International Invited Artist

In 1999, the International Invited Artist program was first introduced with Mr. Tadishiro Fukui, a master woodblock artist from Pensacola's Sister City of Hagiwara, Japan exhibiting at the festival.

Since then, the International Invited Artist has become a mainstay of the Festival. Many of the artists have come from Pensacola Sister Cities.

In 2000, Mr. Mario Parra, a sculptor and his wife, Elizabeth Thompson, a textile artist visited from another Pensacola Sister City, Escazu, Costa Rica. 2001 saw another Sister City artist, Luz Becerra from Miraflores, Peru. Ms. Beccerra works in leather.

In 2002, we had a ceramic artist from Xalapa, Mexico, Ms. Leonor Anaya. Our 2003 International Artists were another husband and wife team, Mr. and Mrs. Lin Shin-Hui from our Sister City of Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

In 2007, textile artist Zenon Cirilo Pumayalli Quispe from Chinchero, Peru, in the Andes Mountains was featured at the Festival.

This Year

To commemorate the 450th anniversary of Don Tristan De Luna planting the flag of Spain in the year 1559 to found Pensacola we are seeking a Spanish artist as our Invited International Artist for the 2008 Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.

We are continually planning for future Visiting International Artists. Submissions and inquiries for this or upcoming years should forward a bio sheet/resume as well as 6 to 12 photos of work.

For more information on the International Invited Artist program, please send us an .