Top Art Exhibition Opportunities and Calls for Artists in South Florida

South Florida is home to a vibrant and diverse visual arts community. From Palm Beach County to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, artists can find opportunities to exhibit in galleries, cultural centers, museums, public spaces, art festivals, artist-run organizations, and alternative venues.

The challenge isn't simply finding somewhere to show your work. It's finding opportunities that fit your art, reach the right audience, and help you move forward professionally.

Whether you're an emerging artist applying to your first juried exhibition or an established artist looking for new audiences, here are some of the best places to begin your search for art exhibition opportunities in South Florida.

Artists of Palm Beach County

Artists of Palm Beach County (APBC) provides exhibition, educational, networking, and community opportunities for artists throughout Palm Beach County and the surrounding region.

APBC presents multiple exhibitions throughout the year at galleries and cultural venues, including juried, themed, and member exhibitions. Opportunities range from accessible member shows to more selective juried exhibitions.

In addition to exhibitions, APBC offers artist salons, workshops, lectures, special events, community outreach programs, and opportunities for artists to connect with other members of South Florida's creative community.

For artists looking for both exhibition opportunities and an ongoing arts community, a professional artist organization can be an excellent place to start.

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is an important resource for artists throughout the region.

In addition to advocating for arts and culture, the Council presents exhibitions, promotes local artists, offers professional development opportunities, and supports Palm Beach County's cultural community.

Its headquarters in Lake Worth Beach regularly features exhibitions highlighting artists with connections to Palm Beach County.

Artists should monitor the Cultural Council's website and communications for exhibition calls, grants, professional development programs, and other artist opportunities.

Armory Art Center

Located in West Palm Beach, the Armory Art Center has been part of the area's visual arts community for decades.

Known for its classes, workshops, exhibitions, and community programming, the Armory presents work in a variety of media and disciplines.

Exhibition eligibility varies, so artists should follow the Armory's exhibition calendar and announcements for current opportunities.

Arts Warehouse

Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach combines exhibition space, artist studios, workshops, and cultural programming.

The contemporary setting is particularly appealing for artists working in painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, installation, and other contemporary practices.

Artists should watch for calls, programs, and other opportunities to become involved in the Arts Warehouse community.

ArtServe

For artists looking beyond Palm Beach County, ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale is an important Broward County arts organization.

ArtServe presents exhibitions, performances, artist programs, workshops, and special events. Its gallery spaces regularly showcase work by South Florida artists through curated and themed exhibitions.

Participating in exhibitions outside your immediate community can also help expand your audience and build a broader regional exhibition history.

Public Art Opportunities

Artists interested in sculpture, murals, installations, and site-specific work should consider public art opportunities throughout South Florida.

Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, and individual municipalities periodically issue calls for artists for public buildings, parks, transportation facilities, streetscapes, and other civic spaces.

Public art commissions are often more complex than gallery exhibitions. Applications may require a résumé, portfolio, references, statement of interest, project proposal, budget, and evidence that you can successfully complete work at the required scale.

However, these projects can provide substantial professional visibility and represent an important next step for artists interested in expanding beyond traditional gallery exhibitions.

Florida Artists Group

Florida Artists Group (FLAG) is a statewide professional organization with a long history of promoting excellence in the visual arts.

Membership is selective, and its exhibitions provide opportunities for established Florida artists to exhibit alongside professional peers from throughout the state.

Statewide organizations can be particularly valuable for artists who have developed a strong local exhibition history and are ready to expand their professional reach.

Museums and Cultural Institutions

Major museums generally do not accept unsolicited artwork for exhibition, but artists should still follow South Florida's museums and cultural institutions.

Organizations such as the Norton Museum of Art, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale may offer lectures, community programs, competitions, educational opportunities, special projects, and occasional calls that are relevant to working artists.

Following these institutions also helps artists stay informed about curatorial trends and the broader South Florida arts community.

College and University Galleries

College and university galleries are another often-overlooked resource.

Palm Beach State College, Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Broward College, and other institutions operate galleries and cultural spaces.

Some exhibitions are limited to students or faculty, while others feature professional artists, invitational exhibitions, juried shows, and community collaborations.

Research each gallery individually to determine its exhibition policies and opportunities.

Municipal Galleries and Community Spaces

City halls, libraries, community centers, cultural facilities, and other municipal spaces throughout South Florida frequently exhibit artwork.

These may not always receive the attention of commercial galleries, but they can provide excellent exposure to audiences who don't routinely visit traditional art venues.

Check municipal websites for sections devoted to cultural affairs, public art, parks and recreation, and calls for artists.

Juried Art Festivals

South Florida has a robust outdoor art festival season, including nationally recognized juried events as well as smaller community festivals.

Art festivals can provide direct access to buyers and collectors, but participating is very different from entering a gallery exhibition.

Artists generally need a professional booth, display system, sufficient inventory, appropriate insurance, a sales system, and the ability to interact with visitors throughout the event.

Before applying, consider whether your work, pricing, and career goals are suited to the festival environment.

Commercial Galleries

South Florida has a substantial commercial gallery market, particularly in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami, Miami Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Jupiter, and Fort Lauderdale.

Before approaching a gallery, do your research.

Study the artists it currently represents. Look at the gallery's aesthetic, media, price range, exhibition history, and clientele. Visit in person when possible.

A gallery specializing in highly conceptual contemporary work may not be appropriate for traditional landscapes—and vice versa.

Submitting indiscriminately to dozens of galleries is rarely effective. A carefully researched approach to a few appropriate galleries is much more professional.

Don't Overlook Alternative Exhibition Spaces

Some excellent opportunities exist outside traditional galleries.

Performing arts centers, hotels, interior design showrooms, corporate offices, restaurants, libraries, medical facilities, luxury residential developments, and other public-facing spaces sometimes exhibit or purchase artwork.

These locations can introduce your work to collectors, designers, homeowners, business owners, and other audiences who may never attend a gallery opening.

Where to Find Current Calls for Artists

One of the best habits an exhibiting artist can develop is regularly checking for new calls rather than waiting to hear about them from another artist.

CaFÉ (CallForEntry.org) is widely used for juried exhibitions, public art commissions, residencies, grants, and other professional opportunities.

Artists should also subscribe to newsletters and email lists from local arts organizations, cultural councils, galleries, museums, municipalities, and artist associations.

Follow their social media accounts as well. Calls sometimes have relatively short application periods, and being aware of an opportunity early gives you time to prepare a stronger submission.

Join the Local Arts Community

Some of the best opportunities aren't discovered through a Google search.

They come through relationships.

Attend exhibition openings. Participate in artist talks. Visit galleries. Join professional arts organizations. Attend workshops and critiques. Meet other artists. Introduce yourself to curators and gallery directors.

South Florida's arts community is extensive, but it is also interconnected. Becoming an active participant can lead to opportunities you might never have discovered otherwise.

Finding the Right Opportunity

Don't measure success simply by the number of exhibitions on your résumé.

A smaller, well-curated exhibition that attracts the right audience may be more valuable than a large show that has little connection to your artistic goals.

Consider where you want your art career to go and choose opportunities accordingly.

Finding the exhibition is only the first step. Preparing a strong submission can make the difference between being considered and being accepted.

Next: How to Get Your Art Into Exhibitions: A Step-by-Step Guide for Artists