The Office of Arts & Culture is invested in training the next generation of public artists who can create culturally relevant artworks that resonate with the diverse communities that make up the City of Seattle. Public Art Boot Camp provides training for artists who are ready to translate their exhibition and other studio art experience into the public art realm.
We offer this professional development program for visual artists who are interested in the public art realm but have limited experience. Up to 18 artists will be selected through a competitive process to participate in a series of monthly workshops, seminars, and lectures focused on public art practice. The program will culminate in a review with feedback from multiple project managers and other public art professionals.
For more details, please read the full guidelines.
Due Date
Monday, May 18, 2026, 5 PM Pacific.
Please allow ample time to complete your application. Applications submitted after the 5 PM Pacific deadline will not be accepted.
If you have trouble applying, check Submittable’s FAQ which offers step-by-step guides. For further assistance with the Submittable online application, please contact Submittable tech support at support@submittable.com.
Eligibility
This is an open call to all qualified artists living in Washington state who have not received a single temporary or publicly sited art commission over $20,000. For these purposes, 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) that is displayed in a public location.
Public Art Boot Camp is intended for artists who are new to public art. Artists who have previously participated are not eligible. You must be 18 years or older. Current students attending any undergraduate or graduate program are not eligible to apply.
We are committed to an equitable selection process and strongly encourage applications from underrepresented artists, including women, LGBTQIA+, people with disasbilities, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Artists of all walks of life are encouraged to apply.
Budget
Participants will be compensated $1,000 for attendance and participation in all required workshops, lectures, and program activities, divided into $200 per session.
Information Workshop
Learn more about this opportunity and how to submit your best application. This virtual session will be recorded and posted to our website.
Thursday, April 23, Noon – 1 PM
