2017 Portland Winter Light Festival - Call for Artists

The Portland Winter Light Festival (PWLF) is seeking submissions from artists, designers, creatives, makers and performers for the 2017 festival, taking place February 1-4, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. The festival theme is "Between the River and the Stars." Hosted at OMSI, this free, 4-day festival transforms Portland's nighttime urban landscape with light-based art, community installations and performances. The festival takes place just north of Portland's Tilikum Crossing along the east bank of the Willamette River as well as other select locations throughout the city.

Work must be light- or illumination-based, such as projection, LED, reflection, shadow, fire, or other light media. Submitting artists must reside in the greater Cascadia region (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana) and Nevada. PWLF welcomes innovative proposals for light-based sculpture, interactive installations, projections, fire art, and performance. The festival values creativity, innovation, technology, engagement, sustainability, inclusivity and fun. Work that promotes a commercial entity, product or service will not be considered. All accepted work must be able to survive Portland winter weather, which may include rain, gusty or sustained winds, sleet, snow, below-freezing temperatures or bright sunshine. Large-scale work (over 10' tall) and fire-based work will require detailed plans.

Submissions must include a proposal with written description (no more than 1 pdf page/2MB), detailed budget (no more than 1 pdf page/2MB), diagrams and/or technical specifications (no more than 2 pdf pages/2MB), samples of proposed and past work (up to 10 images per application, with up to 6 being audio or video), and a brief bio and/or CV (no more than 1 pdf page each/2MB). Artists' submissions must include examples of past work displayed or performed in the last three years. Up to 3 applications are allowed per artist. The submission deadline is September 1, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Artists will be notified of acceptance by September 16, 2016. If work is selected, the artist or artist-selected representative must be present during setup and strike, and monitor their artwork throughout the festival. Artists will be required to secure their own general liability insurance and provide a certificate of liability insurance. Riders listing the artist's criteria for installation and/or performance are required for all accepted performances, installations, and large-scale sculpture.