Open Call Details
Project Dates: April 1, 2025 – May 30, 2026
Honorarium: $12,500
Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Interview Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
Decision notification: Friday, February 28, 2025
Eligibility: South Florida-based artists who have not received a CAP commission in the past 5 years.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens invites South Florida-based artists to apply for the opportunity to develop site-specific work inspired by the historic estate, connecting with our audiences in creative and innovative ways. The selected artist will be commissioned new work that will be exhibited for six months beginning in November 2025. It can be a single installation or a multi-space exhibition.
Watch our info session to learn more about our open call!
OPEN CALL OPPORTUNITY
Solo exhibition of new, site-specific work created for Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on the east side of the property (activating one or more rooms inside the Main House or the gardens).
Community engagement opportunities through public programs, including but not limited to artist talks, conversations and workshops.
PROJECT SUPPORT
$12,500 Artist Fee.
$24,000 Production Budget. It may include but is not limited to production/fabrication, materials, equipment rental, technical support and display needs. The final budget will be determined based on the proposal’s scope and scale of the project.
Curatorial guidance and access to Vizcaya’s archives and premises for the duration of the project; photography and video documentation, interpretative signage and promotional materials.
While Vizcaya commissions the artwork and sponsors its production, the artist retains the work at the end of the project.
Vizcaya does not provide living or studio accommodation.
SELECTION PROCESS
Proposals will be reviewed and selected based on the degree of artistic excellence and connection to the site. Long-term maintenance, durability, and visitor safety will be considered.
Selected artists will be required to comply with Vizcaya Museum and Gardens procedures and enter into an agreement prior to commencing.
Finalists will be informed by email and invited to a remote interview on Friday, February 21, 2025.
We cannot provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
For any questions or queries, please email: cap@vizcaya.org
WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY
- Full contact information
- A brief artist statement/description of your practice (max 300 words)
- CV or resume
- A short statement of intent addressing interest in the project (150 words)
- Concept description, including anticipated challenges, general timeline, and production budget (max 1,000 words)
- Upload up to 10 images or links to videos of recent work
- Three references from previous partners or cultural institutions familiar with your work and professionalism
PAST RECIPIENTS & PROJECTS
About: Launched in 2006, the Contemporary Arts Program (CAP) is a commission program that provides artists with the creative challenge to develop original, site-specific work in response to a historic site situated in the public realm. CAP was inspired by the dynamic, creative spirit that characterized Vizcaya’s inception one hundred years ago, and it preserves Vizcaya owner James Deering’s tradition as a patron of the arts. From John Singer Sargent, a houseguest who painted watercolors of the estate, to A. Stirling Calder, who sculpted the figures on the Barge, and Robert Winthrop Chanler, creator of the swimming pool grotto ceiling mural, Vizcaya continues a dialogue between the historic and the contemporary. As was the case one hundred years ago, Vizcaya’s singular sense of place remains the point of departure for artists.
Site Overview: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the Miami estate of agricultural industrialist James Deering to engage our community and its visitors in learning through the arts, history and the environment. Built between 1914 and 1922, Vizcaya is one of the most intact remaining examples from this era in United States history, when the nation’s most successful entrepreneurs built lavish estates inspired by the stately homes of Europe. Vizcaya features a Main House filled with a decorative art collection, 10 acres of formal gardens, a rockland hammock (native forest), mangrove shore, the Vizcaya Café and Shop, and a historic village that will be restored for additional venues for programs and community outreach. www.vizcaya.org
Who can apply?
We are seeking South Florida-based professional artists that have not received a CAP commissioned in the past 5 years.
Can I apply with a collaborator?
Collaborative proposals from more than one artist or collective are welcome.
What is the artist fee for the selected artist?
$12,500. Additionally, Vizcaya will cover production costs, this may include materials, equipment, software, materials, as well as technical and administrative support.
How do I apply?
Proposals must be submitted online. To apply to Vizcaya’s CAP, you will need to provide:
- Full contact information
- A brief artist statement/description of your practice (max 300 words)
- CV or resume
- A short statement of intent addressing interest in the project (150 words)
- Concept description, including anticipated challenges, general timeline, and production budget (max 1,000 words)
- Upload up to 10 images or links to videos of recent work
- Three references from previous partners or cultural institutions familiar with your work and professionalism
Where can the project take place?
The work(s) can be installed in Vizcaya’s Main House and the gardens.
When will the project take place?
The exhibition will open in November 2025 and run through May 2026.
Can the artist move objects within the historic house?
Some objects on display may be moved for the duration of the exhibition period. The movement of objects will need to be discussed and approved by the Curator. Drilling or painting on walls is not permitted.
What’s the application process?
Proposals will be accepted through Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Selected artists will be invited to interview virtually on Friday, February 21, 2025, to discuss their project in more detail. The selected artist will be announced by Friday, February 28, 2025.
While we are only able to select one proposal, we are excited to broaden the community of artists. If we do not select your application, we will add your email to our mailing list to share future opportunities
Does Vizcaya Provide a Studio Space?
No, unfortunately, Vizcaya does not currently offer a dedicated artist studio.
Does Vizcaya Provide Art Insurance?
Yes, Vizcaya provides coverage under its fine arts insurance policy.
Does Vizcaya Provide Accommodations?
No, Vizcaya does not offer living accommodations.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Please email cap@vizcaya.org.
