Calls to Artists

Two permanent, site-specific artworks at the gateway to Key West on US 1: one welcoming people as they arrive and one thanking them as they leave. The City is asking for public art rather than a standard highway sign, drawn from the fabric of the island. One artist or team may be selected for one work or for both.

Before you apply A proposal cannot be emailed, faxed or uploaded. It is a sealed paper package delivered to the City Clerk, it has to include ten signed forms, eight of which need a notary, and anything arriving after 3:00 p.m. on October 15 is rejected automatically.

Closes

Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Award

$75,000 to $100,000 for the project as a whole, inclusive of installation

Fee

No application fee

Who can apply

Professional artists and artist teams with a history of work in challenging public spaces. No residency requirement and no pre-qualification round. The selected artist must carry $300,000 in liability insurance.

Permanent public art for fifty-four new apartments going up at 1611-1612 Dunlap Drive in Key West, funded by the city’s one percent for art ordinance. Professional artists and artist teams are invited to propose a permanent installation for the site.

Before you apply There is a pre-proposal meeting on Wednesday, September 30 at 10:00 a.m. in the Housing Authority boardroom, 1400 Kennedy Drive. For the RFP package, write to Vanessa Sellers at sellersv@kwha.org or call 305-296-5621 extension 282.

Closes

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern

Award

Set by the one percent for art set-aside on the development. See the RFP package for the figure.

Fee

No application fee

Who can apply

Professional artists and artist teams. No pre-qualification round is required to propose, and the bid listing asks for no additional registration.

The Consortium awards $15,000 and $7,500 grants to individual visual and media artists across five counties, and Monroe County artists are eligible. Attending one free workshop was required before applying.

Why this is still here This cycle has closed. It is kept here because artists look back at what the application asked for, and because the Consortium runs the grant most years: attending one free workshop was required before applying, so watch for the next round’s workshop dates rather than the deadline.

Closed

Monday, September 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm

Award

$15,000 and $7,500

Fee

No application fee

Who can apply

Individual artists who have lived and worked in Monroe County for a full year before applying. Not open to organizations, to students in a degree program, or to employees of the participating county governments or their local arts agencies.

Covers the full $675 workshop fee, plus help toward four nights of lodging, for writers accepted into the January 2027 Writers Workshop Program in Key West. The priority deadline has passed and applications are still being read on a rolling basis.

Before you apply The Seminar says spots often fill in the first round, so applying now is no guarantee. It is also all or nothing: if the application is declined you cannot then pay and attend.

Closes

Rolling. The form closes Sunday, January 3, 2027 at 11:59 pm

Award

Full $675 workshop fee waiver, plus need-based lodging assistance

Fee

No application fee

Who can apply

Writers at all levels, no geographic restriction. Priority goes to those who have not received Seminar support before.

Original 2D and 3D work under 10 inches in any direction, including the frame. Selected pieces hang at Jag Gallery in Key West from December 5 through January 10, with trophies for Juror's Choice, Honorable Mentions and People's Choice.

Closes

Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern

Award

Trophies, and winners are invited into a Jag Gallery group show in 2027

Fee

$18 per entry, and $18 for each additional image. Up to six pieces.

Who can apply

Open to all artists. No jewelry and no AI-generated work.

Open to Florida artists in all media, with selected work shown at the Court House Cultural Center in Stuart from January 8 through March 10, 2027. More than $1,000 in awards.

Closes

Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern

Award

First $500, second $200, third $100, plus up to four honorable mentions at $50

Fee

$40 for up to three entries, $5 less for MartinArts members

Who can apply

Florida artists, all media, up to three entries each.

Grants to individual working artists with no deadline at all: applications are open year round and reviewed on a rolling basis. Awards go up to $50,000, with most around $35,000.

Closes

No deadline. Open year round

Award

Up to $50,000, most around $35,000

Fee

No application fee

Who can apply

Painters, sculptors and artists working on paper, anywhere in the world. Not open to photography, video or film, performance, graphic or commercial art, illustration, craft, or AI-generated work. One application every 24 months.