Ocala Public Artist Roster

The City of Ocala Public Artist Roster is a pre-qualified list of professional visual artists that serves as a resource for public art selection and commission at the City and as a reference for external organizations and private entities. The Roster may be used in combination with an open call, invitational, or as the sole resource for identifying appropriate artists/teams for select projects based on an expedited selection process, need for a specific skillset, or a curated opportunity. For each project, qualifications of artists will be reviewed by the Ocala Municipal Art Commission and recommended for final approval by City staff. Applications are reviewed on the artist's experience and portfolio. Previously accepted roster artists may update their portfolio materials each year during the application period. There is no application fee.

Eligible applicants must be professional visual artists or artist teams (up to five members), live in or have legal ability to work in the United States, and have experience creating public art in one of five categories: Public Art (standalone works for public environments), Creative Placemaking Practice (community engagement and ephemeral artwork), Media Arts (digital technologies including video, projections, virtual/augmented reality, sound installations), Murals (large-scale works on architectural features), or Integrated/Infrastructure (design practices integrated into building design, public works, or landscape design).

Applicants must submit six JPEG images of separate artworks with accompanying information including title, date, dimensions, medium, cost, commissioning agency, timespan/life of the work, and location. Additional required materials include current contact information, short descriptive statements for each image, artist's statement, and artistic resume. The Ocala Municipal Arts Commission scores applications based on experience (5 points), professional workmanship (10 points), and artistic excellence (15 points). If accepted to the roster, artists agree to design and propose artworks, travel to project sites, work within fixed budgets, work with committees, potentially work on teams with other artists, maintain City vendor registration, and enter into contracts with the City of Ocala.