Calls to Artists

Musicians and ensembles are invited to apply for the 2026-2027 Sunset Sounds Concert Series held at Higgs Beach Amphitheater in Key West. The series features monthly free outdoor concerts from October through April. Performers receive a stipend of $500-$1,500 depending on ensemble size.

Eligibility: Solo artists, duos, and ensembles of all genres based in the Florida Keys or South Florida. Submit audio/video samples with application.

Choreographers and dance companies are invited to submit proposals for the annual Keys Dance Showcase at the Tennessee Williams Theater. Selected works will be performed over two evenings in November. Technical rehearsal time and crew are provided.

Eligibility: Professional and emerging choreographers with connections to Monroe County. Works should be 8-15 minutes in length.

The City of Marathon and the Arts Council seek proposals for a large-scale outdoor sculpture for the newly renovated Community Park. The work should reflect the natural beauty and maritime heritage of the Middle Keys. Budget: $40,000 including fabrication, transportation, and installation.

Eligibility: Open to professional sculptors nationwide. Preference given to artists with experience in hurricane-resistant outdoor installations. Submit portfolio, conceptual sketches, and project budget.

Artists are invited to submit designs for vinyl wraps to be installed on utility boxes in Key West, Marathon, and Islamorada. Designs should celebrate Florida Keys wildlife, flora, or cultural landmarks. Artists receive $300 per selected design.

Eligibility: Open to all Monroe County residents. Digital submissions accepted. Designs must be original artwork suitable for reproduction at utility box scale.

Submit poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction for the annual Keys Voices literary anthology. The 2026 theme is "Tides of Change." Selected works will be published in print and digital formats with readings at the Key West Literary Seminar.

Eligibility: Open to writers 18 and older with a connection to the Florida Keys. Poetry: up to 3 poems, 40 lines each. Prose: up to 3,000 words. No entry fee.

The Arts Council and the Waterfront Playhouse are seeking new one-act plays for a week-long development workshop in October. Four playwrights will be selected to work with professional directors and actors to develop their scripts through table reads and staged readings. Stipend of $750 plus housing provided.

Eligibility: Emerging and mid-career playwrights nationwide. Plays should be 20-45 minutes in length and have not received a full production.

The Arts Council offers four-week residencies for visual artists, writers, and composers at our studio space in Key West. Residents receive private studio space, housing, a $2,000 stipend, and opportunities to engage with the local arts community through open studio events and public talks.

Eligibility: Professional artists working in any discipline. Two residency slots are available per year (January-February and September-October). International artists welcome.

A six-week paid residency for a teaching artist to develop and lead community workshops at libraries, community centers, and senior facilities throughout the Florida Keys. The selected artist will design a workshop series in their discipline and present a culminating public event.

Eligibility: Artists with demonstrated teaching experience. Stipend of $4,000 plus materials budget of $500 and mileage reimbursement.