Calling all Florida artists! Participate in a prestigious juried show; compete for cash prizes; sell your art piece commission-free; showcase your work to a statewide audience; exhibit your work in an amazing gallery; enjoy an awards celebration & dinner; and be part of an event that benefits our Florida springs and waters!
"Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.” – Lao Tzu
Like no other, our peninsula state is shaped by water in the physical and creative realms. From the moving sands that surround your feet in the surf, to strokes of brushes on the canvas, to the hands molding clay, to carved river banks, to the tide-influenced creeks snaking back to the sea - all are continuously shaped by water. Every aspect of Florida life is influenced by the waters along our coasts, in our communities, and those that flow in the aquifer beneath our feet - they shape our culture, passions, politics, economy, biodiversity, and quality of life. The creative works in this exhibition explore how Florida is "Shaped by Water," literally and figuratively, on canvas, photo, sculpture, and screen.
The exhibition at the Cade Museum, will showcase original works of art by the most talented artists in Florida. Established and emerging artists are eligible to submit up to three entries for consideration. The exhibition will follow regular museum hours from April 18th - May 5th, 2024, in conjunction with The Water State Festival, April 20th, 12 pm - 6 p.m. at the adjacent Depot Park. Both the exhibition and festival benefit the Florida Springs Institute, an environmental non-profit organization protecting our springs and waters.
The Water State, a division of Play Hard Florida, LLC, along with business sponsors will make both the exhibition and festival free and open to the public on festival weekend! This is in line with the goals of all participating entities to make the events inclusive to ALL community members.
Jurors will select which entries get accepted into the exhibition as well as score the pieces during the show. $1,200 will be awarded to the top 3 artists at the April 26th Awards Reception. ALL accepted artists will be given a discounted purchase code for an eventbrite ticket as well as be able to purchase a guest ticket. More details will be presented of the awards reception. Blue Ribbon Award - ($700), Second Place ($350), and Third Place ($150).
Accepted artists may advertise their piece for sale on the label but all communications and deliveries must be the sole responsibility of the artist following the show. Artists can also choose to donate their work to be auctioned in which 100 % of proceeds will go to the nonprofit Florida Springs Institute - or they can donate a portion of their sale to the organization! We will be providing more information to the selected artists on the delivery, sales, and auction processes closer to the show opening.
Important Dates:
March 24th 2024: Submissions are due online by 11:59 p.m. EST
March 31st 2024: Selected artists notified via email
April 13th, 14th, & 15th 2024: Accepted art due for drop off at the Cade Museum - or must have been shipped and received prior to the 14th (more details to come)
April 18th 2024: Shaped by Water Juried Exhibition opens - exhibition hours follow regular museum hours
April 20th 2024: Community Day at the museum and The Water State Festival at the adjacent Depot Park (free admissions to both events)
April 26th 2024: Eventbrite Awards ceremony and reception at the Cade Museum - time and details TBA
May 5th 2024: Exhibition closes Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
May 6th, 7th 2024: Artists pick up work(s) or returned shipped with return labels - time and details TBA
Eligibility:
Established and emerging artists in the region and state-wide are eligible to submit online up to 3 different objects/artworks for consideration for the exhibition, in line with the theme Shaped by Water. First object entry is $30 and second and third object entry is $10 each. It's encouraged to enter the maximum number (3) of quality photos/video of each object entry. The exhibition is open to two-dimensional and three-dimensional works of original art in most artistic media, including but not limited to, painting, drawing, illustration, photography, print media, ceramic, sculpture, video and mixed media. NO AI ART ACCEPTED. Please note accepted artists must drop off and pick up their piece(s) - no buyers will be allowed to pick up. Shipped artwork must include pre-paid return labels. Only entries representing completed works of art will be considered. Jurors reserve the right not to exhibit a work if the object received is different from the one presented in the online application.
Also, separately and not dependent on acceptance into the show, artists can apply to be an art vendor at the April 20th The Water State Festival in the adjacent Depot Park.
CLICK here for an Application Process Tutorial if you'd like more info on the Art Call submission process.
Entry Process and Submission Fee:
Each entry must be completed online at and must include an application, a nonrefundable entry fee of $30 for the first object, and a high resolution digital image (3 max) of your original art (uploaded to ShapedbyWaterArtCall.org). A second and third object/artwork for consideration requires a nonrefundable entry fee of $10 each and a high resolution digital image (3 max). There is a limit of 3 objects/artworks submitted per artist. Information about the objects should include artist's name, title of the work, description of the piece in relation to the theme, and media used. Selected artists will be given instructions via email to provide information for the display of their work. Digital images should be suitable for publication in promotional materials related to the exhibition: well-lit, well-focused, at least 300 DPI and 1200 x 1800 pixels. All entries must be submitted via shapedbywater.artcall.org by 11:59pm EST on March 24th, 2024.
Exhibition Rules:
Works must be existing objects completed in the last three years. No substitutions are permitted and the jurors reserve the right not to exhibit a work if the object received is different from the one proposed with the application.
Artwork will be installed by Play Hard Florida, LLC staff and must be available for the entire run of the exhibition.
Upon art delivery the artist is required to sign a "Release of Liability".
Jurors:
Entries will be reviewed by five jurors - the panel is made up of University of Florida professors, distinguished artists, and local leaders. The jury will select the final submission(s) to be included in the exhibition. Jurors will also judge (score) exhibited art independently for cash prizes: 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.
Awards:
In addition to selecting the exhibition artwork, jurors will award cash prizes for First Place ($700), Second Place ($350), and Third Place ($150). Art will not be separated into categories for judging. The five jurors judging the artworks will be scoring displayed works for interpretation of the theme, creativity, technical skill demonstrated, and originality.
Awards will be presented to the three artists during the awards ceremony and celebration on Friday night, April 26th at the Cade Museum. Time and details (speakers, music, food/drink) will be announced closer to the event. All accepted artists will be able to purchase discounted tickets for themselves and a guest.
Liability: Every care will be exercised in handling of works submitted. However, Play Hard Florida, LLC and the Cade Museum will not be responsible for loss, claims or damages resulting from exhibiting your work. Insurance is the responsibility of the artist.
Delivery and Return of Selected Art: Accepted works of art must be delivered to the Cade Museum (Gainesville) prior to the exhibition opening on Thursday April 18th. Time blocks/location of both delivery and pick-up will be coordinated closer to the show. Method of delivery and return will be the responsibility of the artist - shipping costs with return label to be covered by accepted artists - no buyers will be allowed to pick up works.
Upon art delivery, either by person or shipped, the artist is required to have electronically signed a "Release of Liability" - the online form will be provided in the acceptance email.
Additional guidelines:
For exhibition inquiries please contact the Art Curator : arts@playhardflorida.com
Terms & Conditions:
Artists 18 years or older are eligible to submit up to 3 objects for consideration for the exhibition. Only entries representing completed works of art will be considered. Works must be existing objects completed in the last three years. No substitutions are permitted, and the jurors reserve the right not to show a work if the object received is different from the one proposed with the application. All accepted artwork(s) must be delivered ready to install. All 2-D artwork, framed or unframed, must have the ability to be displayed on an easel. All 3-D artwork must be self-supporting, stable, and free of sharp edges. All video artworks must have all the technology provided in order to display and must be self-sustaining. Play Hard Florida, LLC staff reserves the right to reject work that is not properly presented for installation according to the guidelines specified in this call. The method of delivery and return of the artworks will be the sole responsibility of the artist. If artists fail to claim their work in accordance with the procedures specified in this call, the work will be auctioned after 10 days from the last pick up date of the exhibition. No commission will be retained for any artwork sold during the exhibition. However, it is the artist's responsibility to sell and deliver artwork(s) to the buyer separate from the show. Play Hard Florida, LLC and the Cade Museum will not handle sales between artists and buyers. All artworks will be installed by Play Hard Florida, LLC, and must be available for the entire exhibition run. Entry fees are non-refundable. Play Hard Florida, LLC, and the Cade Museum will not be responsible for loss, claims, or damages resulting from exhibiting your work. Insurance is the responsibility of the artist.
New to Art Call? Watch the entry process tutorial.
