2024 underwater museum of art – artist call

ABOUT THE UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF ART:

The Underwater Museum of Art (UMA), the first permanent underwater sculpture museum in the United States and 2023 CODAaward winner for Collaboration of the Year, calls for artists to create design proposals for original sculpture that will become part of a permanent exhibition and artificial reef system on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. The UMA is a collaboration between the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) and South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA), two not-for-profit organizations located in Walton County in Northwest Florida.

Named by TIME Magazine in 2018 as one of the “World’s 100 Greatest Places,” the UMA is part of the CAA’s Art In Public Spaces program and augments SWARA's mission of developing and maintaining an extensive artificial reef system offering divers, snorkelers, fishermen, and researchers near-shore access to a thriving marine ecosystem. The UMA provides enhanced cultural, economic and educational opportunities for the benefit, education, and enjoyment of Walton County residents and visitors.

Deployment of sculptures as artificial reefs provides a source of biological replenishment and protective marine habitat. The sculptures quickly attract a wide variety of marine life, and over time, evolve into a living reef. This eco/arts-tourism attraction not only entices art lovers and divers from around the world; it also provides a much-needed habitat for local marine life and fisheries and an opportunity for marine scientists, wildlife management professionals, ecologists, and students to study marine life and measure the impact of artificial reef systems on the Gulf ecosystem.

The UMA is produced in conjunction with SWARA’s existing USACOE and FDEP permitted artificial reef project that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in approximately 58 feet of water. A one-acre patch off the shore of Grayton Beach State Park has been dedicated to the UMA project.

Annually, artists are invited to submit their work to be considered for permanent exhibit in the UMA, and the sculptures are created above ground and delivered to Walter Marine where each is attached to a custom pedestal made of marine-grade cement. The sculptures are then transported by barge and carefully installed on the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.

The first installation of seven sculptures took place in June 2018, and the fifth installation happened in July 2023, bringing the UMA collection to 40 original pieces of work.