Sunny Spaces Art Contest: The City of Sunny Isles Beach Wants You To Show Your Creative Side

The contest is open to residents of Sunny Isles Beach only. All artwork must be either painted or hand drawn to cover an 8” x 8” surface encompassing the theme of “Parks and Open Spaces, which must be in color. Use of any copyrighted and trademarked materials, including characters or symbols, is strictly prohibited and each entrant must ensure that no artwork submitted infringes upon the rights of privacy, or intellectual property rights, of any person or entity. The artwork must be original and 100% created by the entrant. Entries that do not conform to the entry guidelines or fail to provide the requested completed waiver form may be removed from consideration. Any minors must obtain written permission to participate from their parent or legal guardian. If a participant is a minor, his or her parent or legal guardian must agree to these official rules on behalf of the minor child.

The contest will run from May 1 to July 31, 2024 and during that period you may enter the contest by completing the waiver form and submitting the form with your artwork, which must be submitted in person at the Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center, 18070 Collins Avenue, during business hours no later than 5 p.m. on July 31, 2024. Up to two (2) entries are allowed per person. Contest entrants must provide their name, Sunny Isles Beach Resident ID Card, and method of contact such as email or phone number to be eligible to win. Up to five winners will be selected. Winners will be chosen by a selected group of Sunny Isles Beach staff members. Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received.

Contest winners will be notified by November 2024 via the contact information provided in the waiver. By participating in the contest, entrants consent to the use of the entrant’s name, photograph, likeness, voice, and/or video, for promotional purposes, including, but not limited to, online and on-air announcements, signage, posters, television, magazine articles, websites, social media sites (including, but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube), and any other publication at the City’s discretion, without limitation.

A Few Past Winning Artists

Tony Mendoza - A native of New York raised in Miami’s Little Havana, seeks to capture the spirit and vibrancy of South Florida in his artwork. His pieces have been showcased at galleries, museums, and art shows across Florida and various venues nationwide.

Daria Petrova - With nine years of drawing experience, has showcased her work at prominent galleries, including the renowned Louvre.

Luis Eduardo Martinez Mejia - Painter and photographer Luis Eduardo Martinez Mejia, originally from Bogota, Colombia, resides in Sunny Isles Beach for the past four years.

Morea Fen - South Florida native Morea Fen is inspired from the unique natural environment of her upbringing. Her designs and illustrations reflect a deep appreciation for nature, where colors capture the hidden patterns and compositions found in the details.

Tammy Seiske - She and her husband moved to Sunny Isles Beach from Wisconsin, after retirement. They vacationed here for 19 years and fell in love with the city. She is honored to have her art piece being presented in the city she holds close to her heart. Tammy’s favorite thing to do is sit on the beach and draw the beauty surrounding her.

Vanessa Charles - An electric, eclectic, loud, and colorful artist. She is a self-taught artist from Haiti and moved to Miami in her teen years. While studying fashion, she gravitated towards art and illustration. Her specialty lies in fabric painting, especially denim clothing.

Olivia Rey - Olivia is a 12-year-old student at Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8. Born in Spain, now living in Sunny Isles Beach for the past five years, is a player at the SIB select volleyball team. She also finds joy in expressing herself artistically.

Shirley Ramirez Coll - A proud Puerto Rican, holds degrees in Science, Graphic Design, and Television Production from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. A resilient individual, she embraces creativity and artistic passion, guided by her faith.

Taylor Waldroup - A self-taught artist living in Sunny Isles Beach since 2018. Waldroup has a passion for integrating nature and animals into artwork.

To see more of the past selected artworks and learn more about the artists, visit: https://www.sibfl.net/sunnyspaces/

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the artwork need to feature Parks and Open Spaces?
Yes. The artwork must highlight any of our City’s parks and open spaces where people gather for recreational, aesthetic, educational or cultural use. It’s up to the artist’s interpretation as to how the park or open space is depicted.

What size should the artwork be?
The paper or canvas you submit must be at least 8″ X 8″ or larger. The dimensions must be a perfect square.

What material can be used for the artwork?
We recommend using either paper or canvas. Winning pieces will be professionally transferred to become art installations at various locations around the city.

What medium can be used to create the artwork?
Various mediums can be used, including paints, pencils, charcoal, and pastels. The artwork must be hand-painted or drawn. Digital artwork will not be accepted.

Can I copy another piece of art?
You may not use any copyrighted character. The artwork must be original and created 100% by the artist.

How old do I have to be to participate?
This contest is open to all ages; however, minors must obtain permission from their parent or legal guardian to participate. If a participant is a minor, his or her parent or legal guardian must agree to the official rules on behalf of his or her minor child.

Do I have to create my art within the boundary box of the submission form?
No, your artwork can be completed on your own paper or canvas that is at least 8″ X 8″.

Should I sign the painting?
Please include your name, whether it is on the front or the back of the painting, so that we may identify you. If you do sign the front of the painting, please print your name on the back just so we are able to clearly read your name.

Do I need to be a resident of Sunny Isles Beach to enter the contest?
Yes. To qualify, artists must show their Sunny Isles Beach Resident ID Card when submitting their artwork.

How do you submit my artwork?
Entries must be submitted in-person at the Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center during regular business hours. The Visitor Center is located at: 18070 Collins Avenue 1st Floor Monday – Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM - Sunday: Closed.

General Rules: The City reserves the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and/or to cancel, modify, or suspend this Contest should entrant fraud or misconduct or other causes beyond the control of the City corrupt the administration, integrity, security, or proper operation of the Contest. The City is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, or in the administration, of the Contest. Each Entrant releases and agrees to hold the City harmless from and against any and all claims and liability arising from or in connection with participation in this Contest. Once the drawing is submitted as a contest entry, it becomes property of the City of Sunny Isles Beach and the entrant should not expect the return of the drawing. Entrants are prohibited from submitting entries that: i) contain material that is copyrighted, protected by trade secret or otherwise subject to third party proprietary rights, including privacy and publicity rights, unless the Entrant is the owner of such rights or has the permission from the rightful owner to grant the City of Sunny Isles Beach all of the license rights granted herein; ii) publish falsehoods or misrepresentations that could damage the City of Sunny Isle Beach; iii) contain material that is unlawful, obscene, defamatory, libelous, threatening, pornographic, harassing, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, give rise to civil liability, violate any law, or is otherwise inappropriate. By participating in this contest, the entrant agrees to release and hold harmless the City of Sunny Isles Beach and all of its representatives, agents, and employees from any and all liability whatsoever for any injuries, losses, or damages, of any kind arising from or in connection with, either directly or indirectly, participation in the Contest.

For a complete list of contest rules visit: www.sibfl.net/sunny-spaces-art-contest-rules-conditions/

Residents and city staff are excited to see your submissions and showcase local artists’ work for everyone in Sunny Isles Beach to enjoy!