Call to Artists: 2026 Student and Emerging Artist Competition - 'Foundation'

OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 16, 2026) - The City of Ocala, in partnership with Fine Arts For Ocala (FAFO), invites Marion County artists with up to six years of experience to submit artwork for the 2026 Student and Emerging Artist Competition, "Foundation." The exhibition will be on display Thursday, Dec. 3, through Tuesday, March 9, 2027, at Ocala City Hall, 110 SE Watula Ave.

Artists may submit one original work of art completed within the past two years. Participants will compete in one of three divisions:

• High school students
• Artists with one to three years of active experience
• Artists with four to six years of active experience

A jury will select winners in each division, as well as an overall Best of Show. Awards will be presented during a reception Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Ocala City Hall.

Awards Include:

• $1,000 Best of Show prize from FAFO
• Best of Show feature in the Ocala Gazette
• Scholarships to the College of Central Florida for winners in the High School Division
• $150 Chelsea Art Center gift certificate for the first-place winner in the One to Three Years Division
• Cartigliano Art Center gift certificate for the first-place winner in the Four to Six Years Division
• Free Painting with a Twist class for all first-place winners
• Annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance for all winners
• Waived registration fee for the 2026-27 or 2027-28 First Friday Art Walk season for all winners

Additional prizes will be announced at a later date.

Entry Information:

Each submission must include a completed exhibit agreement form, an artist statement and a high-resolution photograph of the artwork in JPG format measuring at least 1,900 pixels wide. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

Applications are available at www.ocalafl.gov/seaexhibit. Completed entries may be submitted online, emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:

City of Ocala Cultural Arts
201 SE Third St., Second Floor
Ocala, FL 34471

Calendar of Events:

• Friday, Nov. 13, 11:59 p.m. - Entry submission deadline
• Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3:30 to 6 p.m. - Artwork drop-off at Ocala City Hall
• Thursday, Dec. 3 - Exhibition opens to the public
• Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027, 5 to 6:30 p.m. - Reception and awards ceremony
• Tuesday, March 9, 2027 - Exhibition closes; artwork pick-up from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The 2026 Student and Emerging Artist Competition is sponsored by the Appleton Museum of Art, Cartigliano Arts & Rogers Framing, College of Central Florida, Fine Arts For Ocala, Marion Cultural Alliance, the Ocala Gazette and Painting with a Twist.

For more information, contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or visit www.ocalafl.gov/seaexhibit.

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