The City of Ocala, in partnership with the Magnolia Art Xchange, is inviting local artists with less than one year to ten years of experience, including high school students, to submit entries for the 2023 Student and Emerging Artist Competition.
This year’s competition, which features the theme of “Metamorphosis,” will take place on Tuesday, April 4 through Thursday, October 12 at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue). Artists will compete in the following divisions: high school students, one to five years of active experience, and six to ten years of active experience.
All entries must have been completed within the last two years. Early entries will be given priority placement within the gallery and winners will be awarded in each division, as well as Best of Show. Awards will be presented at a reception on Monday, April 24 at City Hall.
The prizes for the competition include scholarships to the College of Central Florida (high school division), a professional art framing at Cartigliano Arts (Best of Show), a free class at Picasso’s Palette (Best of Show), an Artist Affiliate Membership to Magnolia Art Exchange (first place in each division and Best of Show), annual memberships to the Appleton Museum of Art and Marion Cultural Alliance (all winners), and a registration fee waiver for the 2023-24 season of the First Friday Art Walk (all winners).
Each artist may submit one piece for exhibition and jurying. All entries must include the entry form along with an artist statement and artwork photograph (in a .jpg file format with a resolution of at least 1900 pixels in the widest dimension). Photos can be emailed, or artists can mail printed photos, a CD, or a USB thumb drive with digital images.
In order to be eligible for the competition, all entries must be submitted by no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 12.
Artists can submit their entries online at the Student and Emerging Artist Exhibition webpage, via email (artinfo@ocalafl.org), or via mail to City of Ocala Cultural Arts (828 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470).
For more information, visit the City of Ocala Cultural Arts webpage or call 352-629-8447.