The Exchange, in collaboration with the Bloomsburg Community Creek Cleanup, the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, the Columbia County Conservation District, Berwick Arts Association, and the Montour Area Recreation Commission, invites artists to participate in Trash Transformed, a public art project designed to raise environmental awareness through artistic reuse. Using materials collected from local river and land cleanups, selected artists will create compelling outdoor sculptures to be temporarily installed across Columbia and Montour Counties.

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​Artists are invited to repurpose trash into compelling works of art that highlight the effects of litter and pollution on the environment—particularly our waterways. The aim is to encourage viewers to thoughtfully consider their consumption and waste habits in a positive, non-confrontational manner. We are especially interested in large, high-visibility installations (approximately the size of a phone booth), though we welcome other creative concepts as well.

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Funds available for this project: $5,000 total

Artist stipends are available based on size and complexity of the piece.

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Final locations will be matched to proposals based on size, theme, and logistics. Installations will be outside and publicly available. Pieces will be installed on grass or gravel. The artist is responsible for anchoring the piece (if necessary). Artist is responsible for set-up. Trash to Treasure group is responsible for removal of piece.

 

Timeline

• Proposal Deadline: October 1, 2025

• Notification of Selection: Within 2 weeks of deadline

• Installation Period: Summer 2026

• Display Duration: Up through Fall 2026.

• Artworks may be adopted by local organizations or removed and responsibly disposed of after display.

 

After proposals are accepted, the Trash to Treasure group will meet with the chosen artists to align on a cohesive message.

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All materials must be sourced from trash – ideally collected through our community cleanup events – though artists may incorporate other recycled or low-impact elements that have been collected in our region. A supply of collected materials will be made available by appointment. Artists are encouraged to take place in local community cleanups to identify items for use in sculptures.

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Interested artists should submit:

• A brief proposal outlining concept, size, and desired materials to be used

• Sketch or digital rendering of the artwork

• Requested stipend based on proposed scale

• Artist statement and up to 3 images of prior work

 

Submit proposals by October 1, 2025, to: bloomsburgchildrensmuseum@gmail.com

 

Please put in the subject line “Trash to Treasure”