Call for Art: 2026 Seaport Art Walk Invites Artists to Create “Good Trouble”

Call for Art: 2026 Seaport Art Walk Invites Artists to Create “Good Trouble”

NEW BEDFORD, MA — The Seaport Art Walk, New Bedford’s annual outdoor public art exhibition, is now accepting artist proposals for its 2026 edition. Artists are invited to submit new or existing outdoor temporary sculptures, murals, or photography of artworks inspired by the theme “Good Trouble.”

This juried exhibition – presented in partnership with the New Bedford Creative Consortium, the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts Design, Art, & Technology Institute (DATMA), and UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts – will take place along the city’s waterfront and Seaport Cultural District beginning on Thursday, July 9 through October 31, 2026.

2026 Theme: “Good Trouble”

In the spirit of the late Representative John Lewis’s call to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America,” the 2026 Seaport Art Walk marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a theme that celebrates the power of protest and poetry, disruption and healing, and resistance and creation.

Artists are invited to submit work that explores themes of civil disobedience, community organizing, cultural resistance, and more. From the American Revolution to the abolitionist movement, New Bedford has long been a harbor rooted in activism and social progress – a “harbour much used by the rebel privateers,” as one British report once warned.

In 2026, the Seaport Art Walk seeks to reignite that same spirit of civic courage. Artists are encouraged to explore the intersections of activism and art, creating works that serve as expressions of solidarity, healing, and hope.

Funding & Opportunities

• New Outdoor Artwork: up to $2,500 per artwork
• Existing Outdoor Artwork: up to $1,000 per artwork
• Digital Gallery Submissions: up to $250 per submission of digital photographs of artwork for inclusion in a display of up to six images (painting, sculpture, textiles, performance documentation, photography, or any other medium).

All selected artists will receive public recognition, professional promotion across print and digital media, and an invitation to present their work during AHA! Night’s official opening event on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

“Good Trouble” is this year’s Call for Art – but it’s also a call to action.

How to Apply

Proposals are due Monday, February 23, 2026, by 11:59 PM EST.

Apply at nbedc.submittable.com/submit and select “2026 Seaport Art Walk.”

Visit newbedfordcreative.org/seaport-art-walk for examples of past installations and more information about exhibition sites. Please note: offensive, discriminatory, or negative content will not be accepted.

For content guidelines or submission questions, contact Zane Cox at zcox@nbedc.org.

About the Seaport Art Walk

Founded in 2013 by artist and curator Jessica Bregoli-Sparling, the Seaport Art Walk is New Bedford’s first large-format, outdoor public art exhibition. Each summer, the exhibition transforms the working waterfront into a canvas for creativity and community engagement.

The Seaport Art Walk is facilitated by New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council, in collaboration with the New Bedford Creative Consortium, the City of New Bedford’s Departments of Parks, Recreation and Beaches and Tourism and Marketing, Massachusetts Design, Art, and Technology Institute (DATMA), UMass Dartmouth College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).

This program is supported by the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Fund, and with additional support from Bristol County Savings Bank and Barr Foundation.

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