The Uproar Festival of Public Art will return this August to showcase 60 large-scale, bold works of art outdoors in the downtown areas of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.

Uproar debuted in 2023, incorporating two-dimensional pieces, sculptures, and installations into public spaces. It was the first festival of its kind in the state, inspired by ArtPrize in Michigan and ArtFields in South Carolina. This year’s event will take place from August 1 to August 23 and is hosted by the Orange County Arts Commission and its community partners. 

The festival will launch with a kick-off party at the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough and close with an awards celebration in Chapel Hill, where $21,000 in cash prizes, Purchase Awards, and more will be awarded to Southeastern artists chosen by both the public and a jury panel of experts.

The Uproar Awards Party at Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough in August 2023. (Photo via Steve Murray.)

“The 60 inaugural Uproar artists exceeded our expectations in 2023,” OCAC Director Katie Murray said in a release. “Their works activated our communities and brought a vibrancy to our beloved downtowns. We can’t wait to find out what’s in store for 2025.” 

Through March 17, artists living in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia can apply to have their work included in Uproar 2025. Artists will be notified of their acceptance in April and assigned a location in May.

Uproar will provide a $1,000 honorarium for each selected applicant (artist or team). Artists are encouraged to sell their work during Uproar, but the work must remain on-site for the duration of the festival.

Accessibility is also central to the festival’s mission, featuring outdoor locations that are easy to navigate and audio descriptions for attendees with low vision.

“Everyone should be able to participate in the arts,” Murray said. “Uproar provides a completely free and inclusive experience for people of all abilities, and festival goers play a key role by selecting the People’s Choice Winner.” 

At 2023’s festival, more than 6,000 votes were submitted by attendees, scoring the Uproar works on a scale of one to ten. In August, the People’s Choice Winner will receive $10,000, and the runner-up $500. 

“Return to Self,” by Eryn Donnalley won the 2023 $10,000 Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation People’s Choice Prize. (Photo via Steve Murray.)

The jury’s first-place winner will receive $10,000, with a runner-up receiving $500. Works will be evaluated based on artistic excellence, visual impact, creativity, and feasibility. Jurors include Thomas Sayre, Elizabeth Brim, and Stephen L. Hayes. 

The festival is also a way to support Orange County’s business owners during an otherwise slow season. 

“We learned during Uproar’s first year that the festival has a unique ability to transform our downtowns and inspire many related activities for locals and travelers,” chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford said. “This inclusive, accessible, and energizing festival will again give us the chance to celebrate art and all who love it – the people who make it, the people who consume it, and our wonderful communities that uplift it.” 

Stay updated about the festival on Uproar’s Instagram and Facebook. Find more information at uproarfestnc.com.  

Featured photo via Steve Murray.

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