Ever since the Las Vegas Sphere was first illuminated on July 4, 2023, promos for everything from “Trolls Band Together” and “The Marvels” to the Super Bowl and U2’s recently-concluded Sphere residency have appeared on its 580,000-square-foot LED exosphere. Now, Sphere Entertainment Co. is giving students an opportunity to design content for the new venue via its Sphere XO Student Design Challenge.
A collaboration between Sphere and the Clark County School District and University of Nevada in Las Vegas, the Challenge invites Clark County-based students to create art for the exosphere. Eight student winners ranging from elementary school through college will be chosen by the public and a jury that includes artists Refik Anadol and Michela Picchi. The art from the winners will debut on the exosphere on July 4.
Winning high school and UNLV students will receive a $10,000 educational scholarship from Sphere. Winning elementary and middle school students will earn a $10,000 donation from Sphere for their school’s art program, as well as tickets for their entire school to attend “The Sphere Experience” (which includes a screening of Darren Aronofsky’s “Postcard From Earth”).
“Arts education in public schools is more vital than ever,” said Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, interim superintendent of schools in the Clark County School District. “We are fortunate to not only have this next-generation canvas in Las Vegas but also to have Sphere’s commitment to using it in support of the local community. With Sphere’s XO Student Design Challenge, our students get to explore innovation through art via hands-on learning.”
Phish and Dead & Company have upcoming shows scheduled at Sphere.
