All artists (visual or performing), arts organizations, downtown businesses, and sponsors must complete a First Friday Art Walk application.

Click here for online artist application and submittal   

Click here for PDF artist application

To participate in the entire season of First Friday Art Walk, applications are due: August 1, 2024.

For the remaining season, First Friday Art Walk application deadline is the first day of the month prior to the next First Friday Art Walk. (i.e., October 1^st is the deadline for November Art Walk)

Applications must be accompanied by any supporting materials (images of artwork, videos/audio files, insurance waivers) and fully paid Art Walk fees in order to be considered and reviewed by the First Friday Art Walk Steering Committee. Submitted images must be high resolution .JPEG/.JPG/.PNG files. Submitted video files must be .MP4 format and audio files must be .MP3 format.

Applications and images/videos/audio files are reviewed by the First Friday Art Walk Steering Committee. First Friday Art Walk and the Committee reserve the right to refuse an application from anyone for any reason. All decisions are made at the discretion of the City of Ocala’s Cultural Arts Division.

To apply, please complete an application form and return it to artinfo@ocalafl.gov or mail it to: Cultural Arts, 201 SE 3^rd Street, 2^nd Floor, Ocala, FL 34471

Make sure to include any requested images, files, insurance waivers, and fee payments.

Questions about the application or process? Call us on: (352) 629-8447 or email us on: artinfo@ocalafl.gov.

FEES & PAYMENT:

All First Friday Art Walk applications must be accompanied by application and registration fee payment. Applications will NOT be reviewed without receipt of full fee payment. Please see below for the 2024-2025 First Friday Art Walk season fee breakdown:

Individual Artists:

$30.00 Application fee + $25.00 Registration fee  = $55.00 total

                     + $75.00 Location Lock fee (optional) = $130.00 total

Gallery Artists:

$30.00 Application fee + $80.00 Registration fee   = $110.00 total

                      + $100.00 Location Lock fee (optional) = $210.00 total

Arts Organizations:

$30.00 Application fee + $25.00 Registration fee = $55.00 total

$25.00 Tent rental fee per event

$12.50 Discounted tent rental fee per event (when providing a free art activity for families on the square)

If any arts organization doesn’t supply their own tent, then they must pay a fee to rent a tent from the City of Ocala. Tent rental fees are charged per First Friday Art Walk event. City tents will be set up for you by City staff on the downtown square and be available by 4:00 p.m. There are a limited number of tents provided by the City. As a result, all rentals are filled on a “first come, first served” basis.

Performing Artists:

***Fees are waived for performing artists at First Friday Art Walk. Buskers are not paid by the City of Ocala. Buskers are permitted to collect tips/donations from patrons during First Friday Art Walk.***

First Friday Art Walk fees can be paid in one of two ways:

1. Credit or debit card over the phone at: (352) 629-8447
2. Check payment payable to City of Ocala by mail or in person at

 ATTN: First Friday Art Walk, Cultural Arts

         201 SE 3^rd Street

         2^nd Floor

         Ocala, FL 34471

In the event that an application is declined/denied, the $30 application fee will be refunded upon request.

Questions about fees? Call us on: (352) 629-8447 or email us on: artinfo@ocalafl.gov.

First Friday Art Walk is the first Friday of each month from September through May from the hours of 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Vendors and artists are responsible for their unloading/loading, set up and break down.

Participating artists must supply their own booth setup, i.e., table(s), chairs, and display. Artists are NOT permitted to set up tents on public sidewalks in front of businesses.

Participating artists may start setting up each Art Walk Friday at 4:00 p.m. at their assigned location. All artist set up MUST be completed by 5:30 p.m. Break down can start at the conclusion of Art Walk at 9:00 p.m. Early departures are not permitted. All breakdowns must be completed by 9:30 p.m.

Participating artists must exhibit during ALL hours of Art Walk on the dates they’ve selected on their application. Failure to be present during the entire Art Walk event could result in dismissal from future participation in First Friday Art Walk.

Artists unable to attend First Friday Art Walk that they’ve selected in the application, must give two weeks’ notice of their absence, or coordinate a replacement person to attend in their booth.

Two unexcused absences will result in dismal from the First Friday Art Walk season.

In the event of severe weather (such as excessive rain or wind), First Friday Art Walk will be cancelled. Notification of cancellation will be sent via EMAIL by 3:00 p.m. the day of Art Walk. If Art Walk is NOT cancelled, participating artists are expected to attend all Art Walks they select on the application regardless of weather.

However, all participating artists are expected to have their own rain plan. Some businesses have awnings, but not all. Artists should consider bringing a smaller display or a tarp to be prepared for inclement weather. Artists should meet the business owners that they’re paired with for Art Walk to discuss available options for inclement weather prior to Art Walk.

All participating artists are paired with an Ocala downtown business. Artist placements and pairings are made by the City of Ocala, Cultural Arts Division. All participating artists are subject to location/placement changes throughout the First Friday Art Walk season. Participating artists will be notified each month prior to First Friday Art Walk of their upcoming location and business pairings. Artists are expected to provide a valid, active email address on their application that will be used for all First Friday Art Walk communications and updates.

**NEW to Season 2024-2025**

Location Lock option for First Friday Art Walk visual artists ONLY. Location Lock provides the artist a preferred zone and placement selection for an additional fee. Location Lock allows artists to select a specific zone in downtown Ocala where they prefer to be located for Art Walk. Artists then rank specific locations within the zone to advise of location preference from first to third. The City will determine artist Location Lock positions upon consultation with businesses. Businesses that wish to have a specific artist outside their business must become a sponsor with a donation of a minimum of $250.

Artists may request a Location Lock in their First Friday Art Walk application and pay the associated fee. Upon receipt of payment, the City will provide the Location Lock map and options for the artist to complete.

Accepted artists with Location Lock will be able to have the same location each Art Walk throughout the 2024-2025 season. Artists will be notified of successful Location Lock applications and locations. Each Location Lock is subject to availability, pending construction, and downtown business approval.

Performing artists are ineligible for Location Lock.

Questions about location policies? Call us on: (352) 629-8447 or email us on: artinfo@ocalafl.gov.