7th Biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition

The City of Ocala Cultural Arts is accepting entries for the 7th Biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition. This competition is open to artists currently working and residing in the United States with experience designing, fabricating, and installing large outdoor Public Art.

The City of Ocala Cultural Arts creates opportunities for public art to transform ordinary spaces into destinations. The goal of this Public Art Program is to foster creativity, discovery, and thoughtfulness among its citizens and visitors. Moreover, The selected works will be on exhibit in Tuscawilla Park, considered the “crown jewel” of Ocala’s parks. The 45-acre green space is an extension of the downtown and the adjacent Tuscawilla Art Park, hosting arts events throughout the year.

All work must meet the following criteria to be eligible for consideration:

• Be able to withstand a high-traffic, public, family park environment for two years. While taking into consideration the safety of the audience and other outdoor elements.
• Be capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions common to the state of Florida.
• Be maintenance-free for the duration of the two-year exhibition
• Work must be within the last five years (2018 or after.)
• Be built in a manner to allow fastening to a concrete pad with anchor bolts measuring 5/8”.
• Work may not have been previously displayed within Marion County, Florida, or entered into this competition.

Only entries that have been completed, or that are guaranteed to be completed three months before installation, are eligible. If a proposal is submitted and proof of completion is not received by three months before installation the work will be disqualified.

Artists may submit up to three different works.

The ten works for the exhibition will be selected by a jury composed of art professionals, arts & culture agency representatives, community representatives, and artists. This year’s Merit Juror will select the Best in Show, Second Place, and Honorable Mention award winners once they are installed. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be determined by a simple majority vote of the attending public at the Tuscawilla Park Sculpture Stroll on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

➜ Three professional quality digital images of each work in jpg. Format with a resolution of 180ppi, preferably from different angles. Label each image with the last name of the artist and the name title of the work.

➜ Professional resume (word document or PDF)

➜ Artists statement (word document or PDF)

• Best in Show: $2,000
• 2nd Place: $1,000
• Honorable Mention: $500
• People’s Choice: $500

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive a $2,000 honorarium to cover transportation, installation, and de-installation of the sculpture.