Artists living or working in King County are invited to submit existing artworks for possible purchase as part of a new 4Culture initiative aimed at expanding the King County Public Art Collection.
According to 4Culture, the open call titled “Here and Now” seeks unframed, two dimensional and low relief artworks by studio artists to be acquired for placement in publicly accessible county spaces, including courtrooms, health clinics, offices and community centers.
The total acquisition budget for the project is $220,000, which includes Washington sales and use tax, panel honoraria, framing and contingency costs. Individual artwork purchase prices will not exceed $4,500 per piece, with a cap of $9,000 per artist, excluding sales tax. 4Culture will coordinate and pay for framing, while artists or their representatives are responsible for packing and delivering selected works or covering insured shipping costs.
The King County Public Art Collection, stewarded by 4Culture, dates back to 1975 and includes approximately 2,000 portable works installed in nearly 200 county facilities. The collection documents decades of artistic practice in the Pacific Northwest and reflects the region’s evolving cultural identity.
The call invites submissions of existing paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, fiber based works and mixed media pieces with strong visual presence and conceptual clarity. To allow flexibility for installation, artworks may not exceed 42 by 28 inches unframed, with a maximum depth of 1 and three quarter inches. Artists may submit up to five works for consideration, including multiples, editions, diptychs and triptychs.
4Culture said the project responds to requests from county departments such as Public Defense, Natural Resources and Parks, Facilities Management, Public Health and Metro Transit, which are reimagining their spaces and seeking artworks that center the people they serve.
Through the “Here and Now” framework, 4Culture and King County aim to acquire works that reflect the complexity and vitality of the region. The curatorial focus emphasizes authenticity, visual vitality, accessibility and care for people and place, with an intent to create a contemporary portrait of King County through public art.
Additional information and application details are available through 4Culture’s Public Art website.
