Atlantic Beach wants local artists to help mark the opening of its newest public building with a permanent patriotic installation.

The city is accepting proposals for a public art piece at the Marsh Oaks Community Center, a 4,500-square-foot former assisted living facility at 100 W. First St. next to Beaches Veterans Memorial Park. Submissions are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 6, according to the city's call for artists.

The work will go on the center's exterior and grounds. The city wants designs featuring patriotic motifs, military tributes, civic values such as honor, service and sacrifice, and regional wildlife. Reference imagery is included with the application, though artists are not required to follow it. Materials must withstand coastal weather.

The city has not published a budget for the project but said cost will be a critical factor in the selection. Officials encouraged artists at every experience level and budget scale to apply, the Beach Gazette reported.

Who can apply and how to submit

Professional, amateur and student artists 18 and older who live, work or study in Duval, St. Johns or Nassau counties are eligible. A connection to Atlantic Beach is considered a plus. A committee of residents and city staff will review submissions, and the city manager will make the final pick.

To apply, artists must email a single PDF to [email protected] with the subject line "Call for Artists: Marsh Oaks Community Center." The PDF should include an artist statement of one page or less, a resume or curriculum vitae, and a five-image portfolio with titles, dimensions, materials and past budget details. Full guidelines are on the city's website.

Grants pay for storm-ready renovations

The city bought the building in 2024 and has been converting it into a hurricane-hardened community hub. A $220,000 grant from the Florida Division of Emergency Management paid for a new roof rated for 140 mph winds, interior bracing that ties the walls, roof and floor together, and impact-resistant doors and windows. A $500,000 grant from the city of Jacksonville funded interior renovations, and a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant is covering parking and landscaping.

The center held a soft opening July 11 as part of Atlantic Beach's centennial celebration. At a Sept. 8 Arts, Recreation and Culture Committee meeting, staff proposed a formal ribbon-cutting on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, following the city's morning ceremony. The target completion date for the art installation is November.

Garden, offices and events planned for the center

Plans call for the center to serve seniors, veterans and other residents, and to house offices for Atlantic Beach Parks and Recreation. The building will also be available for events at Beaches Veterans Memorial Park and for private gatherings.

The grounds will include a 32-plot community garden donated by Nature Connect Florida. "The most important thing that community gardens grow is connection and community," Judith LaRue of the organization said Wednesday. Six plots will be wheelchair accessible and six will be community managed. The site will also feature raised planters, a small pond and native plants for pollinators.