07 Jul Starke County Launches Public Art Initiative
A new era of public art is beginning in Starke County. The Starke County Convention & Visitors Commission, the Starke County Community Foundation, and the Town of North Judson are excited to announce the launch of a countywide public art program that will bring large-scale, outdoor artwork to communities throughout the county.
The community is invited to attend the official project announcement on Friday, July 11 at 12:00 p.m. CT at Norwayne Field in North Judson. The event will unveil plans for the new arts initiative and kick off the search for artists for the inaugural project.
Funded in part by the Norem family and the Verhagen Family Fund through the Starke County Community Foundation, the 2026 debut project will feature a juried competition for an outdoor, three-dimensional sculpture themed around celebrating the spirit of North Judson and what makes the town unique. The selected artist will receive a $5,000 stipend, and their work will be displayed at Norwayne Field for five years, beginning with an unveiling at the 2026 North Judson Mint Festival.
“The Starke County Community Foundation has been focused on providing a platform for local creatives and contributing to a variety of community art projects over the last few years,” said Jacque Ryan, Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development. “I’m thrilled to see these types of efforts continue with this public art project that will bring more sculptures into Starke County’s outdoor spaces. This announcement is just the beginning, and I’m eager to see how the project will grow as it gains more interest and momentum.”
The long-term vision is to collaborate with a different Starke County community each year, creating a growing arts trail that connects communities through creativity and local history.
Interested artists will find the full application and project details on the Starke County Convention & Visitors Commission website at VisitStarkeCounty.com. The application deadline is October 31, 2025.
Artists, media, and community members are encouraged to attend the July 11 announcement to learn more about this exciting new chapter for Starke County.