The Snohomish County Arts Commission is seeking artists for the first of its public arts projects.
Seven projects at four community parks are up for grabs under the new Snohomish County Public Arts Program, which receives money based on a percentage of public construction projects.
The smallest projects would create signs to unique campsites in Arlington. The largest would accent a tree-lined, runway-like entrance into a former Lynnwood airfield.
“If you look around the county, you see a growing need for public expression of the arts,” said Barbara Cothern Hawksford, chairwoman of the volunteer arts commission. “It gives us a chance to introduce public art in a way people will really enjoy.”
The Snohomish County Council unanimously approved the seven projects this week after creating the public arts program in a split vote in June. The program sets aside up to 1 percent worth of certain county construction projects into an arts fund.
A similar arts fund existed in the mid-1990s but was allowed to expire. Similar public art funding programs exist in Everett and Seattle and King and Pierce counties and at the state level.
Currently, a half-percent of selected construction projects is set aside for the work, or $327,000. The seven current projects will take up an estimated $222,000 of that.
Arts program staff also will seek $327,000 worth of private donations for the arts fund. If they raise the money, the county will contribute another $327,000 to the fund for the full 1 percent.
Most of the money for the 2007 projects is being generated by a $40 million maintenance center and gun range and impound lot project at the Cathcart transfer station.
But you won’t find any new art as you drop off your garbage.
Instead, new and renovated parks in Arlington, south Everett, Lake Stevens and Lynnwood will get added touches.
The parks will likely be heavily used in their communities, County Council Chairman Kirke Sievers said. “It’d be nice to have something visually pleasing for them to go to.”
None of the projects are likely to result in large monuments. Most will be integrated into park designs – on pathway surfaces, for example – and be resistant to vandalism.
“This is a middle ground. It’s a … feel-good kind of art in the community,” Sievers said.
Council member Gary Nelson, who voted against creating the arts program last June, criticized the projects as little more than glorified landscaping.
“I love art and enjoying seeing it and being a participant in raising funds for it,” Nelson said. But this program “is being done in a fashion where the public really has very little input.”
Hawksford said the commission is learning as it goes with the new program. But staff agree there is excitement for the projects.
“This is the first public art project that Snohomish County has integrated in 20 years,” said Wendy Becker, coordinator of the projects for the county Office of Economic Development. “They’re really high-quality projects that make sense for a community.”
It’s unclear how much money artists would make off of the projects. The project budgets include all associated costs – including permit fees and installation costs – which the artist would be responsible for.
Most come with $500 honorariums.
The deadline for artist applications to the arts commission is Feb. 26. A selection committee will interview finalists for most of the projects, then notify winners in April. Work is to be completed by the end of 2007.
For more information on the projects, contact Becker at 425-388-3186, or wendy.becker@ co.snohomish.wa.us.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
Artist call
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The Snohomish County Arts Commission is seeking artists for the first seven projects of its Snohomish County Public Arts Program:
Budget: $50,000
The 60-by-60-foot plaza to be designed is adjacent to a large play area.
Budget: $27,000
A 30-foot circle around the flag pole in a plaza to be used for events and medal ceremonies.
Budget: $20,000
Artistic treatments to 300 feet of concrete paths that inspire sportsmanship leading up to ball fields.
Budget: $65,000
An artistic feature to be integrated into a grassy path bordered by parallel rows of trees.
Budget: $30,000
A focal point for the south end of the park to draw visitors.
Budget: $25,000
Artistic feature in green space that ties in the sense of flying with skateboarding.
Budget: $5,000
A unique way to identify and direct campers to each dome-like yurt.
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