Calling Local Artists: The City of Miami Beach Wants to Pay You to Display During Art Week

With just days left before the deadline, the City of Miami Beach is calling on artists to apply for the sixth edition of No Vacancy, a temporary art program that transforms local hotels into public galleries. The initiative offers artists a chance to install site-specific work in Miami Beach’s storied hospitality spaces during Art Basel and Miami Art Week.

The application closes Monday, June 30, at 5 p.m. EST via Submittable. Open to visual artists worldwide, the program will grant a $10,000 stipend to at least 15 artists. Select hotels will display the works from November 13 through December 20, 2025.

"No Vacancy is a wonderful opportunity for the City of Miami Beach to provide a platform for contemporary visual artists during the most important time of the year," says Lissette García Arrogante, Director of Tourism and Culture for the City of Miami Beach. "It allows us to blend together the two things that Miami Beach is known for: arts and hospitality."

Arrogante, who’s been with the initiative since 2020, says this year marks the largest edition to date. The program started with ten hotel partners and now includes 15, reflecting a growing interest from both artists and local businesses.
All mediums are considered, including sculpture, photography, new media, and video art. Proposals must take into account public accessibility and Miami Beach’s environmental guidelines, which prohibit single-use plastic, Styrofoam, and balloons.

"The $10,000 stipend is unrestricted," Arrogante tells New Times. "It allows artists to dream up how they would utilize those funds."

The process is competitive. Last year, the city received more than 200 proposals for just 12 slots. Still, Arrogante views the growing interest as a sign that the initiative is gaining traction within the arts ecosystem. "Our long-term vision is to turn No Vacancy into a citywide exhibition," she says. "It’s already expanding beyond the boundaries of Art Week — both in time and impact."

Artists do not need to create a new work, but they should ensure submitted projects are suitable for public display and adaptable to hotel spaces. While artists can suggest ideal settings, the final placement is decided by the city’s curatorial team, which coordinates closely with both artists and hotels. Installations must remain accessible to the public during minimum viewing hours, from noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 8 p.m. on Sundays.
No Vacancy is one of the few city-backed arts initiatives that includes a public voting component. One artist will receive a $10,000 People’s Choice Award based on online voting, while a jury of arts professionals will select a $25,000 prize winner. Last year, Miami-based photographer Josh Aronson made history as the first artist to win both.

"Winning the No Vacancy prizes was a meaningful affirmation of the direction I’m heading towards in my practice," Aronson tells New Times. "As a photographer working in large-scale public art installations for the first time, I was grateful to receive the recognition and support that came along with these two prizes."

Aronson’s piece, showcased at the Catalina Hotel, featured five young men floating in water, eyes closed, facing the sky. Printed on fabric, the large-format photograph swayed with the hotel’s air conditioning and changed with the natural light, depending on the time of day. It was part of his long-term series Florida Boys, a work-in-progress exploring masculinity and regional identity. Aronson says last year's awards will help him get the project to the finish line.

Though No Vacancy considers international artists, Arrogante notes local artists are strongly encouraged to apply. "We don’t focus on where the artist is from," she explains. "We’re looking for strong proposals."

For South Florida-based artists, Arrogante suggests visiting past participating hotels to better understand the context and scale of potential installation sites. While artists cannot request a specific hotel, highlighting ideal conditions in proposals helps curators align works with spaces.

To apply, artists must submit a project proposal, artist statement, CV, and five work samples. The full application guidelines and FAQ can be found on the City of Miami Beach’s website.