Cultural Arts Alliance to Develop Monarch Art Trail in Watersound

The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA)has announced an excting new public art project and is requesting proposals from artists or artist groups for the design, fabrication, and installation of small-scale or mid-scale permanent outdoor works of art along the planned Monarch Art Trail (MAT). Eight (8) pieces of work that are inspired by, representative of, or celebrating the natural environment of Northwest Florida and/or the migration of the Monarch butterfly through our region will be installed along a one-mile stretch of bike path that connects Highway 98 with Scenic Highway 30A.

The Monarch Art Trail will be an obvious north/south thoroughfare for cyclists, joggers and walkers connecting them from the neighborhoods of Watersound Origins to the Scenic Highway 30A bike path and beaches. It will also become a destination of cultural interest, especially during the Fall when it will be flooded with the migratory Monarch butterflies.

The Art Trail project is supported by the St. Joe Community Foundation and is part of the CAA’s Art in Public Spaces Program, which includes the nation’s first Underwater Museum of Art, a regional billboard art project, and a county-wide mural project that just began with a mural by Sarah Page in Grand Boulevard Town Center.

“We are thrilled to work with the St. Joe Community Foundation to bring the CAA's first above-ground sculpture project to life,” said CAA Executive Director Jennifer Steele. “Public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic and economic vitality of a community, and we are proud to present a project that will benefit our entire population and inspire the creation of more public art in Walton County.”

“The St. Joe Community Foundation is excited to collaborate with the CAA to bring this public art attraction to Watersound Parkway and the South Walton community,” said The St. Joe Community Foundation Executive Director April Wilkes. “The enhanced trail will be a lovely destination, particularly during the Monarch Butterfly migration each fall.”

The Monarch Art Trail opportunity is open to artists and artist teams whose proposals have a demonstrated history of completing small to large scale outdoor public art projects. Artist teams must have a demonstrated history of collaboration. Following the application deadline, the CAA will convene a panel of arts specialists to review the applications and select proposals for completion and installation. Eight artists will be commissioned to develop design proposals and create a 3D piece of original artwork to be permanently installed along the Monarch Trail. Each artist will receive a $9,000 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.

Artists may learn more about the project, see site photos and submit online proposals through April 23, 2021 at www.CulturalArtsAlliance.com. Interested artists must be registered with Submittable where the artist call and details are posted.