Voting Opens For Sphere XO Student Design Challenge

Sphere Entertainment Co. has opened public voting for the Sphere XO Student Design Challenge, which allows the public to vote on what will appear on the Exosphere on July 4. This marks the first time the public can vote on what will appear, as well as the first time members of the general public have created art to appear on the outer shell of the venue.

The Challenge is a collaboration between Sphere, the Clark County School District and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. More than 100,000 students were invited to create art themed around the 4th of July, with 100 finalists selected from elementary school, middle school, high school and college. Voters can select one entry from each of the four student groups, with four winners selected by the general public for their artwork to appear. Four more winners will be selected by professional artists who previously designed for the Exosphere, including Refik Anadol and Michela Picchi.

“The talent and creativity of all the local students who participated in the Sphere XO Student Design Challenge is remarkable, Jennifer Koester, President, Sphere Business Operations, Sphere Entertainment, said in statement. “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 4.”

The high school and UNLV student winners will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship from Sphere, while the winning elementary and middle school students will receive a $10,000 donation to their school’s art program, as well as tickets for their entire school to attend The Sphere Experience in the fall.