Champions on Parade is an upcoming public art installation led by The Fly Arts Center (home of the Bedford County Arts Council) to help support our local rural arts community in Bedford County, TN, while revitalizing our community visually and celebrating the uniqueness of our local history and cultural heritage.
Champions On Parade will feature life-size fiberglass horse statues. Each will be painted by a different Bedford County artist, and will then be put on public display throughout our county. An online map will be made available to the public to help the members of our community and out of town visitors go on a self-guided scavenger hunt to see all of the horses on display. Each horse will offer a learning opportunity about our local history and heritage through art.
Champions On Parade will be funded in part with a creative placemaking grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Businesses, individuals and organizations are invited to show their support for Champions On Parade by becoming horse sponsors. Horse sponsors would provide the funds needed to cover the cost to manufacture each horse.
Bedford County, TN artists are invited to submit their designs for The Fly Arts Center’s public art installation campaign, Champions On Parade. Upon approval, each artist will be paid a $1,000 stipend due at completion. Each artist’s name will be included, along with the horse sponsor and horse host, on a permanent plaque on the horse statue’s chest.
The first finished horse will be revealed on Saturday, October 18, 2025 during our Champions On Parade Unveiling Gala and Open House. Everyone is invited and welcome to join in the excitement.
More horses will continue to join the parade one-by-one throughout 2025, 2026 and 2027 to go on public display throughout Bedford County.
Then in 2027, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bedford County Arts Council and the 100th anniversary of The Fly building, the Champions On Parade horses will be auctioned off to raise money for The Fly Arts Center.