Orlando wants city artists to turn three retired Parramore payphones into public art, at about $500 each. Entries close Dec. 2, and a bird photo contest runs to Dec. 15.
The City of Orlando is looking for local artists to paint three retired payphone kiosks. The phones came from Parramore, and the finished pieces will go back on display in the Parramore and downtown area.
The budget is about $500 a kiosk, covering the artist’s fee, design and materials. Only artists who live in the city of Orlando can apply. Entries close at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2. The details are on the city’s Painted Payphone Kiosks call to artists.
Why payphones, and why Parramore
The city said the project is meant to “creatively preserve an important part of Orlando’s west-side history.” Parramore is one of Orlando’s oldest neighborhoods and a historic African American community downtown.
Before cellphones, the city said, public payphones were “highways of speech.” They were often the only quick way to pass on news, from a graduation to a death, and to reach family serving abroad or living in distant hometowns. The painted kiosks are meant to turn objects that once connected the neighborhood into “new points of connection through art,” the city said.
What the kiosks are like
Each kiosk has been primed in a neutral color. Sizes vary a little, and one has no outer shell. Each is about:
- 4.5 to 5 feet tall
- 1.5 to 2 feet wide
- 1.25 to 1.5 feet deep
The city will tell the chosen artists where their phone will stand once the awards are made.
What to send
Applications go through the city’s online submission form. The city asks for:
- an artist statement of about 250 to 500 words describing the proposed artwork
- a concept sketch or rendering of the design
- five to 10 images of recent paintings or artwork
- a resume or CV
- two professional references, with name, email and phone number
Entries are judged on artistic quality and originality, experience with murals or public art, fit with the project’s vision and the artist’s ability to finish on budget and on time.
The rules for the artwork
The paint must survive outdoors with little upkeep, and the artist must apply an anti-graffiti coating when the work is done. The artist also has to be able to do all the painting outside.
The city said the designs may not include:
- theme park references or imagery
- logos, commercial branding or identifiable sports teams
- references to Pulse nightclub or COVID-19
- identifiable people or celebrities
- copyrighted or trademarked material
- political or religious messages
The timeline
The city’s schedule runs:
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Call opened | Nov. 2, 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Wednesday, Dec. 2, 11:59 p.m. |
| Jury review | Dec. 3-11 |
| Artists notified | Monday, Dec. 14 |
| Projected start | Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2027 |
| Completion | Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027 |
Also open: a bird photo contest in District 3
A second city call is open to photographers. District 3 Commissioner Roger Chapin is hosting Birds in Focus: District 3, a photography competition with Faith Arts Village Orlando, the city’s listing says. Photos must show birds pictured within District 3.
- Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, through the contest entry form.
- Exhibition: 12 photos will be shown at Faith Arts Village Orlando on Feb. 5-6, 2027, where visitors vote for the winners.
- Prizes: $500 for first, $250 for second and $150 for third.
- Commissioner’s Choice: Chapin will pick one photo for the city to buy for its art collection and hang in the District 3 office.
- Calendar and framing: all 12 photos go into a District 3 bird calendar. The curator prints and frames them at 16 by 24 inches at no cost to the artists, with framing paid for by District 3 businesses.
What it means for you
- If you paint and live in the city of Orlando, you have until Dec. 2 to pitch a payphone design. Check that your address is inside city limits first, since the call is not open to the rest of Orange County. Our Parramore neighborhood guide covers the area where the phones will stand.
- If you photograph birds, your picture has to be taken in District 3, and entries close Dec. 15.
- If you want to see the results, the painted phones are due to be finished in mid-January, and the bird photo exhibition runs Feb. 5-6. We will add both to our things to do in Orlando listings when the city confirms the details.
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