Call for Artists: Deadline is Near for Burke-Gilman Trail Project

Original image courtesy of the City of Seattle

They brighten up public spaces and civic buildings, so that, no matter where you go, you're sure to stumble on an installation that stirs some kind of emotion, or at least begs a second glance. One much-traveled path, however, is art-free--and the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is looking to change that.

The Burke-Gilman trail, which snakes its way from Ballard to Kenmore, is already a popular path for bikers and joggers. But this summer, it's received quite a bit of extra attention. Aside from small-scale closures for repairs that have happened throughout the season, the City was also given the green light to fix a long-problematic patch in the trail, known as the "missing link." In addition to these functional improvements, the City is also looking to add 2 to 5 locally-produced pieces of public art to the trail--and the artists to produce them.

To qualify, artists or artist groups must reside in the state of Washington, and be experienced in creating durable, awesome outdoor art. The pieces, which would be spread along the trail's 12-ish miles to create one cohesive piece, have been given a budget of $80,000.

Established artists or artist groups interesting in submitting a bid can get more information, and apply here. Don't dally--the deadline is on August 1.