City of Seattle: Center City Connector - Streetcar Public Art Project

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), seeks an artist or artist team to develop site-specific, permanent artworks along the route of the future Center City Connector Streetcar. The desired artwork will celebrate a sense of place, promote wayfinding, and create a visual identity for the Center City Connector. The selected artist will work with SDOT and SDOT consultants from design through construction of the new streetcar line.

The artist(s) will develop permanent public artwork(s) for four streetcar stops located at Stewart St. & 2nd/3rd Ave., Pike St. & 1st Ave., Madison St. & 1st Ave., and Pioneer Square. Working closely with the SDOT design team, consultants, community representatives and the Office of Arts & Culture, the commissioned artist will develop serial or episodic artworks that promote discovery from station to station and utilize durable and lasting materials. Site considerations for the 12' wide station stops include compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act while coexisting with garbage/recycling containers, ticket machines, trees, landscaping, and streetcar shelters. Possible artwork directions include inlays of metal, terrazzo, tile, or other durable materials, small sculptural gestures, or creative elements integrated into station infrastructure, railings, project poles, or adjacent city property.

This is a national call open to professional artists or artist teams residing in the United States. Artists with no prior public art experience are not eligible. Students are not eligible. The total artwork project budget is $250,000, with contracting in two phases: design for $38,000 and fabrication and installation for $212,000. Applications must include a letter of interest, résumé, three references, and up to 16 images. The application deadline is Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 11 p.m. PST. The selected artist will be notified by email in March 2017.