The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) announces it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts for a $10,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support its Art in Public Spaces program. The funds will be used to add public art features to the U.S. Hwy. 98 at Inlet Beach Underpass Project that is currently under construction. The project is among 1,248 projects across America totaling $28,840,000 that were selected to receive this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects category. In partnership with Scenic Walton, the East Corridor Improvement & Safety Project Committee, Visit South Walton, Walton County Board of County Commissioners, and the Florida Dept. of Transportation, the CAA will incorporate public art into the existing $5.6 million project that will be the first pedestrian and cyclist underpass constructed in the county. The art component will include two medium to large-sized sculptures installed next to each tunnel entrance, a public piano inspired by Luke Jerram’s “Play Me, I’m Yours” international project, and a series of murals to be created on the tunnel’s interior walls. “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts projects like this one from the CAA that help support the community’s creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “The CAA in Walton County is among the arts organizations nationwide that are using the arts as a source of strength, a path to well-being, and providing access and opportunity for people to connect and find joy through the arts.” “It is an honor to have the NEA’s support for this exemplary project that will bring engaging, interactive and thought-provoking artwork to the community while also providing a practical and safe passage across Hwy. 98,” said CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. “The arts are integral to finding solutions to civic issues and improving quality of life, and we know this is the first of many collaborations that will make art accessible throughout Walton County for years to come.” In addition to NEA support, the Art in Public Spaces project will be funded through a grant from the Florida Department of State Division of Arts & Culture and other public and private sector donors. Individuals and businesses interested in supporting the project may contact Gabby Callaway at Gabby@culturalartsalliance.com. Requests For Qualifications for the mural and sculpture commissions will be available in April 2022 at CulturalArtsAlliance.com. Artistically and conceptually, and in recognition of this underpass being the first in the area, the theme of the art installations will be “connectivity” and “relationship” - among and between humans and connection with our built environment through creativity. Interested artists may contact Courtney Malone at courtney@culturalartsalliance.com. For more information on other projects included in the Arts Endowment grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

ArtsQuest, the 34th annual fine arts festival produced by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA), is pleased to announce the 2022 Festival’s Featured Artist, Orestes Barrios Marañón. A Mother’s Day weekend tradition, ArtsQuest is a juried show scheduled to take place May 7 & 8, in the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Barrios Marañón’s custom artwork titled “Fable In Eden '' will be the featured image on all ArtsQuest marketing materials. Barrios Marañón was the 2021 ArtsQuest ‘Best in Show’ winner. His featured piece, “Fable In Eden”, is a parody of fables and everyday life, creating stories with each of the characters that live in it. Color is an important and leading element in his art. His wide range of work will be on display at ArtsQuest. Presented by Grand Boulevard Town Center, with additional support from Visit South Walton, the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts & Culture, and Emerald Coast Magazine, ArtsQuest will feature over 100 other artists in various mediums including, but not limited to, ceramics, glass, oil and acrylics, photography, sculpture, metal and wood. These exhibiting artists from around the United States will compete for awards and cash prizes totaling $10,000. The Festival will offer heritage art demonstrations, a CAA member artist exhibit, a Walton County student exhibit, continuous live music and entertainment, and “ImagiNation: where kids rule.” A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park. ArtsQuest is part of Art Month Walton County, a collaboration of visual, performing and literary arts events presented in diverse formats and venues throughout Walton County in May. Art Month Walton also includes “Under the Sea” - a fundraiser for the Underwater Museum of Art, Digital Graffiti Festival at Alys Beach, the Longleaf Writers Conference, Music on Main in DeFuniak Springs, Sinfonia Goes Pop, Xanadu - a production from Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Gallery events and more. Volunteers are needed throughout ArtsQuest weekend to work on all aspects of the festival. Those willing to help can sign up at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/volunteer. Sponsorships are still available, and interested businesses can contact Gabby@culturalartsalliance.com for more information. ArtsQuest is a rain or shine event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested. Visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com for more information about ArtsQuest as well as other Art Month events, which are supported in part by Visit South Walton. About Featured Artist Orestes Barrios Marañón Orestes Barrios Marañón is an independent engraver, painter, cartoonist, sculptor, designer, set designer and children’s book illustrator. Born in Cuba in 1963, he studied at the Provincial School of Arts of Pinar del Rio from 1975 to 1979, specializing in plastic arts. Barrios Marañón graduated from the National School of Arts “Cubanacan” in Havana in 1983. He has taught classes for 30 years and was also the Director of the Academy of Plastic Arts of Matanzas from 1999 to 2001. Barrios Marañón has received more than 20 national and international awards for his artistic work as well as various recognitions for his teaching, including the Merit Award for Teaching Work. He has had eight personal exhibitions for his art and participated in more than 70 collective exhibitions in Cuba, Canada, Germany, Argentina, Spain, France, Uruguay and the United States.

CALL TO ARTISTS The Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Walton County is calling artists who are current members of the CAA to submit up to two pieces of artwork to be considered for "Go Figure" - Portrait and Clothed Figure. The pieces selected for inclusion in the show will be exhibited and for sale at The Foster Gallery from March 28 - May 15, 2022. This call is open to CAA member artists. If you aren't yet a member, please visit our website to join. The submitted piece(s) must be original and can be aged or fresh and may utilize a variety of mediums. 2D work must be dry and ready to hang with wire attached for hanging. CRITERIA If submissions do not meet the following criteria, they will not be accepted and considered for the show. All exhibited work must be original . No print reproductions accepted (except photography). Artwork must be appropriate to the general public and family-friendly. 2D & 3D Paintings: Dimensions (Height + Width) may not exceed 72" including frames. (i.e. 36" X 36" = 72", the maximum size including the frame) Unframed gallery-wrapped canvas is acceptable only if it is at least 1.5 inches deep and the sides are completely painted. Paintings must be properly mounted with D Rings and wired. NO SAWTOOTH HANGERS. 3D Sculptures, Ceramics, Woodworks and Metal works must fit an 18” x 18” pedestal, or if free standing not take up more than 4 sq. ft. Artists may supply their own pedestal if necessary. Selling your piece is not mandatory; however if the piece is for sale, the artist agrees to a 60% Artist / 40% CAA split. TIMELINE Call to artists: March 1 - March 22, 2022 Artist Instruction Letter: March 23, 2022 Art delivery to Foster Gallery: March 27, 2022 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Show opens: March 28, 2022 Opening reception: TBD Show ends: May 15, 2022 Mandatory Art pick-up: May 15, 2022, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ABOUT THE FOSTER GALLERY The Foster Gallery is named for the late Susan Foster, a founder of the Cultural Arts Alliance.  It is an artist collective featuring regional artists and special exhibitions on a quarterly rotating basis.  We host artist receptions and openings, workshops, events, and serve as a community gathering point symbolizing the support the CAA strives to give artists in our community, especially those who are members of the CAA. GALLERY LOCATION AND HOURS OF OPERATION The gallery is located at 495 Grand Boulevard, Suite J-104, Miramar Beach, FL  32550. Hours are 12 pm – 7 pm, daily. HOW TO APPLY Submit your application ONLINE before 11 pm March 22,  2022. You will need to set up an account with Submittable if you do not already have one. You only have to set up your account one time, but you will need to submit to artist calls individually.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is proud to announce the local artists recently chosen to exhibit their original work in The Foster Gallery’s Spring Rotation, which runs February 7th through June 5th, 2022 in its Grand Boulevard Town Center location. The public is invited to a reception on Friday, February 11th from 5 -7 p.m. celebrating the selected artists as well as the special exhibition, "Amore," featuring works painted "en plein air" by Melody Bogle, Becky Hart, & Jill Holt during their latest painting trip in the cities and countryside of Italy. Enjoy live music, tasty sips and snacks while perusing all of the beautiful works on display and available for purchase. The selected Spring Rotation artists are Gisselle Barnhart, Melody Bogle, Gayle Campbell, Donnelle Clark, Kim Eifrid, Estelle Grengs, Capri Boyle Jones, Ginger Laughlin, Robyn Martins, Lynette Moody, William Polley, Mary Redmann and Andrea Scurto. The gallery is also pleased to feature ceramics by Skip Deems as well as hand-crafted jewelry from local artisans Hardwear Merry and The Salty Sparrow. All rotation artists are members of the Cultural Arts Alliance. All works exhibited in the gallery are for sale, and many works are also available for viewing and purchase on the CAA website at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/foster-gallery. Curbside pick-up is available. The Grand Boulevard location is at 495 Grand Boulevard, Suite J104, next to Chico’s and across from Tommy Bahama. Founded in May 2016, The Foster Gallery is an artist collective led by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County that features at least a dozen artists on a seasonally rotating basis, along with special exhibits and invitationals throughout the year. Named for the late Susan Foster, a founder of the Cultural Arts Alliance and one of the area’s first professional artists and gallery owners, The Foster Gallery also symbolizes the support the CAA strives to provide for artists in our community. The gallery is open daily from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, call 850.837.3037 or visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) are proud to reveal the ten sculpture designs, including the museum's first international selections, chosen by jury for permanent exhibition in the fourth installation of the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). The 2022 installation will include the following pieces of sculpture: Currents and Tafoni by Joe Adams (Ventura, CA) Pirate Shipwreck by Sean Coffey (Pittsburgh, PA), Bloom Baby Bloom by Brit Deslonde (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), The Seed and The Sea by Davide Galbiati (Valreas, France), Fibonacci Conchousness by Anthony Heinz May (Eugene, OR), New Homes by Janetta Napp (Honolulu, HI), Arc of Nexus by Tina Piracci (Richmond, CA), We All Live Here by Marisol Rendón (San Diego, CA), Mobifish-2021 by Mathias Souverbie (Les Valence, France), and Common Chord by Vince Tatum (Santa Rosa Beach, FL). Named in 2018 by TIME Magazine as one of 100 “World’s Greatest Places,” the UMA is presented as part of CAA’s Art In Public Spaces Program and augments SWARA’s mission of creating marine habitat and expanding fishery populations while providing enhanced creative, cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education and enjoyment of residents, students and visitors in South Walton. UMA sculptures are deployed with SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef projects that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile off the shore in approximately 58 feet of water. The 2022 installation will join the 25 sculptures previously deployed on a one-acre permit patch of seabed off Grayton Beach State Park, further expanding the nation’s first permanent underwater museum. Deployment of the 2022 UMA installation is slated for Summer. Visit UMAFL.org for more information on timeline and events surrounding UMA’s launch. Project and sculpture sponsorships are available. Please contact Jennifer Steele at jennifer@culturalartsalliance.com for sponsorship details. 2022 UMA SCULPTURE AND ARTIST DETAILS CURRENTS AND TAFONI is a limestone sculpture by artist Joe Adams. Adams will create a vortex of shell-like structural anatomy, whirling currents providing curve-linear "shelves' for coral to live abundantly with three hole spaces between allowing fish to flow through it. The sculpture will be shaped with diamond saws, grinders, air hammers and hand worked with chisels and files. The "detail" will be in the larger sense of how the curves and spaces interact with each other allowing for future coral expansion, like the 12 visible shallow embossed shapes mimicking "Tafoni" erosion to propagate coral reproduction. There is a sense of playful dance in this concept, providing a harmony with water currents and the movement of marine life. PIRATE SHIPWRECK designer Sean Coffey is based in Pittsburgh, PA. His concept is based on the visual aesthetics of a sunken pirate ship. With years of ultra high performance concrete design experience coupled with more than a decade of building custom metal sculptures and structures, he will create a sunken pirate ship from 1/2" thick aluminum angle and clad it in custom poured concrete planks that resemble wood creating the framework of a sunken ship buried in the sand. As sand and coral eventually consume the sculpture, it will resemble a ship that was lost long before its placement. The piece will be large enough to allow fish and other sea creatures to utilize the structure as a habitat also allowing divers to interact safely. BLOOM BABY BLOOM Florida- based artist Brit Deslonde’s inspiration was heavily influenced by the textures, forms and flows that she holds dear when thinking about her diving experiences. She wanted to create a piece that felt positive, and reflected the hope that artificial reefs and reef restoration bring, while still providing a welcoming home to fish and flora that may find their home in her artwork. The "off balance'" yet elevated structure to her sculpture signifies strength where we can find it, (albeit from where we don't expect it at times ) and the uplifting nature of those who put forth the effort to find that strength, especially for causes that may not give personal gain such as this. THE SEED AND THE SEA artist Davide Galbiati’s goal at the UMA is to educate the public on the fragility of marine ecosystems and the importance of preserving the balance of marine life with all of its members. To succeed in his message, he relies on the metaphor of the Seed in Nature. The Seed... nothing is more important in Nature. It represents the matrix which will make it possible to have thousands of trees. For Nature what matters is the seed. It conquered territory, redraws landscapes, transformed biodiversity, got involved in fragile interstices, and was reborn after destruction. The information that is contained within it must be transmitted. This is the seed's mission: to transmit. The surface of the statue will allow the development of new plant and animal organisms; the sculpture itself will be transformed into a Seed, into a matrix which will allow a new Life and which will have to be protected. Readers may recognize FIBONACCI CONCHOUSNESS artist Anthony Heinz May from his recent Roost and Puddle sculpture addition to the Watersound® Monarch Art Trail. His concrete conch shell design for the UMA reflects site-responsive specificity of location of UMA and existentialism between museum goers, natural/human-built environments and precarious human-nature relationships. The conch will lay on its side with flanges extending from a welded frame substrate of steel rod/wire mesh underneath layered concrete. This tested true prototype holds the highest structural integrity and best suitable for the natural underwater environment as well transport/install methodologies. Conch shells can be found along Florida Panhandle beaches while combing sands near the water's edge, however in small sizes and typically commandeered by rogue hermit crabs. The increasing scarcity of conches housing sea snails and mollusks from years of harvesting Florida waters has made them illegal for anyone to remove. Several narratives of the conch include sacred Native American histories, musical instrumentation, used in cultural recipes, as well exemplified in mathematical formula established by Leonardo Fibonacci in the 13th century. Architecture uses ratios in designs elucidated by the conch as a form of pure aesthetic. In reclamation by algal plant life and for organisms to anchor, the intentions of his proposal continue expansion of his public art portfolio which include concepts involving nature, humans and technology. Reinvestment of the organic existence of large conch shells once omnipresent in these tropical waters pay homage to nature, natural cycles and patterns. Remnants of conch shells wash ashore along the Northwestern Panhandle of Florida as archeological fragments depicting severity of history in travel to where it lay in the sand. The perilous trip of conch shells, affected by storms, laws of entropy and human intervention in natural environments, is reversed in his sculpture which depicts the conch shell as a complete and unbroken whole. Hawaii-based artist Janetta Napp is creating an abstract cement sculpture, NEW HOMES, that alludes to a row of cone snail egg casings reimagined as three vertical ovule panels. In total, the three panels together will weigh approximately 2090 lbs and will be 36” long. This piece is titled New Homes because each panel will have identical 6” diameter holes and randomly scattered .5” diameter indentations approximately .5” deep. One hole will line up across all three panels so that if a diver is facing the front of the sculpture, they could see through to the other side. These holes and indentations will create resting places and encourage marine life to settle. Each panel will be set approximately 1’ apart and will alternate front and back to provide an asymmetrical appearance like a row of cone snail egg casings. To create this artwork, Napp will use clean concrete cement reinforced with rebar and stainless-steel mesh connected with stainless steel ties to create a rough grid within, reinforcing each panel. Her fascination with the aquatic world has led her to volunteer for marine research projects with the University of Hawai’i sparking her interest in the combination of science and art. By creating an artificial reef structure, she can contribute to the conservation of coral reefs. From the depths of our reefs, to the soft tissue in our heads controlling our every move, the reaction-diffusion pattern expressed in ARC OF NEXUS from artist Tina Piracci exemplifies the synergy and wonder of the macrocosm we live in today. Enchanted by the uncanny echo of these patterns across various scales, the artist aims to illuminate similar algorithmic arrangements through the intersection of science and art. Inspired by Vitruvius and DaVinci, the divine connections found in nature influence Piracci to create and research within the context of the natural world. This imaginary portal acts as a passage between realms inviting the viewer to investigate and understand the world around them. The process of this work included drawing this diffusion pattern from personal photos gathered on diving trips around various coasts in Florida, some of which were restoration trips with the Coral Restoration Foundation. With a sister sculpture located in St. Petersburg, this doorway acts as the underwater portal to its counterpart. Doors and portals are often a theme in Piracci’s work as they allude to “another realm.” Through dreams and weird coincidences, the artist finds this notion of a portal intriguing as a threshold between worlds. Inspired by her passed brother who visits her in dreams through misplaced mysterious doorways, these works provide the artist with the hope of another world. Through exploring the patterns found in nature, Piracci emphasizes the magical nature of the world as we can find the same structures in our eye’s irises out in the cosmos. Connections like these bring life to the artist as she knows she must protect nature as it is the one thing she holds sacred. WE ALL LIVE HERE artist Marisol Rendón believes being underwater changes our experience of gravity and time. It makes us aware of our breath. We are acutely aware we are visitors to another world bound by very different rules. This change of perspective, and the mindfulness it helps to generate is a main ingredient in experiencing art within UMA, and is the foundation for fantasy, interspecies empathy, and activism. We All Live Here… proposes a further change of perspective as we peer in through the open portals of a submerged submarine and the fish that will find refuge within its form peer back out at us. We All Live Here… will echo the playful and ever recognizable silhouette of the Beatles Yellow Submarine. Its round volumetric form constructed of stainless steel and clean concrete mortar invites us to let our imaginations wander into a fantasy realm where ocean animals come to visit us in their own “submarine,” or, where unlikely heroes battle the injustices of uncaring Blue Meanies. Physically the form of the submarine will be hollow with special attention paid to proper turtle ingress and egress points by strategically “removing” panels from the hull. As to keep the submarine playful and not feel as though it has been wrecked at the bottom of the ocean the piece will be elevated above the mounting plinth on a series of organic forms that mimic large bubbles. Further interactive possibilities will be explored through some of the faux mechanical details of the vessel, like the 4 periscopes, propeller, portholes and such. It is Rendón’s hope that as that catchy refrain “We all live in a yellow submarine…” plays in visitors' heads they remember the creatures they saw that day sharing space within that vessel. MOBIFISH-2021 will be created by artist Mathias Souverbie. The moment an object moves, it attracts attention and the bet is won. The sculpture is a giant concrete fish that moves in the sea current like a weather vane. Thus the constraints intrinsic to the force of sea currents are managed in a completely simple and yet extraordinary way. The aim of such a play is above all to be striking and strong. And how can you be closer to the marine universe than by creating a fish? The Gulf of Mexico and live music are two common chords that bring people together on 30A according to artist Vince Tatum. His sculpture, COMMON CHORD, combines these two local loves by joining music with nature in perfect harmony. The sculpture is a celebration of the natural beauty that surrounds us all and brings us together. Whether it’s gathering on the beach with Osprey soaring overhead, playing in the Gulf while stingrays glide below, or dancing like nobody’s watching while the band plays into the night. The natural beauty of it all, brings us together. It’s the Common Chord. The sculpture will be a beneficial addition to UMA as it is designed to be a thriving marine habitat that will add visual interest for divers. The hollow stingrays and sound hole features of the guitar will make cozy coral-nooks for creatures to take up residence. The body of the sculpture will encourage coral growth with an ample clean cement surface and quickly become its own marine ecosystem. See all of the sculpture exhibits and learn more at umafl.org

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County is excited to announce that tickets are now on sale for the highly anticipated annual Valentine Tour of Homes & Gardens. The tour is known for providing a rare opportunity to enter some of South Walton’s most interesting residences, showcasing stunning interiors, acclaimed architectural design and picturesque settings, which are sure to bring inspiration to tour goers’ winter beach weekend. With a focus on location, this year’s self-guided tour, which is presented by Visit South Walton with additional support from the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, will emphasize outdoor living spaces, gardens and interesting courtyards. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 13 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. All net proceeds benefit the CAA's ‘Art For All’ Program, which provides support to Walton County schools, teachers, students, artists and arts organizations to further arts education in the community. Tickets are $40 in advance through December 31, $45 beginning January 1, 2022 and $50 the days of the event, valid for the entire weekend with one entry per house. Tickets can be purchased in advance on the CAA’s website, CulturalArtsAlliance.com. Tickets will also be available for purchase at several of the homes throughout the weekend. Please note that as most of these homes are private residences, they cannot be guaranteed as ADA compliant. Please notify the CAA office in advance for questions regarding access, and best efforts will be made for accommodations. To volunteer, visit culturalartsalliance.com/volunteer. Volunteers receive a complimentary event ticket. If you or someone you know has an outdoor living space you'd like to submit for consideration, we are accepting applications online HERE through January 30, 2022. For more information about the Valentine Tour of Homes & Gardens and the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, call 850-622-5970 or visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

CALL TO ARTISTS The CAA is calling all artists who are current members of the Cultural Arts Alliance to submit an application to be considered for the 2022 Spring Rotation of The Foster Gallery located in Grand Boulevard’s Town Center scheduled to run February 7 - June 5, 2022. Please study the criteria and submit application ONLINE prior to 11 pm on January 18, 2022. ABOUT THE FOSTER GALLERY The Foster Gallery is named for the late Susan Foster, a founder of the Cultural Arts Alliance.  It is an artist collective featuring regional artists and special exhibitions on a quarterly rotating basis.  We host artist receptions and openings, workshops, events, and serve as a community gathering point symbolizing the support the CAA strives to give artists in our community, especially those who are members of the CAA. GALLERY LOCATION AND HOURS OF OPERATION The gallery is located at 495 Grand Boulevard, Suite J-104, Miramar Beach, FL  32550. Hours are daily 12 pm – 7 pm. HOW IT WORKS Ten (10) to fifteen (15) artists will be selected for each 16 week rotation. Each artist must commit to one of the following two staffing options. Option 1:  Work a minimum of twelve (12) shifts throughout the rotation. Shifts are approximately seven (7) hours. Schedules will be coordinated by CAA Executive Director and Director of Administration. Shifts may be traded among artists, but CAA management must be notified prior to shift changes. Option 2:  Do a staff buyout of $800, which enables the CAA to cover the cost of staffing your shifts. The artist is not obligated to work any shifts. Option 2 is only available up front as a full buyout. Artists must also be available to attend the rotation opening reception. Artists are encouraged to utilize the gallery for their own special events in order to promote their work. The sales split is 60% artist and 40% CAA. The CAA is responsible for all overhead, including rent, utilities, commissions, marketing, event costs, and insurance of the gallery and its contents. All sales will be processed through the CAA, and artists will receive bi-weekly settlements. Any sales will include a 5% commission to the artist on duty. The gallery features ongoing special exhibitions throughout the year and may also host invitational at the CAA’s discretion. TIMELINE Call to Artists:  December 29, 2021 – January 18, 2022 Artist notification:  January 24, 2022 Mandatory installation and training:  February 6, 2022 Rotation begins February 7, 2022 Opening reception February 9, 2022 (Tentative) Rotation Ends June 5, 2022 ARTIST CRITERIA Accepted artists MUST meet the following criteria: Artist must be a current member of the CAA. Not a member yet? Join today! Artist must attend mandatory installation and training on specified date. Artist must attend mandatory de-installation on specified date. Artist must be available and physically able to work a minimum number of shifts or do a staff buyout of $800 to cover paid staff, which will be coordinated by CAA Executive Director and Director of Administration. Artist must be available to help with gallery events and receptions (as needed). All exhibited work must be original work created by the applying artist. All exhibited work must be for sale. Prints and giclées are not allowed on the exhibit walls (except photography), but may be for sale in a bin within your exhibit space. Artist must have a minimum of six pieces on exhibit at any given time throughout rotation and must adhere to any rule regarding maximum number of pieces if gallery space is limited. Artist must agree to a 60% artist, 40% CAA split of each sale. Artist must be able to provide a replacement piece within 48 hours after the sale of an exhibited piece. Artist must provide an inventory of art pieces in a digital file that lists Price, Title, Medium, Dimensions and Weight, and whether the piece is framed upon installation. Artist must pay a 10% referral fee to the CAA for any commissions that are generated because of the artist’s participation in the gallery. HOW TO APPLY Submit your application ONLINE before 11 pm January 18,  2022. You will need to set up an account with Submittable if you do not already have one. You only have to set up your account one time, but you will need to submit to artist calls individually.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) invites visual artists of all disciplines to apply to participate in the juried 34th Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival planned for May 7th and 8th, 2022 in south Walton County, along Northwest Florida’s beaches. ArtsQuest will take place in the Town Center of Grand Boulevard, which is also home to other large-scale events including the 30A Songwriters Festival and the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival. Located along the Scenic Highway 98 corridor, Grand Boulevard is easily accessible from regional drive and fly markets, including Dallas, Houston, Memphis, Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Mobile, Pensacola and Tallahassee. The Town Center also offers upscale shopping, restaurants and three on-site hotels. Artists may apply in the categories of Mixed Media, Oils, Acrylics, Works on Paper, Fiber, Glass, Ceramics, Sculpture, Jewelry, Pastels, and more and will be juried by art industry professionals. The jury fee is $45 and booth fees start at $325. The final application deadline is March 4, 2022. APPLY TO THE EVENT AT: Zapplication.org Highlights of ArtsQuest include: Limited to 200 juried artists Attendance of 5,000 quality art buyers $10,000 in cash prizes Program listing Exceptional artist hospitality Easy, convenient Friday load-in Drive to your booth for load in/load out Free artist parking onsite Corner and double booth options Booth sitters Overnight security Indoor restroom facilities Live music and entertainment Food vendors & full cash bar, along with existing restaurants in Grand Boulevard Grand Boulevard and the surrounding area offer affordable accommodations, including hotels, camping and condo and home rentals. Limited discounted hotel accommodations will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. ArtsQuest is a beloved event that attracts repeat local and visiting art collectors. Artist amenities and staff/volunteer attention to details and artists' needs are considered exceptional. Awards are given based on the Judges’ evaluation and scoring of each artist’s body of work as displayed in the booth. ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival is a Cultural Arts Alliance signature event that fulfills our mission to bring high-quality artistic experiences to the community. Call the CAA office at 850-622-5970 for details.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL – For the past 12 years, the 30A Songwriters Festival has attracted thousands of die-hard live music fans from around the country to hear original songwriters spanning many genres of music perform their songs. The beach resort towns along Highway 30A on the Gulf of Mexico feature 30 venues presenting over 230 songwriters and 300+ solo, band and in-the-round performances throughout the weekend of January 14 – 17, 2022. 30A Songwriters Festival will celebrate its 13th year with performances on the main stage at presenting partner Grand Boulevard’s Town Center in Miramar Beach with headline performances by renowned artists BROTHERS OF A FEATHER (feat. CHRIS & RICH ROBINSON of the BLACK CROWES), MAVIS STAPLES, EMMYLOU HARRIS, DAWES and JENNY LEWIS. We are especially happy to welcome AMY GRANT and RICKI LEE JONES to the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival for the first time. Returning to perform two shows each throughout the weekend are songwriting legends RODNEY CROWELL, PATTY GRIFFIN, STEVE EARLE, JOHN PAUL WHITE (The Civil Wars), GARY LOURIS (JAYHAWKS), SHAWN MULLINS and DAR WILLIAMS! WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING AN ADDITIONAL 150+ ARTISTS TO THE 2022 LINEUP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS - STAY TUNED We are pleased to announce the following confirmed artists: Marc Broussard, Carlene Carter, Robyn Hitchcock, Sierra Hull, James McMurtry, Liz Longley, Dan Navarro, Sarah Lee Guthrie, Jeffrey Steele, Kalen & Aslyn, Peter Bradley Adams, Kyshona Armstrong, Jeff Black, Mary Gauthier, Alex Guthrie, Toby Lightman, Charlie Mars, Michael McDermott, Leigh Nash, Abe Partridge, Alice Peacock, Darden Smith, J Barnaby Bright, Meaghan Farrell, Jesse Terry, The Young Fables, and many more! The 30A Songwriters Festival production team transforms amphitheaters, town halls, restaurants, theaters, bars and covered patios into unique music venues ranging in capacity from 75 to 750 seats indoors and 6,000 outdoors. Dueling rockstar brothers Chris and Rich Robinson formed The Black Crowes in 1984, penning several hit songs and becoming renowned on the live music circuit all before the age of 23. But over a storied career that saw the release of eight studio albums, four live albums, and over 35 million records sold, the brothers continuously butted heads, calling it quits forever in 2013; each brother vowed to never play or speak with the other again. This January, Chris and Rich will reunite on the mainstage at Grand Boulevard as Brothers of a Feather, an acoustic duo, and perform their classic hits from “She Talks to Angels” and “Twice as Hard” to “Remedy.” Mavis Staples is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She’s both a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer; a civil rights icon; a Grammy Award winner; a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer; a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She’s collaborated with everyone from Prince to Bob Dylan. A legendary live performer, she will treat the 30A audience to a string of The Staples Singers’ classics in addition to selections from her recent trio of acclaimed albums made with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Emmylou Harris returns to serenade the 30A mainstage with her incomparably expressive voice and eloquent, straightforward songs that first shook up country radio in the 1970's, cementing her place as the premiere songwriter of a generation. Over her career she's sold more than 15 million records and garnered 14 Grammy Awards, three CMA Awards, and four Americana Awards in the process. Dawes will showcase songs from their latest critically acclaimed album, Good Luck With Whatever (recorded at the historic RCA studios in Nashville Tennessee with six-time Grammy-award winning producer Dave Cobb). The Los Angeles-based group is one of the finest folk rock bands of the modern era — just ask their forbearers. Studio collaborators include Jackson Browne and Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers). Such signature songs “Time Spent in Los Angeles” and “All Your Favorite Bands” evoke a classic Laurel Canyon sound for the new millennia. Jenny Lewis established herself as indie rock royalty as the frontwoman of Rilo Kiley, but as a solo artist she has blossomed into a singular, contemporary singer-songwriter. The New York Times calls her “a stylish performer who defies genre and salts her songs with a sly and off-kilter intelligence.” Her latest record On the Line features performances from Ringo Starr, Beck, and Don Was (The Rolling Stones). Rickie Lee Jones will make her 30A debut fresh off the release of her memoir, Last Chance Texaco, released in the spring of 2021. Her chronicles are “as rich and colorful as Jones’s best lyrics,” writes The New York Times. The two-time Grammy winner, known for her haunting voice that ranges from deep yearning to late-night sultry, first appeared on the Los Angeles scene in the mid-1970s penning instant classics like “Chuck E.'s In Love,” “Danny’s All-Star Joint,” and the pivotal breakup album Pirates. Co-producers Russell Carter and Jennifer Steele commented on the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival: “2022 marks the 13th year of producing the 30A Songwriters Festival. It began as a small event and grew quickly into a premier one-of-a kind musical showcase for world-class songwriters. From the start, the Festival has been a benefit for the local nonprofit Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County.” Russell Carter, President of Russell Carter Artist Management and Festival Co-Producer points out that “this year — 2022 — we celebrate a New Morning. In honor of this theme, select musicians will showcase Bob Dylan’s classic album, New Morning, performing all of the songs in the original album sequence.” “Anticipation for the 2022 30A Songwriters Festival is dramatically stronger than ever after 15 months of postponed shows due to the pandemic," said Cultural Arts Alliance Executive Director and Festival Co-Producer Jennifer Steele. "The Cultural Arts Alliance has been instrumental in establishing a rich and rewarding culture of creativity that enhances our community's quality of life, and we are eager to re-engage in person with our wonderful music enthusiasts, both fans and performers from all over the country, in support of the Arts." Festival Weekend Passes are currently available at 30aSongwritersFestival.com. VIP tickets that include premium seating on the lawn at Grand Boulevard for the headline shows on Saturday and Sunday afternoons along with access to the VIP tent serving complimentary food, beer, wine and cocktails are also available. For a full description of each ticket package including VIP mainstage and transportation packages for groups of 2 up to 12, visit 30asongwritersfestival.com.

The CAA in partnership with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) join two of South Walton, Florida’s most cherished resources, the arts and the Gulf of Mexico, with the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). Named by TIME Magazine as one of 100 of the “World’s Greatest Places,” the UMA is the first and only permanent underwater sculpture museum in the United States. Artists are invited to submit proposals for the fourth art installation to be deployed Summer 2022. The UMA is located off the coast of Northwest Florida, less than one mile off the coast of Grayton Beach State Park in South Walton, Florida. 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 CAA’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, Visit Florida, The Alys Foundation, and the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. This opportunity is open to artists and artist teams. While a demonstrated history of collaboration completing large- and small-scale public art projects is preferred, all artist applications will be considered. 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. The selected artists will be commissioned 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 $6,500 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 five months to complete and deliver work to Walton County, FL where the completed sculptures will be exhibited on land before being transported to Walter Marine in Orange Beach, AL 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 is produced in conjunction with SWARA’s existing USACOE and FDEP permitted artificial reef project that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in approximately 60 feet of water. The first phase of the UMA project included seven pieces of sculpture installed in June 2018 with the second phase of ten more sculptures deployed in June 2019 and the third phase, which was postponed due to the pandemic, of eight sculptures was successfully deployed in February 2021 bringing the total number of UMA sculptures to 25. Artists may learn more about the project, see photos and video of the previous installations, and submit online proposals through November 25, 2021 at UMAFL.org. Interested artists must be registered with Submittable where the artist call and details are posted. For project sponsorship information, visit UMAFL.org.

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is proud to announce the local artists recently chosen to exhibit their original work in The Foster Gallery’s Fall/Winter Rotation, which runs October 18th, 2021 through February 6th, 2022 in its Grand Boulevard Town Center location. The public is invited to a reception celebrating the selected artists on Wednesday, October 27th from 5 -7 p.m. Enjoy tasty sips and snacks while perusing all of the beautiful works on display and available for purchase. The selected artists are Melody Bogle, Gayle Campbell, JD Cantu, Donnelle Clark, Kim Cleveland, Katherine Duda, Kim Eifrid, Capri Boyle Jones, Robert Kerr, Betsy Latham, Robert Leeper, Ginger Laughlin, Robyn Martins, Mindy McLendon, Megan Patterson, William Polley, Mary Redmann, Andrea Scurto and Jenna Varney. The gallery is also pleased to feature ceramics by Skip Deems as well as hand-crafted jewelry from local artisans Hardwear Merry and The Salty Sparrow. All rotation artists are members of the Cultural Arts Alliance. All works exhibited in the gallery are for sale, and many works are also available for viewing and purchase on the CAA website at CulturalArtsAlliance.com/foster-gallery. Curbside pick-up is available. The Grand Boulevard location is at 495 Grand Boulevard, Suite J104, next to Chico’s and across from Tommy Bahama. Founded in May 2016, The Foster Gallery is an artist collective led by the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County that features at least a dozen artists on a seasonally rotating basis, along with special exhibits and invitationals throughout the year. Named for the late Susan Foster, a founder of the Cultural Arts Alliance and one of the area’s first professional artists and gallery owners, The Foster Gallery also symbolizes the support the CAA strives to provide for artists in our community. The gallery is open daily from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, call 850.837.3037 or visit CulturalArtsAlliance.com.

In its 33rd year, the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival is scheduled to return to Grand Boulevard’s Town Center Saturday, October 9th, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 10th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Usually held over Mother’s Day weekend, this year’s festival was rescheduled due to the pandemic and will be part of National Arts & Humanities Month which was established in 1993 by Americans for the Arts and is celebrated every October in the United States. It was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of participation in the arts and humanities. ArtsQuest is a juried show that provides an opportunity to view and purchase original art from over 100 local and national artists and includes art in the categories of Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media, Oils & Acrylics, Original Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture, Wood and Works on Paper (Watercolor, Printmaking, Pastels, Pencils, Ink). ArtsQuest awards $10,000 in cash prizes. This year’s event will also offer a CAA member artist exhibit, Artist live demos, ImagiNation (where kids rule) featuring the Uniquely Clever Art Bus, and continuous live music from local favorites including Mari Gleason, Sarah Anne Davidson, Mike Whitty & Friends, Chris Alvarado, Max McCann, Gileah and Chris Taylor, New Orleans Ramblers, Mose Wilson, and more! A full cash bar will be available throughout the weekend in Grand Park. ArtsQuest is a beloved Cultural Arts Alliance signature event that helps fulfill the organization’s mission to support the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. As the creative core of Walton County, the CAA offers support, connection and access opportunities for all forms of art, every variety of maker, all levels of learners, and especially, art lovers. Through sponsorship, performance, and educational programs, the organization directly connects the people of Walton County with the broader view, the critical exploration, and the answers only the Arts have the power to provide. The event is presented by Grand Boulevard with additional support from Visit South Walton, the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, Alys Foundation, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, The Blue Giraffe, The Odd Pelican Beer Co. and Emerald Coast Magazine. ArtsQuest is a rain or shine outdoor event. The festival is open to the public, and a $5 admission donation is requested.