Embracing Our Differences 2027 Outdoor Exhibition

Embracing Our Differences is an international juried public-art exhibition that has run annually since 2004, now in its 23rd year. Selected artworks are displayed as billboard-sized panels — 16 feet by 12.5 feet — in public parks in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida, from January through April. Since the program's founding the exhibitions have drawn over 5.2 million visitors collectively, making it one of the most heavily-visited outdoor art shows in the United States.

Fifty artworks are selected per cycle. Three cash awards of $2,000 each are given: Best-in-Show Adult, Best-in-Show Student, and People's Choice. The brief asks for work that reflects diversity, inclusion, kindness, and respect, with the panel format favoring strong horizontal compositions readable at billboard scale.

Eligible media span photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and digital art — work must be horizontal in orientation, and AI-generated submissions are not accepted. There is no fee, no limit on entries per artist, and a 150-word artist statement is required.

Submissions go through Zealous. The 2027 cycle deadline is July 1, 2026, with results announced in early fall.