City of Seattle: Central Waterfront Tribal Artwork Commission

The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with the Office of the Waterfront and Seattle Department of Transportation, seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create cultural artwork for Seattle's Central Waterfront as part of Waterfront Seattle. The project will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with 20 acres of new public spaces, streets, parks, and buildings. The artist/s will work with the city and its design team to develop artwork or artist-designed space in recognition of the tribal peoples of this region, reflective of the Coast Salish tribes that have a historic connection to this area.

One artist or artist team will be selected to receive a $25,000 commission for initial design and concept work through 2015. Upon approval of the design and conditioned on securing future waterfront 1% for Art funds, the artist/artist team will be contracted for fabrication and installation for $225,000 inclusive of all fees, taxes, fabrication, delivery, installation, travel and additional site work. The artwork is expected to be installed during construction of the waterfront promenade after 2016.

The call is open to established professional artists residing in Washington State and British Columbia who are eligible to work in the United States. Artists who have a historic and/or artistic connection to the tribal peoples of this region are strongly encouraged to apply. Artists may apply individually or as a team of no more than two. Students are not eligible. The artist selection panel will include enrolled members of local federally recognized tribes. Application deadline: 11 p.m., Monday, February 2, 2015 (Pacific Time). Applications require a letter of interest (not to exceed 2,000 characters), résumé, three references, up to 16 images, and an Image Identification List (not to exceed 500 characters for each image).