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: A guest jury 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