Artists At Play

A partnership of Center Art LLC, Seattle Center and Seattle Center Foundation is seeking an experienced, local Pacific Northwest artist/design team to provide design and fabrication services for the Artists At Play (AAP) Project. The project will reinvent and enliven the former Fun Forest North site at the heart of the Seattle Center campus, a space of approximately three acres between the EMP Museum and the Armory, just south of Memorial Stadium. The artist/team may propose on all or a specific portion of the site. The total project design and construction budget is $800,000 including artist and/or designer fees, all materials, fabrication, installation, participation in community outreach, taxes and any/all permits. One artist/team will be selected following a two-stage selection process. Design and community outreach will begin in fall 2013 with construction completed in 2014.

The project entails creating a large and engaging, artfully designed play space for three to nine year olds and their families. The play area will be free and open to the public year-round. The selected artist/team will lead community engagement starting early in the design process, including at least two public meetings or community forums. Finalists will present initial and final designs to the partnership group, and upon approval, will install their work at Seattle Center in spring/summer 2014. The final project must comply with all Seattle Center campus guidelines and local regulations including AAP Project Guidelines, Century 21 Design Guidelines, Public Art Guidelines, Seattle Center Site Standards, and all applicable certifications and permits including ASTM Play Equipment Standards.

Eligibility is open to experienced public realm artists and/or designers living in the Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID, and AK). Applicants must be over 18 years old and interested in working collaboratively in public settings. Preference will be given to artists/teams with broad skills in community engagement. At least one team member must hold current National Playground Safety Institute Certification for Playground Safety Inspectors and be familiar with National ASTM Playground Standards. Applications must be submitted online by 11pm PDT on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, and should include a Statement of Interest, a brief written Preliminary Concept or Vision, and relevant Samples of Work (8 images required).