OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2026) – The City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division, in partnership with the Marion County Public Library, is now accepting submissions for the Poets Open Call for the first annual Art Park Literary and Poetry Festival. The festival will take place Saturday, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tuscawilla Art Park, 213 NE 5th St.
Selected poems will be featured in the inaugural edition of My Place, My Story: Art Park Literary and Poetry Book, published by the City of Ocala in partnership with the Marion County Public Library. The digital publication will be available online and distributed free through the library’s Biblioboard platform at https://marionfl.biblioboard.com/.
This year’s festival theme, My Place, My Story, invites poets to explore personal interpretations of home. Participants are encouraged to reflect on the places, memories and experiences that shape their sense of belonging. This may include physical spaces, emotions, relationships, a favorite corner of a home, a meaningful place in nature or even a secret garden. Submissions should capture the stories and emotions that make these places significant.
Eligibility and Participation Guidelines
Poets must be 18 or older, reside and work in North Central Florida, and be eligible to work in the United States with a valid IRS Tax Identification Number.
Student competitors must be enrolled in a Marion County middle or high school and have parental or legal guardian consent. Students under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian for the duration of the event.
All communication will be conducted via email, and a valid, active email address is required.
Content and Submission Requirements
There is no fee to apply. Each poet may submit one original poem that includes a title and does not exceed 40 lines. All forms of poetry and welcome, including lyric, haiku, ballad and free verse.
Submissions must be original, unpublished work written in English. AI-generated content, plagiarized work and copyrighted material will not be accepted. Poems must be family-friendly, nonviolent and nonpolitical.
Once submitted, poems cannot be edited. Participants may withdraw and submit a new poem prior to the deadline. Poets may choose to perform their work during the Open Mic Recital, have someone else perform it, or opt not to perform.
Intellectual Property
Poets retain full ownership of their work. By participating, poets grant the City of Ocala permission to share their submissions for festival-related purposes, including promotion and inclusion in the festival publication.
How to Apply
Applications may be submitted online at www.ocalafl.gov/poetryfest, emailed to artinfo@ocalafl.gov or mailed to:
City of Ocala Cultural Arts
201 SE Third St., Second Floor
Ocala, FL 34471
The deadline to apply is March 2.
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Cultural Arts Division at 352-629-8447 or artinfo@ocalafl.gov.
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