STARKE COUNTY, Ind. -- The Starke County Convention and Visitors Commission, the Starke County Community Foundation, and the Town of North Judson announced the launch of a countywide public art program that aims to bring large-scale, outdoor artwork to communities.

Officials invite the community to the official project announcement on Friday at noon CT at Norwayne Field in North Judson.

The project is funded in part by the Norem family and the Verhagen Family Fund through the Starke County Community Foundation.

Officials say 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 chosen artist will receive a $5,000 stipend, and their work will be displayed at Norwayne Field for five years.

The sculpture will be unveiled 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.”

Officials say the long-term vision is to collaborate with a different community in the county each year to create a growing arts trail that connects communities through creativity and local history.

Interested artists can find full project details and apply online.

The application deadline is Oct. 31.