Artists are invited to submit proposals for the second art installation of the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). The second installation will be deployed Summer 2019. Deadline for submission is January 31, 2019.

Recently named by TIME Magazine as one of 100 “World’s Greatest Places,” the UMA is the first and only permanent underwater sculpture museum in the United States.

The UMA is located off the coast of Northwest Florida, specifically 0.7 miles off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in South Walton, Florida. It is the crown jewel for the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) continuing efforts.

Nine artists will be commissioned in 2019 to develop design proposals and create a 3D piece of original artwork to be permanently installed in the Underwater Museum of Art. Each artist will receive a $5,500 stipend inclusive of design fees, materials, labor, fabrication, construction, packing materials, shipping, and transportation.

Once selections are made, artists will be notified and have approximately three months to complete and deliver work to Walton County, Florida, where the completed sculptures will be exhibited on land before being transported to Walter Marine in Orange Beach, Alabama, to be attached to custom pedestals.

Sculptures will then be taken by barge to the gulf and carefully submerged around 60 feet to the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.

The UMA has been featured in online and print publications including National Geographic, Lonely Planet, Travel & Leisure, Newsweek, The New York Times, and more. As part of the Cultural Arts Alliance’s Art In Public Spaces program, the UMA also augments SWARA’s mission of creating marine habitat and expanding fishery populations while providing enhanced cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of Walton County residents, including students and visitors. The project is supported by Visit South Walton, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Alys Foundation, and Florida Department of State Cultural Affairs Division.

This eco/arts-tourism attraction not only entices art lovers and divers from around the world; it also provides a much-needed habitat for local marine life and fisheries.

The UMA offers an opportunity for marine scientists, wildlife management professionals, ecologists, and students to study marine life and measure the impact of artificial reef systems on the gulf ecosystem.

This opportunity is open to artists and artist teams with a demonstrated history of collaboration completing large-scale public art projects. Following the application deadline, the CAA will convene a panel of arts and marine environment specialists to review the applications and select proposals for completion and installation.

Artists may learn more about the project, see photos and video of the 2018 installation, and submit online proposals through January 31, 2019 at UMAFL.org. Interested artists must be registered with callforentry.org (CaFÉ) where the artist call and details are posted.

For detailed info about the Underwater Museum of Art, visit 30A’s fact-filled mini UMA site.