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The Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) is offering a professional development and mentorship program for visual artists who are interested in the public art realm but have never done work in the field before. Artists will be selected through a competitive process to participate in a series of workshops, seminars, and mentorship meetings focused on the public art practice which will culminate in a commission for a temporary public artwork.

ARTS is invested in training the next generation of public artists who can create culturally relevant artworks that resonate with the diverse population of the City of Seattle. Public Art Boot Camp provides training to artists who are ready to translate their exhibition experience to the public art realm. This is a competitive process so artists must apply to be considered. Up to 12 artists will be selected to participate.

Public Art Boot Camp is open to artists currently living in Washington or Oregon state who have not received a temporary or permanent public art commission over $5,000 (a commission is defined as an artwork that is created by an artist at the request of an entity: public agency, private business, corporation, or individual; and that is/was displayed in a public location).

Scope of Work

Artists must attend eight (8) workshops, lectures, and seminars designed to take them step-by-step through the public art process from applying to public art calls to final artwork installation. Workshops will take place September 2020 through July 2021 in person at our offices at King Street Station in downtown Seattle or on location around the city via site visits. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, some or all seminars may be held virtually. In addition to the workshops, participants will have assignments and one-on-one mentorship meetings in-between the scheduled workshops. Workshops will be presented by a combination of public art administrators and public artists.

Workshops and content provided will include:

• Public art opportunities – temporary, permanent, portable works, and more
• Work samples, images, letters of interest
• Selection processes
• “You’re Selected as a Finalist:  Now What?”
• Working with architects, design professionals, city staff, and community members
• Sample contracts proposals, budgets, materials, timelines
• Design phase
• Public presentations, reviews, approvals or rejections
• Fabrication and installation

Eligibility

Public Art Boot Camp is open to artists currently living in Washington or Oregon state who have not received a temporary or permanent public art commission over $5,000 (a commission is defined as an artwork that is created by an artist at the request of an entity:  public agency, private business, corporation, or individual; and that is/was displayed in a public location).

Applicants should have an interest in exploring the presentation of their work in public settings and an interest in community-building or enhancing the built environment. Applicants should also be committed to learning how to maintain artistic creativity and vision while attending to the demands of the public process. Priority will be given to emerging artists and artists from historically under-represented communities, including communities of color. Applicants are not eligible if they have already had a temporary or permanently sited public art commission for more than $5,000, as we are seeking artists new to the public art field.

Budget

Each selected artist will receive up to $8,600. The budget includes a $7,000 temporary art commission and a $200 stipend for each workshop attended up to $1,600. If the artist cannot complete the program or the temporary art commission the City reserves the right to award the temporary commission to an alternate artist.

Opportunity Website

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