Coles County Arts Council
Promoting the Arts in Coles County Since 1984
This public exhibition showcasing the work of Coles County Arts Council member artists was held in the main floor galleries of the Link Art Gallery in Paris, Illinois. An Opening Reception with light refreshments was held Friday, September 3, 2021, from 5:00 – 6:30 pm.
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Charleston Takes Flight 25
Butterfly Sculpture Project
Call for Artists
Arts CAN, a volunteer organization in Charleston Illinois is looking for regional artists to create designs for 3 large (44” wingspan), semipermanent, public butterfly sculptures to be installed in campus and community habitat areas. Artists whose designs are chosen by the jury will receive a $1000.00 award and reproduce their design on primed, steel butterflies created by Artist/ Blacksmith Lorelei Sims. The sculptures will be clear coated and mounted by Arts CAN prior to their installation in summer 2025.
We are also seeking designs for small steel butterflies (17” wingspan) destined for auction to private owners in support of Arts CAN. Winners will receive a stipend of $150.00 and 20% of the proceeds from the sale of their work.
Applications Received: Oct. 16, 2024 - Jan. 22, 2025.
Application Fee: $30.00 for up to 3 designs
Sculptures Launched: Summer of 2025.
Design Competition Details
Design Templates
Application Forms
About Arts CAN and Charleston’s Urban Butterfly Initiative
Arts CAN is a volunteer cooperative of creatives formed in 2023 through the Illinois Rural Development Institute’s Mapping Your Community program. Charleston Takes Flight was designed to make art happen in our small town and foster civic pride and community engagement. The Coles County Arts Council is our local host.
Charleston is home to the Urban Butterfly Initiative which has built habitat areas on city properties, in conservation and recreation areas and on the EIU campus. Making space for butterflies has brought new beauty and purpose to several parts of our community; we hope these sculptures will help celebrate the small, fragile, yet resilient creatures whose presence is proving to be transformative for life in our town.