Ballet of the Masses

A City-Wide Open Call Celebrating Soccer and Houston’s World Cup Debut

Soccer—or fútbol—is more than a sport; it is a global language. As Houston prepares to take the world stage as a host city for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, Sabine Street Studios invites local artists to join the celebration. We are welcoming thousands of international fans to our doorstep, and we want to show them the unmatched creativity and diversity that defines our city.

The Concept

We are asking artists to transform a standard soccer ball into a work of art. Whether through painting, drawing, collage, or mixed media, we want to see your "intervention" on the ball.

How it Works:

• Entry: Complete the submittable form and pay a $20 entry fee per ball. Last day to sign up for participation and a ball is April 18, 2026, at 11:59 pm. 
• Pickup: Once registered, artists will be contacted to pick up their ball at Sabine Street Studios, Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (Contact exhibition coordinator - Justin Grant at justinogrant@gmail.com to make alternate arrangements if necessary). 
• The Rules: Each ball comes with pre-installed hanging hardware. You may decorate the ball in any way you choose, provided the hardware remains functional and unmodified.
• Drop-off: Finished pieces must be returned to Sabine Street Studios during the designated drop-off window: May 14-16, 12pm to 5pm.

Exhibition Details

• Selection: If submitting multiple pieces, please note that inclusion of more than one ball is subject to gallery space and total submission volume.
• Sales: All works will be labeled with the artist’s contact information.                                     
  • Artist-Led Sales: 100% of proceeds go to the artist. All sold works must remain on display for the full run of the exhibition.  

   

• Awards: Soccer Commentator and Radio Host Glenn Davis will select winners for Champion, Runner-up, Third, and Fourth place prizes.

Important Dates

• Exhibition Run: May 21 – July 25, 2026
• Opening Reception: Thursday, May 21 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• World Cup Party & Awards Ceremony: Date TBA. 

Our exhibitions aim to showcase the work of our occupants along with local, regional, and national artists, organizations, and institutions. We welcome visual art in all media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, fibers, photography, sculpture, installation, performance, video, and new media.

Sawyer Yards has 7 dedicated gallery spaces across the campus, that are programmed out on a rotating basis. Each gallery hosts up to 7 exhibitions a year, each lasting between 6 and 8 weeks depending on the building schedule. 

Project Description:
 

• Sawyer Yards is accepting exhibition proposals on an ongoing basis. We invite artists and curators to propose exhibition ideas for our gallery spaces.
• The gallery spaces on average are approximately 2000 SQFT.
• Proposals are invited from individual artists, curators, teams, or groups. 
• The Sawyer Yards Exhibition Program's goal in selecting proposals includes presenting a cross-section of media, content, and diversity over the year while showcasing quality art. 
• Sawyer Yards Exhibitions reserve the right to refuse the exhibition of work that does not accurately reflect the original proposal. 
• Sawyer Yards is not responsible for damage or loss or artwork while on view. Artists are encouraged to insure their work while on view at Sawyer Yards.
• Publicity will be provided through the Sawyer Yards Exhibition Program and Marketing Director. 
• Open flames and animals are not allowed. Soundtracks and audio must have headphones or be able to be set on timers to be silenced during theater performances. 

 Evaluation Criteria:

• Artistic quality: Artists of the highest artistic caliber, as demonstrated by examples of past work.
• Responsiveness: Letter of intent, proposal images, and final work successfully portray the overall goals of the project, while also engaging and inspiring the community.
• Project management ability: Applicant(s) demonstrate that the Artist has the necessary capability to accomplish the project, and to create and deliver the work on schedule

 Application Requirements:

1. Resume/CV, no more than three pages.
2. Letter of Intent, to include contact information, and a description of how the Artist intends to meet the criteria listed above (1,500 words maximum). This statement should describe the work the artist plans to show and provide some context for it. 
3. Work Examples: Up to ten (10) samples of previous work or new works intended for the exhibition. Only JPEGs up to 5 MB in size will be accepted. For proposed site-specific works or installations, schematic drawings may be submitted. 
4. Image List for all Work Example: to include Artist name(s), title, date completed (as applicable), dimensions, and material/medium.

Timeline:

Once your proposal has been reviewed you will receive notification from Sawyer Yards. Upon selection, the gallery and timeline will be determined for the upcoming year. Applicants whose work does not fit the criteria will be notified in a timely manner. 

Please contact Alexander Squier with any questions: exhibitions@sawyeryards.com

Please read this call entirely. By applying for this exhibit, you agree to the terms detailed within this call.

Harris County Juried Exhibition

The 2026 Harris County Juried Exhibition will bring together a dynamic cross-section of artists living or working within Harris County, Texas, reflecting the depth and diversity of the region’s contemporary art landscape. Curated and juried by distinguished curator Hesse McGraw, this third annual presentation at Silver Street Studios will build on the success of the 2024 and 2025 juried exhibitions, continuing a growing tradition of showcasing innovative practices from emerging and established artists alike.

Through painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and interdisciplinary works, the exhibition will highlight the vibrant creative energy shaping Harris County today. As in previous years, the exhibition aims to highlight the wide spectrum of perspectives, materials, and approaches that define contemporary art in Harris County. McGraw will bring his curatorial insight to shaping the final selection, offering audiences an opportunity to experience new voices as well as established practices within one of the most dynamic cultural regions in the country.

Exhibition Dates On View: June 1 - July 18, 2026

About the Juror: Hesse McGraw

Hesse McGraw is a visionary curator and cultural leader who partners with artists, collectors, organizations, and communities to realize projects that drive civic change. As principal of Radical Normalcy and founder of the Artist Venture Fund, he is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of art in advancing society.

Throughout his 25-year career, he has established an international reputation for expanding artists' agency beyond traditional gallery spaces to create groundbreaking public art initiatives, landmark exhibitions, and collections that intimately engage audiences. His projects have been cited among the greatest artworks of the 21st century—creating urban-scale rainbows, the most-visited site within the world's largest linear park, and the first playable basketball court within a museum. Most recently serving as the 10th Executive Director of Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (2020–2025), he previously served as a partner at El Dorado (2017–2019), Vice President of Exhibitions and Public Programs at San Francisco Art Institute (2013–2017), and Chief Curator at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (2008–2013).

Prizes: $300.00 Best of show, $200.00 Second Place, $100.00 Third Place  

Entry Fee: The entry fee is $15.00 per entry. Max entries of up to four (4) works. One application per artist. 

*Juror selections are based on mastery of design, technique, conceptual quality, and creativity. Works will be accepted on a piece-by-piece basis due to space limitations. This means some work may be accepted from an artist while others are not. 

All entry fees are non-refundable. 

Important Deadlines / Exhibition Schedule:

• Deadline for Entries: All entries must be registered/received by Saturday, May 9, 2026 (11:59 pm Central Time) 
• Artists notified of jurying results: No Later Than Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Hand-delivered accepted works: Tues., May 26, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm and Wed., May 27, 2026, Noon to 7:00 pm 
• Exhibition opens to the public: Monday, June 1, 2026
• Exhibition closes: Saturday, July 18, 2026 

Application / Eligibility Requirements: 

Open to artists, 18 or older, currently residing or working in Harris County, Texas. Refunds will not be given to applicants who do not qualify. 

Submitted work(s) must be original and created after January 1, 2021. No commercially made prints, giclees, or reproductions of an original work of art will be considered for exhibition. Any work submitted must be entirely the original creation of the artist, produced independently without significant guidance, oversight, or direct technical assistance from a teacher, instructor, or mentor.

Works created through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are not eligible. 

Works must not have been previously displayed in Silver Street Studios. 

All work submitted must be professional and suitable for art in public spaces. All art is subject to approval, and no work that is offensive, slanderous, or that contains hate speech will be accepted. Artwork seen as inappropriate, unsuitable, or not meeting guidelines will be removed/disqualified. 

All artwork exhibited must be professional and suitable for art in public spaces.

Two-dimensional works must be suitably prepared for hanging and no larger than 62” in height by 86” in width and 5" in depth, including frame. This is a max size that includes all multiple-panel diptychs, triptychs, etc. 

Three-dimensional works to be displayed must be no larger than 84" height by 36" in width and 36" in depth; smaller 3-D works to be displayed on a wall must be suitably prepared for hanging. All 3D/sculptural work must be accompanied by its own pedestal or display stand in white.

Works weighing more than 50 pounds require advanced approval for submission; contact for further instructions.

No installation art or audio enhancements permitted due to gallery limitations.

Videos must be silent - no audio will be accepted. 

Selected videos will be displayed via projector, and should be formatted accordingly.

Videos must be submitted in a high-quality MP4 format.

Maximum video length: 10 Minutes.

 Submitting Images:

• 2D: Please submit one (1) Image
• 3D: one image is required. If you’d like us to see additional angles, you’re welcome to upload a multi-image PDF instead.
• Only one file per entry will be accepted.

Delivery of Selected Artwork:

Work(s) must be hand-delivered to Silver Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, Houston, TX 77007, between these hours: 

• Tues., May 26, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm,  and Wed., May 27, 2026, Noon to 7:00 pm 

All work must be ready to install*. Please include clear directions and proper hardware for special installation needs.

We do not accept substitutes for the artwork approved by the juror.

Be patient, other artists will deliver and pick up simultaneously. You may need to wait for staff to process other artists. 

Pick Up: 

Artists who do not retrieve their work will be charged a storage fee of $5.00 per day. Works remaining after 30 days will become theproperty of Silver Street Studios. Please note that other artists will deliver and pick up during the same hours. You may need to wait for thestaff to process other artists. All artwork must be signed out with a committee member present. 

Sales:

All sales are handled directly by the artist: Management/Committee will not handle sales in any way.

Artwork must remain up for the duration of the exhibition. Sold works must be delivered to buyers after the exhibition has closed.