When the “battle” comes to an end at 6, the celebration moves to the \u201cBackstreet Party\u201d behind the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center \u2014 the heart of the night\u2019s entertainment. The party will feature live music, performances, food and drink, artist meet-and-greets, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Those looking to showcase their skills in the realm of art can take their talents to downtown Fort Myers next week as part of an annual event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Battle of the Arts, presented by Artsemble Underground<\/a>, ignites Music Walk in Fort Myers and marks the official kickoff to the Southwest Florida Mural Festival.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Battle of the Arts is an all-day live painting competition that takes place Dec. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. directly in front of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n As Music Walk fills downtown with live performances and community energy, artists from across Southwest Florida will create large-scale works of art in real time on 4-by-8-foot panels provided by Artsemble Underground. The event is free and open to the public, giving guests an opportunity to watch the creative process up close, meet the artists, and enjoy one of Fort Myers\u2019 most vibrant cultural nights.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEvery year is very exciting,\u201d said co-founder of Artsemble Underground, Cesar Aguilera. \u201cSome artists are new, some have been doing this forever. Everyone becomes friends, and you get to meet new people. Even people passing by, they become collectors sometimes. It\u2019s a great day of showcasing art for the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Aguilera, along with Brian Weaver, said thanks to an annual arts grant, Artsemble Underground provides materials and support for the artists.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cBattle of the Arts isn\u2019t just a competition \u2014 it\u2019s about uniting our artists, celebrating creativity, and fostering community pride,\u201d the co-founders said in a prepared statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n When the battle comes to an end at 6, the celebration moves to the \u201cBackstreet Party\u201d behind the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center \u2014 the heart of the night\u2019s entertainment. The party will feature live music, performances, food and drink, artist meet-and-greets, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n There will be four winning artists announced at 7:30 on the main stage, determined by a panel of celebrity judges.\u00a0<\/p>\n The four selected artists will move forward to paint full murals on curated walls throughout the downtown area, with Aguilera and Weaver stated the art supports local businesses, beautifies the city, and contributes to the cultural and creative growth of the community.<\/p>\n Artsemble Underground is still accepting artist applications, with each battle typically featuring 15 to 20 talented artists, and the winners from each battle move on to receive walls for the fourth annual Southwest Florida Mural Festival in April of 2026.<\/p>\n There are two Battle of the Arts competitions prior to the festival, with the second taking place in January.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur mission is to bring the community closer to local artists, connecting our Southwest Florida artists, including those based in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and surrounding areas, while also supporting downtown businesses,\u201d said Aguilar and Weaver in a joint statement. \u201cOur goal with all the murals we are creating in this concentrated area is to establish downtown Fort Myers\u2019 first Art District, creating a vibrant, Wynwood-style atmosphere that celebrates creativity and transforms the urban landscape. We are proud to say that Artsemble Underground is responsible for the majority of murals in the downtown area, contributing to the city\u2019s growing reputation as a hub for public art.\u201d<\/p>\n Aguilar, who is also a curator at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, said the art scene in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida is one that is thriving and growing.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI think Fort Myers has a really rich art community full of amazing artists,\u201d he said. \u201cThough artists don\u2019t have many places where they can display their work. That\u2019s why we created Artsemble Underground, to create platforms for them to showcase their art. We try to keep the art scene fresh and unique here. It\u2019s not just commercial art or for established artists, we want to give opportunities to everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Aguilar added these events wouldn\u2019t be possible without support from the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe need the community support \u2014 we know the artists want to take part in these events, but support from our neighbors and sponsorship is paramount. Even people coming out to the events makes a big difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For more information, sponsorships, or to apply to the Battle of the Arts, visit\u00a0ArtsembleUnderground.com<\/a>\u00a0and select Battle of the Arts under the \u201cmore\u201d tab.<\/p>\n The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is at 2301 First St<\/a>.<\/p>\n