The

ARTicle

Marion Cultural Alliance

September

2025

ABOUT US

NEED HELP

WAYS TO GIVE

Updates from MCA

A Message from Jaye Baillie APR, MCA Executive Director

MCA’s Popular Annual Auction is Back!

Get ready to bid on one-of-a-kind experiences, original artwork, exciting trips, and more!

The MCA auction kicks off online September 2 and runs through September 16, ending with an in-person celebration at The Brick. Guests can view all the incredible items in person and place final bids until the auction closes at 7 PM. Tickets are $15 for MCA members and $20 for nonmembers. Enjoy a gourmet popcorn bar, bubbly, and beer while bidding during the last hours of the 2025 auction!

However, you don’t have to attend the party to continue your bidding — it’s all online!

All proceeds benefit Marion Cultural Alliance’s Give4Marion campaign, supporting grants, programs, and opportunities that make the arts thrive in our community.

Mark your calendars, place your bids, and help fuel the arts in Ocala/Marion County!

Sneak Peek: MCA’s Annual Auction

Get ready to bid on unforgettable experiences, original art, and incredible getaways — all while supporting MCA’s Give4Marion campaign! Here are just a few highlights:

Guest Director for Children of Eden — Step into the director’s chair alongside OCT’s Artistic Director, Greg Thompson, from auditions to opening night!
Private Pickleball Lessons with Jim Coulliard, Marion County’s Director of Parks & Recreation.
Phenomenal Trips to Belize, Costa Rica, or Man o’ War Cay in the Abaco’s.
Private Box for Four at the Reilly Center for an Ocala Symphony Orchestra concert.
Cooking Class with Robin Fannon — elevate your culinary skills with a pro!
Drone Video by Michael Warren — showcase your home or business from above.
Luxury Services from Pine & Pearl — your choice of pampering treatments.
Original Art from some of Ocala’s most popular artists.
Rental of Brick City Center for the Arts — host your next event in style.
Two-Night Stays in a restored historic cottage or a beautiful home near WEC (Lisa Irwin).
… and dozens more treasures waiting for your bid!

Mark your calendars and get ready to bid, win, and support the arts in Marion County!

Get Tickets to the Auction Party!

Online Catalogue Opens Sept 2!

Tickets Now Available for Applaud the Arts 2025!

18th Annual Applaud the Arts: Olympus Odyssey!

Friday, November 15 | 6:00–9:00 PM

Appleton Museum of Art

Step into a world of myth and majesty as Marion Cultural Alliance proudly presents its 18th Annual Applaud the Arts, themed Olympus Odyssey—an evening of divine inspiration and artistic celebration.

This year’s unforgettable experience is presented and sponsored by Lisa Irwin. Tickets and sponsorship options are now available at mcaocala.org/applaud-the-arts.

A Message from Ashley Justiniano, Chief Arts Officer

Join us for a special gathering! 'Where We Gather' will debut on Friday, September 5th at The Brick (23 SW Broadway Street) in downtown Ocala. Join us for wine, beer, light refreshments, and the opportunity to meet and mingle with our featured artists.

There’s a special kind of alchemy that happens in the places we gather. Whether it's a porch at dusk, a folding chair under an oak tree, a church hall filled with laughter, or a kitchen steeped in the scent of something simmering — gathering spaces shape our stories, hold our histories, and root us in something larger than ourselves.

“Where We Gather” is a community-centered art exhibit that invites local artists to reflect on the spaces — both ordinary and sacred — where connection happens in Ocala and across the world. This theme is about more than physical structures; it’s about the rituals, relationships, and rhythms that turn spaces into places of belonging.

Special thanks to our exhibit sponsor, Angie Lewis State Farm! ❤️

The Brick Gallery will open to the public from 5-7 PM. Admission to the gallery is free. The Spoken Word Ocala group will be gathering for Open Mic at The Brick from 6:30 - 7:30pm, and all are welcome to join. 'Where We Gather' art exhibition will be on display #atTheBrick September 5 - 27, 2025. For gallery hours and inquiries, please visit http://www.mcaocala.org.

Announcing Our Guest Curator for September's Exhibit!

Meet our September Guest Curator for 'Where We Gather' — MCA’s own, Kiah Manning! And really, who better to help us curate a show all about community than someone who embodies it every day? 💛 Come see the connections and creativity MCA has gathered for this special exhibit, sponsored by Angie Lewis State Farm. Opening 9/5 at 5pm!

NEW Open Call for October's annual juried art exhibit & competition!

Entries are now being accepted for our 7th annual "BEST" juried art exhibit & competition! MCA Artists are encouraged to submit up to 2 artworks to "Nocturne: A Show of Good Spirits", presented by The LILAC Foundation.

Works for this exhibition might explore themes like: Shadow and light, dreams, liminality, and the in-between, emotional or seasonal change, the beauty of twilight, dusk, or night, and/or the unseen forces that move us—grief, joy, memory, intuition. Visit mcanocturne.artcall.org for full guidelines and to submit your art! Prizes include Best of Show ($250), First ($150), Second ($100), Third ($50), 2 Honorable Mention, Community Choice, and the LILAC Purchase Award.

MCA Volunteer Opportunities!

Fall is coming! Being the busiest season at The Brick, and we would love some extra help! If you enjoy being surrounded by art and uniquely creative people, then MCA is just the place to be!

Visit our website at mcaocala.org/volunteer to browse our current opportunities and sign up for your shift of choice! Contact Jonia via email or phone for any questions.

Thank You to Our Gallery Sponsors!

Check Out What's Happening at The Brick

Did you know that MCA supports local artists and nonprofit arts organizations with direct funding?

Check out the Grant Opportunities section on our website to find out more and apply today!

Click here to learn more.

We have an Open Call available for MCA artists members for the "Nocturne" juried art exhibit & competition in October 2025, sponsored by the LILAC Foundation. This is the last MCA members exhibit of the year! For more info and to apply, please visit our website and check out the "Artists" section.

Check out our latest open call for The Shop's Fall/Winter 2025 curated collection! Local creatives are encouraged to submit up to 10 items for consideration, including unique hand-made items, original paintings, sculptures, holiday items and more! For more info, go mcashopfall2025.artcall.org

Visit our Website for More

Explore Local Artistry through OMAS!

Ocala Metro Art Scene

Ocala Metro Art Scene is a comprehensive online resource for Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and local Events in Marion County, FL. Find descriptions, dates, times and locations for free events, theatre, music, dance, concerts, art exhibits, museums, film, lectures, workshops, kid-friendly events, special events, (NEW) an online artist-for-hire directory featuring local musicians, performers, fine artists, and more.

See More Events