2025
- Project Completion: December 8, 2025
Budget
- $20,000 - $25,000
Contact
For questions or technical assistance, please contact:
Renz Balagtas
Arts Consultant – PG Parks and Recreation
Nature Quest Arts Contest
Calling all youth ARTIST!
Prince George's County residents 18 years old and under. You are cordially invited to enter this year’s Nature Quest Art Contest. Explore your backyard, a local park, or other outdoor environments. Tell your nature story by drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, or poetry.
DEADLINE for Submission: Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 11:59 pm.
Finalists must bring their art to 7833 Walker Drive #200 Greenbelt, MD any day/time between December 8 - 15, 2025 between 9am - 4pm and also pick up their artwork from Harmony Hall on Saturday, January 24 between 9am-4pm.
Eligibility Requirements:
- This contest is open to Prince George's County residents that are 18 years old and under. No purchase is necessary.
· Entries must be inspired by nature.
- Content of the work must be original. Use of another artist’s work is not eligible.
- You may enter as many categories as you want!
Awards
For the drawing/painting, photography, and poetry categories 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be chosen from each age group. 1st place is awarded $300, 2nd place is awarded $200, and 3rd place is awarded $100
*Drawings & Paintings are all in the same category.
Elementary School: K - Grade 5
Middle School: Grades 6 – 8
High School: Grades 9 - 12
Important Dates & Deadlines:
Submissions Open: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 2, 2025 (received by 11:59 pm EST)
Judging Panel Adjudications: November 3 - 30, 2025
Finalist & Winners Notified By: December 1 – 5, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, January 9, 2026 from 6:30-8:30pm at Harmony Hall Regional Center
Exhibition Dates: January 9 – 21, 2025
Questions?
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Shaiday Dancy (Shaiday.dancy@pgparks.com)
The 2026 Nature Quest Art Contest is a program of The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.
42nd Annual Choreographer's Showcase
The Choreographer's Showcase is one of the longest-running showcases of new and established choreographers in the country. The showcase highlights new and seasoned choreographers who present their work in concert selected by a panel of adjudicators. The performance will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, 7 pm. Visit pgparks.com for ticket info.
DEADLINE for Submission: Friday, September 5, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
In-Person auditions will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, 10 am - 6 pm at the Publick Playhouse (5445 Landover Road, Cheverly, MD 20784). Note: Choreographers with scheduling conflicts may opt to submit a video submission for consideration.
Eligibility Requirements:
- This Call is open for all Choreographers over 18 years old, residing in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
- Each Choreographer can only submit ONE original work.
- Performance time: min. 3 minutes, max. 8 minutes
- Content of the work must be original. Use of another artist’s choreography is not eligible.
- Any music track must be credited in the application
- Nudity and/or violence may not be depicted. Such content will disqualify the submission.
For Video Auditions:
- Videos can be recorded in any location, indoors or outdoors, provided local requirements of safety are maintained.
- Video MUST BE GOOD QUALITY with the camera positioned to see movement clearly. Video can be filmed by another person.
- Each video should contain only one dance performance and the file should be named with the name of the choreographer and the performance
- The following video file formats are acceptable: MP4, MOV + download on Vimeo video platform
Awards
Each selected choreographer will receive an award of $1000. If two choreographers team up to create work, they will share the award.
Questions?
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Megan Merchant at megan.merchant@pgparks.com or 301-446-3238.
The 2025 Choreographer's Showcase is a program of The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George’s County, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division.