Embracing Our Differences Art Exhibition

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Since 2004, Embracing Our Differences has hosted an international outdoor art exhibition in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida, using large-scale artwork and prose to promote inclusion, kindness, and respect. The juried exhibition features 50 billboard-sized pieces, each paired with a thought-provoking quotation. In 2024, over 420,000 visitors experienced the show, bringing the total audience to 4.8 million since inception.

Information & Application Details:

  • Deadline: July 1, 2025
  • Sarasota, FL | Bayfront Park: Jan 19 – Apr 13, 2025
  • St. Petersburg, FL | Poynter Park: Mar 1 – Mar 31, 2025
  • Community Celebration: Mar 8, 2025, Noon – 3 pm (St. Petersburg)
  • Submission Fee: None
  • Awards: $6,000 total ($2,000 each for Best-in-Show Adult, Best-in-Show Student, and People’s Choice)

 

Eligibility:

  • Open to everyone (artists, students, professionals, and amateurs)
  • International entries encouraged
  • Must be at least 13 years old to submit online (or via mail with parental consent)

 

Theme:

“Embracing Our Differences” — including topics like diversity, inclusion, equality, kindness, empowerment, and human rights. Artists are encouraged to offer fresh interpretations of the theme.

 

Submission Requirements:

  • Horizontal artwork (aspect ratio: 12.8″ x 8.8″)
  • High-resolution digital file (300 dpi minimum, 400MB max)
  • A brief (150 words max) artist statement
  • No AI-generated work or use of the phrase “Embracing Our Differences”
  • Artwork title (5 words max) in the file name
  • No edits after submission unless requested by admin

 

Selection Process:

  • Judged blindly by a panel of artists, curators, and art professionals
  • Criteria: artistic excellence, originality, clarity of theme, impact at billboard size
  • Final selections announced by early January

 

Program Benefits:

  • Exposure to hundreds of thousands of visitors
  • Opportunities for public recognition and cash awards
  • Connection to a global community of artists promoting social change

 

Education Initiatives:

  • Free student field trips and transportation
  • Teacher workshops and curriculum support
  • Student docent programs

 

Contact & Resources:

 

Website Link:

https://www.embracingourdifferences.org/submit-art-2026-exhibition/

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