Eight Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition

Description

The City of Ocala Cultural Arts invites artists to submit existing sculptures for the 8th Biennial Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition. This outdoor exhibition offers established and emerging sculptors, residing in the United States an opportunity to display their work at Tuscawilla Park and Art Park in Ocala, Florida. Up to ten works will be selected for display from January 2026 to January 2028.

The City of Ocala Cultural Arts creates opportunities for public art to transform ordinary spaces into destinations. The goal of our Public Art Program is to increase accessibility of the arts as well as to foster creativity, discovery, and thoughtfulness among our citizens and visitors. The selected sculptures will be displayed in Tuscawilla Park, considered the “crown jewel” of Ocala’s parks spanning 45-acres, and the adjacent Tuscawilla Art Park, bridging Ocala’s downtown and midtown areas.

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

Work is fully completed or guaranteed to be completed three months prior to installation date. Any work in progress will be required to submit proof of completion 3 months prior to installation.
Work is structurally sound, safe, and able to withstand an outdoor environment in an unsupervised, high foot traffic, public family park area.
Work must be able to withstand Ocala’s subtropical climate including high humidity, high temperatures and UV index, heavy rains, and hurricane force winds for two years.
Work must be maintenance free for the two-year loan duration and avoid potential issues of rust and fading.
Work must have been completed in the last five years (no earlier than 2020).
Work must not have been previously displayed in this competition.
Work must be delivered and retrieved in person by artist or artist representative.
Work must be firmly secured to provided concrete pads with either 5/8” anchor bolts or another City approved anchoring system.

The ten works for exhibition will be selected by a jury composed of art professionals, arts & culture agency representatives, community representatives and artists.

The 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 21, 2026.

Prize Summary:
Grand total of $44,500 in awards

Prizes Details:
Up to ten works will be selected for display from January 2026 to January 2028. Selected artists will receive a $4,000 honorarium to help offset transportation and installation costs.

Best in Show: $2,000
2nd Place: $1,000
Honorable Mention: $500
People’s Choice: $1000

Event date: June 16, 2025 to August 25, 2025
Location: Tuscawilla Park 829 NE Sanchez Ave, Ocala, FL 34470

How to Apply:
Artists may submit up to three sculptures for consideration.
A minimum of three high-quality images (180 dpi) of the work is required, and a maximum of twenty preferably showing different angles of the work without any people, artist names, or watermarks.
Artist resume (.docx or .pdf)
Artist statement corresponding to submitted work (.docx or .pdf)
Document (.docx or .pdf) of submitted work to include its title, date of creation, medium, dimensions, weight, and value.

Submission Online: https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=15650.

Contact Information:
Ocala Cultural Arts Office

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocalaculturalarts/

Web Link: http://www.ocalafl.gov/sculpture