From our Friends at One Columbia …

One Columbia for Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Congaree Vista Guild, is accepting qualifications from professional artists and artist teams for a new public sculpture to be installed in the median of the 900 block of Senate Street in Columbia's Congaree Vista district.

The selected artist will design, fabricate, and install a permanent sculpture that serves as a visual landmark along Senate Street. The artwork should be appropriate for a highly visible roadway setting and designed for long-term outdoor installation. Artists are encouraged to consider scale, visibility, safety, and durability in their designs.

The project has a budget of $18,000, which includes artist fees, design, engineering, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, and insurance.

"This project is an opportunity to add another significant work of public art to Columbia while supporting artists and contributing to the continued growth of the Vista as an arts and cultural district," said Pamela Zeljak, Public Art Administrator for One Columbia for Arts and Culture.

Professional visual artists and artist teams with experience creating public art or large-scale outdoor artwork are encouraged to apply. At this stage, applicants are asked to submit a statement of interest and a portfolio of up to six images of previous work. Concept proposals are not required with the initial submission.

Applications are available through CallForEntry.org (CaFÉ), an online application system for artists. Qualifications must be submitted by August 20, 2026.

A selection panel made up of representatives from One Columbia for Arts and Culture, the Congaree Vista Guild, community stakeholders, and local arts professionals will review qualifications. Three finalists will be selected to develop conceptual proposals and will each receive a $250 stipend.

Project Timeline

RFQ Release: July 20, 2026
Qualifications Deadline: August 20, 2026
Finalists Announced: August 31, 2026
Proposal Presentations: October 5–9, 2026
Installation: April 2027

The Jasper Project is delighted to partner with USC’s Koger Center for the Arts and all our amazing neighborhood arts groups on this lovely free concert series!

The Koger Center for the Arts has set the headliners for the first Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series, a series of free outdoor concerts sponsored in part by the LevittFoundation. The concerts will take place on the Plaza Stage on the Koger Center’s front lawn from 5 - 7 p.m., with the rain location being indoors in either the Black Box Theater or second floor lobby.

The full lineup features ten concerts split between the spring and fall seasons. All concerts are free, open to the public and will have opportunities for off stage community engagement (that’s Jasper, y’all!) for the audience. The schedule is as follows:

Spring

Saturday, April 18: River Shook Duo

Saturday, April 25: Sunny War

Saturday, May 2: Five OHM

Saturday, May 9: Carolyn Wonderland

Fall

Thursday, September 10: Admiral Radio

Thursday, September 17: Black Nerd Mafia

Thursday, September 24: Molly Martin

Thursday, October 1: Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise

Thursday, October 8: Sam Morrow

Thursday, October 15: Making Movies

Each concert will feature a local Midlands based opening act! The Levitt AMP Columbia Music Series is dedicated to uplifting Columbia as a cultural hub and destination for accessible entertainment. The series is supported by a variety of community partners, including the Jasper Project, ONE Columbia, ColaJazz, South Carolina Philharmonic, University of South Carolina Student Life, Black Nerd Mafia, the South Carolina Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, the City of Columbia, the Columbia Chamber, and the Vista Guild.

Geared to towns and cities with populations under 250,000, Levitt AMP grantees reflect the three goals of the LevittAMP Music Series program: Amplify community pride and a city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; and illustrate the importance of inclusive and vibrant public Places. From rural Alaska to Appalachian Main Streets and Midwestern locales, Levitt AMP is a catalytic opportunity for towns and cities across America to realize a shared mission—building community through music to create a healthy and thriving future for all. Columbia is the only Levitt AMP location in South Carolina.

Columbia residents are encouraged to follow along with the development of the series over the next three years by visiting www.KogerCenterForTheArts.com, and following @LevittAmpColumbia and @KogerCenterForTheArts on Instagram.

One Columbia and Congaree Vista Guild Seek Artists for New Public Sculpture on Senate Street