BATTLE OF THE ARTS
Fort Myers, Florida
Artsemble Underground is a creative collective dedicated to supporting artists of all disciplines—from breakdancing and graffiti to music and pottery. It all began with the Battle of the Arts in 2015, a platform for artists to showcase their skills, compete, and collaborate.
As the community grew, Artsemble Underground evolved the Battle of the Arts into SWFL MuralFest, a citywide celebration of creativity. This festival has played a central role in transforming downtown Fort Myers into its first art district, giving artists of all kinds a space to shine, connect, and inspire the community.
While more battles may come in the future, right now Artsemble Underground is focused on making SWFL MuralFest bigger and better each year, continuing to foster creativity, collaboration, and community engagement.
With this event we want to create a stage for local artists of any age to show their talent to the community, build new connections and a place for our community to support our artists.
Artist
If you want to participate, the rules are simple:
Rule #1: The battle will start at 10:00am and go to 06:00pm. to complete your painting. No excuses.
Rule #2: Artist must bring own supplies: drop cloth, paint, easel, anything you need to create your art, a tent if you want.
Rule #3: Canvas will be any 4ft high x 8ft wide, this board will be provided primed with one color but must remain completely blank before starting the battle.
Rule #4: No printed materials allowed. The painting must be done with paint only. (Stencils, pencils, paint pens etc. are allowed.)
Rule #5 NO splatter on the floor.
Rule #6: No loud music.
Rule #7: It is each artist' full responsibility to keep their space clean, if you make a mess, you have to clean right away. This can lead to disqualification
​Rule #8: Talk as much as you can about it, invite artists friends to participate in future ones, invite your friends to support you.
Rule #9: Nothing is left behind after the battle. You take with you everything you brought with you.
Rule #10: You have to have fun!
​
The Battle of the Arts takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at our Artsemble Underground Gallery at BellTower Shops and the grounds of the plaza from 5 pm. to 8:30pm. But don't mistake the name, it is not a battle, it is an opportunity for artists to showcase their talents to big audience and network, also a great place for the community to meet talented artists. But also a great time to support local non-profits and their efforts in our own city. So if you either want to paint, meet new artists, buy art, support our community, just have a good time or all of the above, Battle of the Arts is the place to be.
​
There will be 2 winners each month, 1 selected by a panel of 3 local celebrities selected by Artsemble Underground founders, and 1 selected by peoples choice. Visitors can purchase tickets to vote for their favorite artists, the proceeds of the tickets sales will go to the non-profit selected for each month. These winners will receive a bag of goodies by BellTower Shops.
The winners of each month will participate in the finals in December for the grand prize, a solo show at Artsemble Underground Gallery or at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center among other prizes and the Battle of the Arts Trophy
​
​
*You have to apply to participate in the Artsemble' Battle of the Arts, please fill the form below.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
