Sphere Entertainment
A look of MSG Sphere on the Las Vegas Strip.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 5 a.m.
The public can officially vote, for the first time ever, on the outward appearance of the Sphere.
Voting is open now through June 5 in the inaugural Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, Sphere Entertainment Co. announced today. The program is the first opportunity for members of the public to create art for the Exosphere, the venue’s outer shell that has gained worldwide attention for its many forms — from the moon to a smiley face.
“The talent and creativity of all of the local students who participated in the Sphere XO Student Design Challenge is remarkable,” Jennifer Koester, president of Sphere business operations, said in a news release.
The program, a partnership between Sphere, the Clark County School District and UNLV, invited more than 100,000 Clark County students to submit Fourth of July-themed art to potentially be displayed on the Exosphere. The public can vote on the submissions of over 100 finalists, spanning across elementary, middle and high school and college, officials said.
Elementary and middle school students illustrated or painted their submission on a 2D drawing of the Sphere, while high school and UNLV students were provided with a VR headset, custom design tools and hands-on tutorials from Sphere designers to create their art for the Exosphere, the release said.
People can cast one vote per student group, the release said Wednesday. Four winners will be chosen by the public vote, and another four winners will be selected by professional artists who have previously curated designs for the Exosphere, including Refik Anadol and Michaela Picchi.
“I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the determination required by young artists who hope to break into the art world — this is an excellent opportunity to showcase their work to a global audience,” Anadol said in a release in March, when Sphere initially announced the design challenge. “I am honored to participate and support these students at the beginning of their journey toward what I hope will be productive careers in the arts.”
The elementary and middle school winners will earn a $10,000 donation from Sphere for their school’s art program, as well as tickets for the entire school to attend the Sphere Experience, per Wednesday’s release.
High school and UNLV student winners will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship from Sphere.
“We really do need to impart to our students — both, I think, high school and college — that we need to think in a way that really integrates science, art and technology,” Nancy Uscher, dean of the UNLV College of Fine Arts, told the Sun in March. “So I think the unique opportunities that specifically serve Las Vegas is that our high school students, and our college students, get a first-hand experiential opportunity to see those different fields as different disciplines working together, because in their life and the workforce, that’s really how it’s going to be.”
Officials have previously said that the eight winning works will be displayed July 4 to mark the first anniversary of the Exosphere — the largest LED screen in the world.
“This challenge brings together artistic expression and technology in a way that uniquely captures how the Exosphere has become an engaging platform for public art, and we’re pleased the public will now play a significant role in choosing the art appearing on Sphere on July 4th,” Koester said in news release.
