Creative Touch

Florida Children’s Museum invites artists to submit proposals for Creative Touch, a public art initiative that challenges creators to reimagine how children engage with art—by touching it.
 

In a world where “do not touch” is the norm, we’re flipping the script. We are seeking bold, tactile, interactive works of art that are meant to be explored through hands-on play. Art that welcomes fingerprints, withstands curiosity, and rewards touch.

About the Creative Touch Initiative
Children learn through their senses. Creative Touch celebrates art that invites physical interaction, ignites imagination, and encourages connection. Whether it’s a sculpture that responds to pressure, a wall piece with movable parts, or a textural mosaic made for little fingers, artwork should be made to touch, feel, and even hear or smell if you like.

We welcome pieces that:

• Encourage multi-sensory exploration
• Engage young visitors with a focus on ages 3-10
• Are safe and durable for public interaction
• Use unexpected textures, materials, or movement
• Support social, emotional, or imaginative learning through tactile experience

Audience & Setting
The final artwork will be installed at Florida Children’s Museum, where it will be experienced by thousands of children and caregivers annually. The audience includes infants through age 12, with a focus on early childhood. The space is vibrant, inclusive, and joyful—your piece should reflect the same.

Installations may be floor-standing or wall-mounted. Dimensions should be suitable for high-traffic public spaces and ADA-accessible whenever possible.

Submission Requirements
To be considered, artists must submit:

1. Project Proposal (1–2 pages) describing the concept, materials, interactivity, and how it will engage children through touch
2. Sketches or Renderings of the proposed piece
3. Artist Statement with a focus on your creative philosophy and past interactive work
4. Resume or CV
5. Up to 3 Work Samples (images, links, or short videos)

Collaborations and artist teams are welcome.

Timeline

• Deadline to Submit: December 8, 2025
• Selected Artist Notified: February, 2026
• Installation Target Date: March 9, 2026

Artist Award

• $5,000 artist commission (includes all materials, fabrication, and installation)
• Public display of the artwork inside Florida Children’s Museum
• Artist spotlight in museum marketing and media outreach