CALL FOR MURALISTS: Orlando Mural Festival 2026
2026-08-12 23:00 - 23:30 (America/New_York) | CityArts, 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL, 32801, United States
Orlando Mural Festival 2026
A Program of the Downtown Arts District & CityArts
Presented by the Downtown Development Board
The Downtown Arts District is seeking experienced muralists to participate in the 2026 Orlando Mural Festival, presented by the Downtown Development Board.
Selected artists will create original large-scale murals on exterior walls throughout Downtown Orlando, transforming the urban landscape into a vibrant outdoor gallery. Murals will vary in size and location, and artists will be matched with sites based on the scale and nature of their proposed design.
This is a paid opportunity for professional muralists with experience executing large-scale public artwork.
Apply at https://downtownartsdistrict.com/call-to-artists/
Opportunity Details
Number of Artists Selected: Multiple
Location: Downtown Orlando, Florida
Artist Stipend: $3,000–$25,000
Stipends are determined based on the assigned wall size, complexity, and project scope.
Application Fee: Free
Theme: Open
Artists are encouraged to submit original concepts that are appropriate for a diverse public audience. Artwork must be family-friendly and suitable for permanent public display.
Artist Location & Travel
The Orlando Mural Festival welcomes applications from local, regional, national, and international artists.
Please note that the artist stipend covers the mural commission only. The Downtown Arts District and Orlando Mural Festival are not able to guarantee or provide reimbursement for travel, lodging, meals, local transportation, shipping, visa expenses, or other travel-related costs. Artists are responsible for arranging and covering these expenses.
Festival staff are happy to provide letters of invitation, local recommendations, and other planning assistance when possible, and may help connect artists with community partners or discounted accommodations if opportunities become available; however, such assistance is not guaranteed.
Mural Specifications
Murals will be installed on a variety of exterior walls throughout Downtown Orlando.

Wall dimensions will vary by site.

Most walls are predominantly horizontal rectangular formats.

Artists should submit designs that are adaptable and scalable, allowing them to be enlarged or adjusted to fit different wall dimensions.

Minor design modifications may be requested to accommodate architectural features, visibility, property owner feedback, or site-specific considerations.

Final mural layouts will be refined after artist selection and site assignment in collaboration with festival staff.

Each submitted design must include a title.

Artist Responsibilities
Selected artists are responsible for providing:

Paints and coatings

Brushes, rollers, and painting supplies

Projectors (if used)

Personal safety equipment

Any specialty tools or equipment required to complete the mural

Festival organizers will provide access to:

Parking

Restrooms

Water

Lifts

Ladders

Assigned mural site access

Timeline
Application Deadline
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
11:59 PM (EST)
Artist Notification
Tuesday, August 25th
Painting Schedule
Painting schedules will be coordinated following acceptance and site assignment.
All murals must be completed prior to the Third Thursday Opening Reception.
Upon acceptance, artists will be asked to provide an estimated painting timeline so installation schedules can be coordinated.
Festival Attendance
Selected muralists are expected to participate in the following festival events:
Third Thursday Opening Reception
September 17, 2026
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Orlando Mural Festival
September 19, 2026
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Artist attendance at both events is strongly encouraged as part of the public celebration of the completed murals.
Application Requirements
1. Artist Bio / Statement
Please provide a brief artist biography or statement (150–250 words) describing your artistic practice and experience creating murals or public artwork.
2. Portfolio
Submit:

3–8 examples of previous murals or large-scale work

Website and/or social media

3. Design Proposal
Submit one original mural concept including:

Mural title

Sketch, digital rendering, or mock-up

Brief concept description (100–250 words)

Designs should be adaptable to varying wall sizes while maintaining the overall artistic vision.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:

Artistic quality

Originality and creativity

Experience completing large-scale murals

Feasibility of execution

Adaptability of the proposed design

Suitability for public viewing

Terms & Conditions
By submitting an application, artists acknowledge and agree to the following:

Submitted artwork must be original, created solely by the applying artist, and may not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others. Artists are responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to use any imagery, references, or other incorporated elements included in their design. Artwork generated in whole or in part using generative artificial intelligence (AI), including AI-assisted concept art or renderings, is not eligible for consideration. Any application containing AI-generated imagery or designs will be automatically disqualified.

Final mural designs are subject to review and approval by the Downtown Arts District, the City of Orlando, and participating property owners.

Selected artists agree to make reasonable design adjustments required for the assigned wall dimensions and architectural conditions.

Artists are responsible for supplying all paints, materials, equipment, and personal protective equipment necessary to complete the mural unless otherwise specified in writing.

Artists are responsible for maintaining a safe work area and complying with all applicable safety regulations while painting.

Selected artists will be required to sign a mural agreement and comply with all site-specific safety requirements before painting.

The Downtown Arts District reserves the right to cancel or modify any mural project if unforeseen circumstances arise.

Artists grant the Downtown Arts District, the Downtown Development Board, Orlando Mural Festival, and participating partners permission to photograph, film, and document the artwork and artist for promotional, educational, archival, and marketing purposes.

Upon completion of the mural, artists grant the Downtown Arts District and Orlando Mural Festival the right to reproduce the mural design and images of the completed mural for festival-related promotional materials and merchandise, including but not limited to T-shirts, posters, postcards, publications, websites, and social media. Artist credit will be provided whenever reasonably practicable.

Artists retain copyright to their original artwork except for the promotional and merchandising rights granted above.

Submission of an application does not guarantee selection.

Murals are intended as public artworks; however, the Downtown Arts District and participating property owners cannot guarantee the lifespan or permanent preservation of any mural.

Incomplete or late applications may not be reviewed. The Downtown Arts District reserves the right to reject any application that does not meet the submission requirements.

3rd Thursday Opening Night Reception - August 2026
2026-08-20 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for Third Thursday at CityArts. Enjoy drink specials, curator conversations, artist connections, and seven new exhibitions. Meet the artists and explore what’s new in the galleries.

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Featured exhibitions at CityArts include:
Austin Commercial Gallery – Mainstreet Art Group Exhibition
Upstairs Signature Gallery – “Skin + Bones AKA: Choosing Art in the End Times”. by the B-SIDE ARTISTS
Side Gallery – “Flow[er]s” Solo Exhibition by Alexis Collum
CityArts Café Gallery – Solo Exhibition by Etch
The Mahesh Chaddah Family Trust Spotlight Gallery – Solo Exhibition by Delia Miller
New Art in the Young Artists Gallery & Redefine Gallery
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PARKING
CityArts provides parking validations for the Plaza Parking Garage ONLY. The validation reduces the parking fee to $4. The Library Parking Garage is closer, but CityArts does not provide parking validations for that garage. Metered street parking is free after 6:00 p.m.
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Thank You to Our Annual Sponsors:
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
City of Orlando
United Arts of Central Florida
Downtown Development Board
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Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meet-up
2026-08-26 07:30 - 09:00
Join us for our monthly “Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meet-up” It’s an artist, art lover, art administrator meet-up. That means everyone is invited. It is very informal. Attendees can come and go as they please. – Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries – Meet other artists, art lovers, and arts administrators – Check out the CityArts exhibitions. The Sort of Brutally Early Artist Meetup was created by curator, Pat Greene. This is a nod to renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist’s Brutally Early Club.

Orlando Story Club: Harvest
2026-10-07 19:00 - 22:00
Orlando Story Club is a live storytelling competition that takes place at CityArts Orlando (39 S Magnolia Ave). All regular shows begin at 7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Every Orlando Story Club event has a theme. Anyone with a story that fits with that theme can enter by putting their name in the story hat. Ten names are drawn at random. Each storyteller is given 5 minutes to impress the audience, and the top 3 tellers take home prizes.

It’s a night of laughter, fun, and connection! Join us for our not-so-serious storytelling competition! Come laugh, listen, drink, and help build our community!

Purchase tickets at https://osc2026.eventbrite.com

Upcoming Events
All regular shows start at 7:00 p.m.October 7: HarvestDecember 2: All That Glitters

If you aren’t interested in telling a story, we love story listeners! We have an activity that everyone can participate in. What’s a one-liner?

It is an anonymous story (true to the storyteller) that can fit on one notecard and relates to the theme of the evening.

For example, if the theme is “Past Our Bedtime,” a one-liner is: “I truly thought there were monsters under my bed until I was in high school.”

Who reads these one-liners? Our awesome hosts, Danielle and Bobby, read them in between storytellers. Don’t worry. They won’t reveal your name!

All regular productions are hosted by Danielle Ziss & Bobby Wesley

Orlando Story Club is a program of The Downtown Arts District

17th Annual Día de los Muertos & Monster Party
2026-10-15 18:00 - 22:00
Día de los Muertos & Monster Event is a themed exhibition at CityArts Orlando and an outdoor experience with live performances, vendors, and more! Now, in its 17th year, the Día de los Muertos & Monster Art Exhibitions will showcase Day of the Dead and Halloween-inspired art created by regional, national, and international artists. This unique art exhibition will be paired with an outdoor experience on opening night that will feature food, drinks, entertainment, and spooky art vendors.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
CityArts (39 S Magnolia Avenue)
Exhibits: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Street Party: 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Cost to enter CityArts: Free
Suggested Donation: $5
Cost of the SUGAR SKULL EXPERIENCE: $50

Entrance to CityArts
One meal voucher valid at the street party food trucks
(2) drink tickets that can be redeemed at the indoor bar or street party bar

Enjoy throughout the night:

Art installations
Face Painting
Art vendors
Musical and Visual Performances
Food trucks
And more!

EXPERIENCE NEW ART OPENING AT CITYARTS FOR DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS AND MONSTER ART SHOW!
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Thank you to our event sponsors:

Casa de Mexico
CABETCAL

Thank you to our sponsors and partners

United Arts of Central Florida
Austin Commerical
City of Orlando
Downtown Development Board
Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs
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Orlando Story Club: All That Glitters
2026-12-02 19:00 - 22:00
Orlando Story Club is a live storytelling competition that takes place at CityArts Orlando (39 S Magnolia Ave). All regular shows begin at 7:00 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Every Orlando Story Club event has a theme. Anyone with a story that fits with that theme can enter by putting their name in the story hat. Ten names are drawn at random. Each storyteller is given 5 minutes to impress the audience, and the top 3 tellers take home prizes.

It’s a night of laughter, fun, and connection! Join us for our not-so-serious storytelling competition! Come laugh, listen, drink, and help build our community!

Purchase tickets at https://osc2026.eventbrite.com

Upcoming EventsAll regular shows start at 7:00 p.m.December 2: All That Glitters

If you aren’t interested in telling a story, we love story listeners! We have an activity that everyone can participate in. What’s a one-liner?

It is an anonymous story (true to the storyteller) that can fit on one notecard and relates to the theme of the evening.

For example, if the theme is “Past Our Bedtime,” a one-liner is: “I truly thought there were monsters under my bed until I was in high school.”

Who reads these one-liners? Our awesome hosts, Danielle and Bobby, read them in between storytellers. Don’t worry. They won’t reveal your name!

All regular productions are hosted by Danielle Ziss & Bobby Wesley

Orlando Story Club is a program of The Downtown Arts District
