Express

About Express

The arts are a sanctuary that provide a space to create, rejuvenate and challenge the mind, body and soul. Take the next step on your creative journey and express yourself through exhibition opportunities and casting calls or discover an artistic space for your next event.

calls to artists

Hurricane Ian: A Juried Exhibition

We believe in the healing power of art. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, we have seen a great need for healing in our community. We are asking artists to create artwork about their experiences during or after the storm in any capacity. It may be stories of resilience or trauma or loss. It can evoke a wide range of emotions. It is meant to be cathartic and therapeutic and shareable, something everyone can relate to in some way.

Artists may submit 1 – 3 pieces for consideration for this exhibition. There is no entry fee. We encourage artists to submit 2D and 3D artwork using found objects and recycled materials collected after Hurricane Ian. Alternatively, we ask artists to submit artwork expressing their experiences during and after Hurricane Ian. All media will be accepted, such as paint, collage, photo, drawing, print, etc. Only original artwork will be accepted. No giclée.

All entries must be submitted online no later than August 7 at 5pm. No materials will be accepted at the Alliance – this exhibit is online entries only. Full details can be found on the Prospectus.

DOWNLOAD THE PROSPECTUS HERE

Submissions open June 1, 2023.

Apply to be a featured artist at our monthly Wednesday Night Market!

Alliance for the Arts members may apply to be a featured artist during this monthly event which features a selection of fresh produce, art, live music, food trucks and beer and wine. Up to three members will be chosen each month to display and sell their artwork.

Apply here!

We are looking for 3-4 artists to display art at Palm City Brewing as part of an ongoing partnership between PCB and the Alliance. They are looking for Florida/beach themed artwork to decorate their walls. The work will be on display for 3-4 months inside their brewery.

The work must be for sale. Sales will be processed through the Alliance for the Arts and will be subject to our standard 40% commission with 60% of the sale price going to the artist. If a piece sells, artists will be invited to replace it with another piece. Email exhibitions@artinlee.org if you are interested in participating.

Call for Mural Proposals

The Alliance for the Arts is currently accepting submissions for a mural to be painted in the new Bloom & Wallace Digital Arts Lab. The selected artist will recieve a stipend of $1,000. Submissions due June 26, 2023.

Download the prospectus. 

Submit a proposal here.

opportunities in sw Florida and beyond

AN ABSTRACT VIEW
On View Aug 24-Sept 30 | Opening Night Reception: Thursday, Aug 24, 6-8 pm

This show encompasses all forms of non-representational art from Cubism to Abstract Expressionism to Minimalism and beyond. Juror is Tre Michel, Co-Owner, State of the Arts Gallery, Sarasota.

Abstract art is art that does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead uses shapes, colours, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect.

Some noteworthy abstract artists include: Kazimir Malevich, Hilma af Klint, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Gilliam, Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Robert Delaunay, Piet Mondrian, Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Lee Krasner, and Cy Twombly.

Submissions are welcome in all media including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, mixed media, digital arts, and sculpture.

Artists of all media are encouraged to submit!

Submission Dates: May 9 – July 23, 2023, 11:59 pm
Drop Off Dates: Aug 8-9, 2023 | Pick Up Dates: Oct 2-3, 2023

Submissions are due September 22, 2023
Event will take place February 3 & 4, 2024

Fort Myers is largest metro area in Southwest Florida; corporate headquarters; booming residential & commercial markets and a Visitor & Convention Bureau dedicated & funded to rebuilding our record-breaking tourism. Your target audience of upscale and savvy art patrons grows every day! Our dedicated community of art lovers and collectors wait all year to enjoy and purchase the incredible works of fabulous professional artists from across the country.Artists are selected in a blind jury based upon quality of workmanship, originality and artistic conception. All work must be done solely by the exhibiting artists. ArtFest Fort Myers strives to create a well-balanced show that represents diverse styles and techniques in the following categories: Ceramics, Digital, Drawing/Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, Painting – oil/acrylic, Painting – watercolor, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wearable and Wood.ArtFest Fort Myers is a true community event that entices people to buy art. The festival includes the largest high school art exhibit and competition in Southwest Florida; a high school sidewalk chalk competition; a children’s Art Yard with interactive art projects and a Youth Stage featuring regional performing arts organizations. Our upscale dining areas with shaded table seating provide ample food/beverage options.
Full details can be found here.
ArtWalk Downtown Fort Myers

Discover the best art galleries and enjoy live demonstrations the first Friday of the the month! Artist will set-up between 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. and will be open from 6pm to 10 p.m.

FusionFest and American Transnational have partnered to bring you the Aspire Gallery, a brand new, exclusive, and breathtaking space for the arts right in the heart of downtown Orlando.

Gallery Website: https://www.fusionfest.org/aspire

Submission form: https://www.fusionfest.org/aspire/callforartists2023

Apply for open-call exhibitions at CityArts. This is a great way to get involved! Open calls each have their own theme and require a submission fee. A number of our upcoming open-call exhibitions (H2Show, Alice in Wonderland, and Edgar Allan Poe) include prize money for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. These winners are selected by a jury.

All art displayed at CityArts must be for sale and include a price that reflects a 30% commission. Each open call has its own entry procedure, so please read the details provided here.

Upcoming Deadlines:

  • The Art of Flowers (Due: August 11, 2023)
  • Dia de los Muertos & Monster Exhibitions (Due: October 13, 2023)
  • Edgar Allan Poe Prize Exhibition (Due: 11:59 p.m. on October 30, 2023)

The Clearwater Public Art & Design Program seeks an artist or artist team to develop artwork for two (2) public water tanks located at 2709 FL-580 in Clearwater, Florida. The tanks are in the Countryside neighborhood of Clearwater.  The city is looking for an engaging mural or image to help with the beatification of the city’s water tanks which are highly visible on a heavy commuter state road. Themes and topics suggested but not limited to: Sea life, Florida nature scenes, game fish, seabirds, ospreys, water conservation or postcard style “Clearwater” mural.

Selection Criteria
Artists will be evaluated on artistic excellence as evident by submitted materials; professional experience; compatibility with the architectural design, facility environment and values of the City of Clearwater and Clearwater Public Utilities.

Timeline

  • Submittals due: Friday, June 16, 2023
  • Panel review: Friday, June 23, 2023
  • Selected finalists notified: Friday, June 29, 2023
  • Final proposal due: Monday, July 10, 2023
  • Artwork installation: June 2024
    • Timeline is subject to change.

Apply here

Downtown Arts District Orlando

Apply for our open-call exhibitions at CityArts. This is a great way to get involved! Open calls each have their own theme and require a submission fee. A number of our upcoming open-call exhibitions (H2Show, Alice in Wonderland, and Edgar Allan Poe) include prize money for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. These winners are selected by a jury.

  • The Art of Flowers (Due: August 11, 2023)
  • Dia de los Muertos & Monster Exhibitions (Due: October 13, 2023)
  • Edgar Allan Poe Prize Exhibition (Due: 11:59 p.m. on October 27, 2023)

LAVENDER, An Invitational Exhibit
July 31–August 26, 2023

What do you think of when you hear the word, “LAVENDER”… The flower, the scent of the flower, the color? A single plant, a field, a sky or man-made object? We would love to see your interpretation of Lavender!

To apply to the show, send us an email with your Name, Phone#, Title, Medium, Price and a jpeg of the artwork you would like to be considered for the show. There is no entry fee to apply. The artist will pay $30 for each accepted entry. There is a 40% gallery commission for any work sold. All mediums other than video are acceptable. No work over 40″ on the horizontal side or 60″ on the vertical side will be considered. All work must arrive ready to display/hang with wire attached. The gallery reserves the right to deny work that is deemed inappropriate or is not professionally finished (original art only, framed if side stapled, clean etc.)

DATES
Deadline to apply: July 10, 2023
Accepted work delivered to gallery: July 26, 2023
Opening Reception: Friday, August 4, 2023

More info here

About Event: 6th Annual Multicultural Festival – A free, two-day, festival that draws thousands of people from more than 110 different cultures to experience music, dance, food, visual arts, spoken word, games and interactive activities in Downtown Orlando.

THEME: “Who I am”. How does your cultural heritage help to define who you are? What What are the strongest influences?”

CONTEST: Artists submit one of their artworks most aligned to the theme to compete in the contest. Judges will score on:

  • Skill

  • Creativity

  • Theme

PRIZES

  • Grand Prize: $1,000

  • 2nd Place: $200

  • 3rd Place: $150

  • Audience Choice Award: $150

IMPORTANT DATES

September 1: Applications Deadline

September 30: Acceptance Notifications

November 25 & 26: FusionFest

APPLY HERE

The City of Sunrise, Florida (City) is seeking to commission an Artist or Artist team to create an interactive sculpture inspired by the “Upside-Down House”. This sculpture will be located in the City’s Village Art Plaza (Plaza) currently under construction, located at 2260 NW 68 Avenue, Sunrise. The sculpture should be inspired by the 1960s “Upside-Down House” which was a marketing strategy to drive traffic to Sunrise Golf Village. Not only was the house successful in promoting the beginning of what became the City of Sunrise, it was also a local landmark for tourists. The sculpture doesn’t have to be a replica of the “Upside-Down House” but it must be representative of this historic landmark and it must be interactive, which is a form of art that involves the spectator either by letting the observer walk through or over/under the sculpture and/or invites the spectators become part of the artwork in some way.

Entry Deadline: June 12, 2023

Full details here

Thru the Lens Photography Show

Thru the Lens Photography Show celebrates how we all see the world filtered through a camera lens. Our 2023 exhibition will have two divisions for entry: Professional and Non-Professional.* The Joe Center for the Arts invites all photographers to submit their entries for jury consideration for the Thru the Lens Photography Show.

*A Professional is defined as someone who earns more than half of their income from photography, OR has a business name under which they sell their work OR is able to deduct expenses for their photography business on their taxes.
* A Non-Profressional is the hobbyist or anyone else who does not fit the definition of a professional.

Work may be submitted in one or more of the following three categories:

NATURE – From beautiful expanses to close-in details, this category encompasses the flora and fauna of nature. This includes landscapes, wildlife, and plants, etc. Creatively capture the wonders of our natural world in all its many forms.

HUMAN INTEREST **- Photographs that tell the story of our humanity. They reflect the life and soul of one’s daily routine to the broader social issues of our times, both current and past. They can be light and spontaneous in the celebration of our joys. They can be gut-wrenching in their capture of our worst moments. They capture our stories and our history.

ALTERED – This category is for the more ‘niche’ genre of photography and those using special techniques or technology beyond basic post-processing edits to achieve the finished product or to create an unusual interpretation of their theme.

ENTRY DEADLINE IS AUGUST 26. Show runs from Sept. 22 – Oct. 20

The call for art is open to all mediums, techniques, and styles. Work is encouraged to, but does not have to fit the theme, inspire(d) (to inspire or be inspired). Any artist, 18 years or older, is eligible to enter.

ABOUT THE EVENT: the 16th annual LeMarche’ Bohemien, November 4, 2023 in Five Points Park (100 Central Ave.) downtown Sarasota runs from 10am to 5pm. Artist can begin setting up their booths at 7am. Admission is free. The event is hosted by the Sarasota Downtown Merchants and coordinated by Pro It Out Marketing.

Visit www.DestinationDowntownSarasota.com to sign up and to learn more.

Location:  Five Points Park Sarasota Florida 100 Central Avenue
Deadline:  01/November/2023
Fee Detail: Booths starting at $100

31st Annual Emeral Coast National Juried Exhibition

Hosted by the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Northwest Florida State College, this annual exhibition will be on display from August 31, 2023 – December 18, 2023.

Judge: Dr. Maria Elena Buszek
Opening Reception on August 31, 2023 from 6-8 p.m.
Application deadline: July 1, 2023

The first-place winner will receive $1,000.00 and a solo show in the Holzhauer Gallery during the 2024 32nd Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition. The second place will receive $500.00, and the third place will receive $250.00

Download the Prospectus

The Key to Creativity

What is the key that unlocks your creativity?

For some it can be a walk among nature, a sunset, meeting a new person, a conversation at a cafe. Or it can come from emotions in the other side of the spectrum, losing somebody, a breakup or depression.

Some artists wait for inspiration to visit, while others work until they hit the aha! moment.

Some go through delirious moments of creation, and then jump to moments that nothing seems to come to mind.

Or what about the moments when you have come to a creative block?

What have helped you to come out of it?

For this year challenge the SBDAC wants to know what is the key to your creativity and share it to the world and help inspire more fellow humans in search for a better world. Selected art will be exhibited in the main gallery June 2nd-29th.

On Board: The skateboard art subculture

What part does art play in the skateboarding world?

What part does skateboarding play in the art world?

There’s a clear synergy between art and skateboarding, maybe clearer to some than others but it’s ever prevalent. From graffiti, board art, and clothing to skate films, photography, games, and music, visual art isn’t just connected with skateboarding, it’s embedded into the fabric of the culture.

Despite being considered an outsider sport, skateboarding has had a surprisingly profound influence on things that really have nothing to do with it.

For this exhibition, we wanted to pay tribute to what started it all, the skateboard. What will it inspire you to create?

*Artists may submit up to FOUR pieces for consideration.

*Art has to be created on skateboard plank/s

*All media is accepted, including sculpture. There are no size restrictions, so long as the piece will fit through standard doorways and is ready to display. (3-dimensional pieces must be display-ready, either free-standing or wall-hanging)

The deadline for submissions is Monday, July 24th

Exhibit in the Main Gallery

Our vision is to introduce new artists, artwork and perspectives on art. We welcome exhibits with the work of established, early career and aspiring artists. Consider throwing your hat into the ring for a chance to show in our main gallery.

Learn More

Gift Shop

Want to exhibit in our gift shop? We're always looking for new items and would love to see what you're up to. Please submit up to three images for your work and include a brief description. We will contact you directly upon availability of space.

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Auditions

On occasion—for select projects—we hold open calls for actors, musicians and other artists. Please check back periodically for notices. We do not have a resident or repertory company of actors and are always looking for new talent for our stages.

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Rentals

Need a beautiful, but also artistic and inspiring space for your next event? From our amphitheatre, to our galleries and classrooms, the Alliance for the Arts has rental space to perfectly fit your next event in Fort Myers.

Margaret Morrow Frizzell Amphitheater & Grounds

Seating for 1500 people
Acoustically enhanced
Sound and lights independently contracted
Must include a walk-through meeting 2 weeks prior to contract date
Must file a permit with the City of Fort Myers for the event (permit costs based on event needs)

Request Space

Foulds Theatre

Seats up to 135 people comfortably
Stage dimensions 21’x42′
Sound and lighting system
Dressing rooms
Includes lobby area adjacent to the theatre

Request Space

Classroom

Seats up to 50 people, classroom style
Includes tables and chairs

Request Space

Meeting Room

Seats up to 35 people classroom style
Private entrance
Workshop setup with tables available

Request Space