Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens is the largest gated attraction in South Carolina, with over 1 million visitors annually to its 170-acre wonderland. And they’re expanding.

Plans for a new chldren’s garden are already in the works, and the Zoo is calling for artists and craftsmakers to submit ideas to “enhance and embellish” the space in a safe and exciting way. The works have to be suitable for long-term outdoor and public exposure but, beyond that, they only need to fit the “natural wonderland” vibe that the Zoo is looking for. Suggested media include ceramics, sculpture, woodwork, musical instruments, and three-dimensional, dioramic, and interactive projects are all encouraged.

Full details are listed on their website here, but it’s important to note that the call is only open from April 1st to May 1st [Update: the call has been extended through June 1st], with tours of the proposed gardens on April 16th at 2pm and April 23rd at 10am [Update: another tour has been scheduled for May 7th at 11:30am]. The Zoo is looking for some forethought about how the project fits within their existing plans and their vision for the garden in your proposal, so tours are highly recommended Stipends of up to $2500 are available for accepted entries, and no entry fee is required. Questions should be directed to asegura@riverbanks.org.