2017 Seattle Center Poetry Garden Art Series

The Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Center are seeking emerging artists to develop temporary artworks for the 2017 Poetry Garden on the Seattle Center campus. The theme for this year's series is Seattle Center Festál Turns 20, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Festál, a series of 24 free annual ethnic cultural events. Artworks should embody and celebrate the richness of the cultural festivals and can respond to one or several of the Festál festivals or cultures. Artworks should also respond to the site of the Poetry Garden in its design and approach.

Four selected artists will design and develop small-scale temporary artworks to be installed on the Poetry Garden fence for three-month periods in 2017. The fence is a five-panel grid that is 8' x 8', with the center 6' x 6' section in one-foot squares. Artists are encouraged to be creative with materials; artworks that intentionally deteriorate over time will be considered. Artworks should not cause damage to property but should be secured to prevent theft or vandalism. Each selected artist will receive $1,000, inclusive of all fees and Washington State Sales and Use Tax (9.6%). Payment is distributed as 40 percent upon acceptance of the final artwork proposal, 40 percent after documented installation, and 20 percent after documented de-installation, photo documentation, and a brief project summary.

This call is open to emerging public artists living in Washington state who are over 18 years old and interested in working collaboratively in public settings. Applicants must have a documented track record of making art and interest in creating art in public places, but may or may not have formal art education. Applicants are not eligible if they have received a permanently sited public or private art commission of more than $10,000. Applicants must submit eight images of past artworks, a letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters), a concept proposal (not to exceed 2,000 characters) describing the planned installation and materials, a resume, and references. Applicants will be notified of the panel's decision by email by late November 2016.