Deadline: July 1, 2027
Embracing Our Differences 2028 Exhibition Competition
Embracing Our Differences, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization)
Southwest Florida, USA (exhibition venues); open to national and international submissions
July 1, 2027
- Visual Arts (large-scale outdoor exhibition artwork)
- Creative Writing (separate competition, judged independently)
Open to all — artists, professionals, amateurs, and students. National and international submissions are encouraged. There is no limit on the number of submissions. Participants must be at least 13 years old (those under 13 may enter with parental/guardian consent). Previously submitted or exhibited artwork from other competitions is eligible.
Free
A total of $6,000 (US) in cash awards, presented as three separate awards:
- "Best-in-Show Adult": $2,000
- "Best-in-Show Student": $2,000
- "People's Choice Award": $2,000 (determined by exhibition visitors)
This is the 24th annual Embracing Our Differences international outdoor juried art exhibition competition. The theme is "Embracing Our Differences," encouraging artists to explore and express the diverse facets of identity, background, and perspective under the concept of "enriching lives through diversity." Submissions may reflect inclusivity and acceptance, freedom of speech and expression, celebrating individuality, addressing challenges and promoting resilience, or building bridges across communities. Fifty selected artworks will be displayed at billboard scale — 16 feet (5m) wide by 12.5 feet (4m) high — at multiple locations along Florida's Cultural Coast in Southwest Florida, from mid-January through mid-April 2028. Since 2004, the exhibition has hosted more than 5.6 million visitors and reached 743,500 students through education programs. All artwork must be in horizontal orientation, submitted as a high-resolution digital file (minimum 300 dpi, 600 dpi or higher preferred) in JPG, JPEG, PDF, or PNG format, with a file size under 400MB, accompanied by a brief artist statement (150 words maximum). AI-generated artwork is not accepted and will be disqualified. Selections are made by a blind judging panel of professional artists, curators, and art professionals, based on clarity of theme, effectiveness at large scale, and originality of concept. Selected artists will be notified by email after judging in early fall, and all winning entries will be posted on the website by early January 2028.
