• Public Art and Opportunities

    Header Image
    Image of artist Alyza DelPan-Monley performing in the Bellevue Arts Museum parking lot for Bellwether. Painted on the wall behind Alyza is Damien Gilley’s “Wayfinder” mural. Image by Jordan Rennick and Brandon Freeman, Front Runner Films.

    We seek to be a vital platform for cultural exchange and creative inspiration. Since 1979, acclaimed artists such as Jaehyo Lee, James Fitzgerald, Albert Paley, John Grade and Judy Onofrio have filled the city with creativity and innovation.

    Bellevue Art Collection

    Over 70 permanent and portable artworks document the dynamic moments and complexities of Bellevue’s cultural life, and these pieces serve as an important resource for future generations. A segment of the collection is devoted to artworks that raise the discourse on the defining aspects of Bellevue’s civic life, exploring the diverse identities of our residents, converging cultures, international connections, technological currents, and the interplay between nature and the urban experience that make Bellevue’s environment unique.

    Current and Upcoming Projects

    Explore current and upcoming Bellevue public art projects below.

    Artist Opportunities

    We will list current opportunities for Artists here as they become available.

    Please visit the below pages to find out more about ongoing and past opportunities:

    • Arts Grants Program - The City of Bellevue offers annual grants to artists and nonprofits. Applicants can expect to apply every late summer/early fall for the following year's grant cycle.
    • Utility Box Wraps Program - Funded by Urban Bulivards, the Arts Program has launched a multi-year project to cover utility and signal boxes around Bellevue. Check the Utility Box Wraps Program tab below to find out more about future calls for artists.
    • Bellwether - Bellwether is a curated show that offers artists a platform to respond to themes and showcase art in Bellevue.
    • Eastside Artist Roster - This roster is open to artists and organizations on the Eastside. See the below tab for more information on the roster and how to apply. 

    Staff Contact: Manette Stamm, mstamm@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-4064

    Artist Po Shu Wang is currently working on developing a final design for the 130th Ave NE streetscape design team to integrate into the broader project. This project will be installed between the future Spring Boulevard and NE 20th Street in BelRed.
     

    Staff Contact: Scott MacDonald, smacdonald@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-4852

    Bellwether

    This exhibition featured over 50 different artists bringing new kinds of art, activation, and expression to Bellevue, and condensed into a ten-day span. Our planned 2020 festival has been moved to 2021, which means next year will be two big years in one. Please visit bellwetherart.org for more.

    Staff Contact: Manette Stamm, mstamm@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-4064

    Downtown Park - Northeast Entrance

    Artist Marc Fornes is currently preparing for the installation of a signature public art feature for Fall 2021. This artwork is a part of a new entrance into the Downtown Park at Bellevue Way and NE 4th Street. 
     

    Staff Contact: Scott MacDonald, smacdonald@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-4852

    Eastside Artist Roster

    This roster is open to artists living and working in East King County (Bellevue, Bothell, Duvall, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Snoqualmie and Woodinville) to use for craft, public art, music and performance opportunities. The roster will be used by the City of Bellevue as a resource for selected small public art projects (up to $30,000) geared towards emerging artists seeking to enter or establish themselves in the field of public art, curators working on future Bellwethers (Bellevue’s annual contemporary art event), and an outreach resource about other upcoming opportunities and events, including larger public art projects.

    • The full Eastside Artist Roster call can be accessed here.
    • The Roster application can be accessed here.
    • The roster will open for online applications starting on August 1, 2020. There is no deadline to apply and the application will remain open indefinitely.
    • Artists can elect to have their information available for use by other Eastside Cities. 
    • Information on the Roster application can be updated by contacting publicart@bellevuewa.gov 

    Staff Contact: Manette Stamm, mstamm@bellevuewa.gov or (425) 452-4064

    Utility Box Wraps Program

    The City of Bellevue is launching a new project that will wrap utility boxes around Bellevue in artworks printed in vinyl. The Arts Program will release calls for art for each phase of the project, so stay tuned throughout the coming years as this project unfolds. 

    Phases

    Phase 1 has launched, starting with a call for artists that closed on March 3rd. In the first phase, we will cover up to 15 utility boxes in BelRed, in Bellevue's only arts district.

    Check back here later in 2021 for progress updates and future phases.