The Lancaster Museum of Art and History (MOAH) and the City of Palmdale's Public Art Division are teaming up for an event that local creatives won't want to miss: Antelopes on Parade! This collaboration is a call to artists in the region to apply their vision to the blank canvas of fiberglass antelope sculptures. According to details provided by the City of Lancaster, selected artists will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a public space, contributing to the cultural tapestry of the Antelope Valley area.

Here's the scoop for artists interested in participating: The submission deadline is set for September 9, 2024, at 5 p.m. sharp, with a total of four designs slated for selection. But not just anyone can pick up a brush and start slapping paint on antelopes. There's a process – and it goes through ten hoops, hoops made of requirements and deadlines. Imagine, if your design gets the nod – delivery of the graceful, long-necked beauty to your doorstep happens on September 16, and the finished product isn't due back until the first week of October. A tickle of excitement for the artists, and a feather in the cap for MOAH when these elegant creatures debut at the Kaleidoscope Art and Music Festival, scheduled for the weekend of October 11-12.

What's in it for the artists, you ask? Besides the glory of public admiration and contributing to an already vibrant community effort, there's also the sweet, sweet sound of cha-ching. Selected artists will pocket a $250 honorarium and, not to mention, an additional $100 to cover material costs, because even artistic geniuses need to buy paint, you know? As for the nitty-gritty on how to enter, MOAH and the City of Palmdale require entries to be uploaded via callforentry.org (CaFÉ). So if you're an artist without an account, hit that "Artist Sign Up" button at CaFÉ and search for "Antelopes on Parade!" to get started on this artistic safari.

For those who aren't abreast of the MOAH background, this institution is no slouch in promoting art in the region, dedicated as it is to "strengthening awareness, enhancing accessibility, and igniting the appreciation of art, history, and culture in the Antelope Valley," as stated in the city announcement. Their doors are wide open from Tuesday to Sunday, offering extended hours on Thursdays for those who fancy a bit of nocturnal muse-browsing.

Let's paint a quick picture of Lancaster, shall we? It's a city that hangs its hat on diversity and innovation, boasting a population of around 170,000 that includes not only families but rocket scientists and even astronauts. The city prides itself, on its imaginative capability to shape the future, an ambition reflected in initiatives like Antelopes on Parade.