Historic Tours of America has wheeled its train into the “Papio’s Pals” station with a $2500 donation to Key West Art & Historical Society. The funds are earmarked to sponsor five artists eager to put their engineering genius to play in the creation of kinetic sculpture floats for the upcoming second annual Papio Kinetic Sculpture Bike Parade, set for May 6.

Inspired by and named for the late Keys artist Stanley Papio, a humorous rebel metal-artist who explored the value of recycled materials long before it was hip to be rusty, the parade is the centerpiece of a full weekend of kinetic revelry running May 5-7.

To date, The Society—stewards to Papio’s collection of more than 100 sculptures on display at Fort East Martello Museum— is offering over $7,000 in support to artists and schools participating in this year’s parade. The school scholarships and artists sponsorships will help propel select registrants forward as they proudly propel their kinetic sculpture floats down Duval Street Saturday, May 6 at noon with other registered kinetic sculpture float and art bike entrants.

Participating artists and schools can apply for a limited number of sponsorships and scholarships to help move their vision forward by visiting papiokineticparade.com for proposal submission information and guidelines. Selection will be made on concepts of kinetics, creativity, and recycling, with wit, wheels, welding, and wire weighing in. A float that is human powered the only necessary requirement.

Businesses interested in becoming a Papio Pal by sponsoring individual artists, artist teams and/or school groups, can contact Michael Geida at 305-295-6616 x 103 for more information.

The Papio Kinetic Sculpture Parade is sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of the Arts and Culture, and the State of Florida. Additional support provided by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, Historic Tours of America, Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina and Southernmost Beach Café. Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.