Call For Mural Artists: Large-scale mural in the BelRed Arts District
City of Bellevue Arts Program
Deadline: August 13, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST
Budget: $90,000
Opportunity
The City of Bellevue seeks an artist or artist team to design and install a large-scale mural in the BelRed Arts District. Eligible artists must live in Washington, Oregon, or California and demonstrate that they have completed at least five previous murals. The final selected artist will contract with the city for $90,000 plus applicable sales tax, covering the artist’s time, labor, supplies, travel, and lodging, if necessary. During the planning and installation process, the city will provide artist support through local consultants who can assist with vendor relations (such as lift rental, which the city will fund), best practices and on-site installation. These services will be at no cost to the artist, and specific needs will be defined with the consultants at the time of signing the contract. The deadline for consideration is August 13, 2025. Please note that this is a request for qualifications. Artists will be evaluated based on their prior work experience and are asked not to create new artwork proposals to apply for this call.
About The Call
This call has a theme of storytelling and aims to provide opportunities to artists that will help bring character, intrigue, and awareness to the BelRed Arts District. The mural wall is just under 10,000 total square feet, and about 725 feet long, with a challenging texture that limits the methods of paint application. The final selected artist or artist team will be required to follow the city’s general design guidelines, an overview of which is provided at the end of this call. Artists should also expect to deliver draft design ideas that address the unique and challenging wall texture and the curved nature of the wall, which only allows parts of the mural to be visible at a time. Please consult the images of the project location at the end of this call.
The selected artist or artist team can expect payment in multiple installments throughout the project's duration. The city will be responsible for obtaining any necessary permits and agreements. Artists must carry general liability insurance for the duration of the installation and conduct any necessary wall preparation before mural installation.
The city will provide additional support from an experienced installation team to the selected artist or artist team, including consultation on wall preparation, paint, and other necessary materials and equipment, such as a lift. Depending on how the selected artist typically works, the city will provide up to two additional painting assistants during the mural installation. The selected artist will be responsible for insuring and paying any additional assistants.
Goals of the Artwork
- Provides an element of linear storytelling along this long wall
- Unique to this project
- Provides fun and engaging experiences for those experiencing the mural from different perspectives – from the train, car, sidewalk or adjacent building
- Increases the visibility of the BelRed Arts District and serves as a key anchor
- Achievable, especially given the texture of the wall
About Bellevue, WA
Known as a “City in a Park” with nearly 100 parks and a vast network of trails and greenbelts, Bellevue is the fifth largest city in Washington. The Eastside city spans 33.5 square miles from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish. As part of the Innovation Triangle, Bellevue is the high-tech and retail center with a downtown skyline of gleaming high-rises, a diverse population of more than 155,000 and schools that are consistently rated among the best in the country. The BelRed Arts District, stewarded by a Community Alliance formed in 2023, has the highest concentration of arts and cultural organizations and artists in Bellevue and across the Eastside. Many of these arts organizations, big and small, are hidden within gritty, post-industrial warehouses, aging commercial spaces, and older strip malls reminiscent of the 60s and 70s era. The eclectic mix of arts and cultural, and supportive creative economy businesses brings thousands to the area.
Eligibility
This call is open to all active professional visual artists who meet the following requirements:
- Live in the states of Washington, Oregon or California.
- Have completed at least five (5) public murals of their own design.
- Artists must be able to travel to Bellevue, WA, to install their designs in the spring of 2026, with a preference for delivery before the World Cup (June 15, 2026).
- Artists must also meet the city’s mandatory insurance coverage, including Commercial General Liability coverage with limits not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 annual aggregate.
Project Timeline
- August 13, 2025 Deadline for application submissions
- October Notification of selection
- November Concept design development
- January 2026 Final design development
- February Permitting
- April-June Installation
Please note that dates are tentative and subject to change.
Application Requirements
- Artist Application: Complete all required fields in the online application, including your primary location, artistic medium, and the items below.
- Artist Bio: Summarize your background as well as artistic influences, training and significant achievements.
- Example Projects: Submit one (1) image each of five (5) previous projects (5 total images). Please show images from five distinct projects. This call is a request for qualifications, so please do not submit proposals. Applications that do not adhere to this requirement will not be accepted.
- References: Provide three (3) professional references with contact information.
- Resume (optional)
How To Apply
Complete the online application by midnight on August 13. All applications will be collected through SurveyMonkey Apply, unless other arrangements are made prior to August 4.
Selection Criteria and Process
An artist or artist team will be selected based on eligibility, artistic merit, mural experience, and compelling examples of artwork relevant to this project.
Artists must meet eligibility requirements and submit complete applications. A technical review by staff will be conducted before the review by a selection panel. A panel composed of representatives from the Public Art Committee or Arts Commission, art professionals, and community representatives will recommend the selected artist. The City of Bellevue reserves the right not to select any applicants.
General Design Guidelines
- The artist must supply an original design that can be painted onto a surface (wall).
- The artist must own all rights to images and content used in the artwork.
- The artwork must be appropriate for display in public spaces and viewing by a general audience, containing no text (including words, quotes, or letters), advertising or branding, or graphic depictions of violence and sexually explicit material (including nudity).
- The artwork cannot contain any representations of traffic lights, signs, or signals and should not aim to confuse or endanger drivers and pedestrians.
- The average lifespan of a maintained mural is typically 20 years. This timeframe should be considered the general lifespan of the artwork; however, it may be significantly shorter if the existing wall is demolished or funding for maintenance is unavailable.
Project Site: 13440-13430 NE Spring Blvd
Contact Us: For questions regarding the call and how to apply, please contact Manette Stamm at (425) 452-4064 or mstamm@bellevuewa.gov
For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-4064 (voice) or mstamm@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.
Call for Mural Artists
Call For Mural Artists: Large-scale mural in the BelRed Arts District
City of Bellevue Arts Program
Deadline: August 13, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST
Budget: $90,000
Opportunity
The City of Bellevue seeks an artist or artist team to design and install a large-scale mural in the BelRed Arts District. Eligible artists must live in Washington, Oregon, or California and demonstrate that they have completed at least five previous murals. The final selected artist will contract with the city for $90,000 plus applicable sales tax, covering the artist’s time, labor, supplies, travel, and lodging, if necessary. During the planning and installation process, the city will provide artist support through local consultants who can assist with vendor relations (such as lift rental, which the city will fund), best practices and on-site installation. These services will be at no cost to the artist, and specific needs will be defined with the consultants at the time of signing the contract. The deadline for consideration is August 13, 2025. Please note that this is a request for qualifications. Artists will be evaluated based on their prior work experience and are asked not to create new artwork proposals to apply for this call.
About The Call
This call has a theme of storytelling and aims to provide opportunities to artists that will help bring character, intrigue, and awareness to the BelRed Arts District. The mural wall is just under 10,000 total square feet, and about 725 feet long, with a challenging texture that limits the methods of paint application. The final selected artist or artist team will be required to follow the city’s general design guidelines, an overview of which is provided at the end of this call. Artists should also expect to deliver draft design ideas that address the unique and challenging wall texture and the curved nature of the wall, which only allows parts of the mural to be visible at a time. Please consult the images of the project location at the end of this call.
The selected artist or artist team can expect payment in multiple installments throughout the project's duration. The city will be responsible for obtaining any necessary permits and agreements. Artists must carry general liability insurance for the duration of the installation and conduct any necessary wall preparation before mural installation.
The city will provide additional support from an experienced installation team to the selected artist or artist team, including consultation on wall preparation, paint, and other necessary materials and equipment, such as a lift. Depending on how the selected artist typically works, the city will provide up to two additional painting assistants during the mural installation. The selected artist will be responsible for insuring and paying any additional assistants.
Goals of the Artwork
- Provides an element of linear storytelling along this long wall
- Unique to this project
- Provides fun and engaging experiences for those experiencing the mural from different perspectives – from the train, car, sidewalk or adjacent building
- Increases the visibility of the BelRed Arts District and serves as a key anchor
- Achievable, especially given the texture of the wall
About Bellevue, WA
Known as a “City in a Park” with nearly 100 parks and a vast network of trails and greenbelts, Bellevue is the fifth largest city in Washington. The Eastside city spans 33.5 square miles from Lake Washington to Lake Sammamish. As part of the Innovation Triangle, Bellevue is the high-tech and retail center with a downtown skyline of gleaming high-rises, a diverse population of more than 155,000 and schools that are consistently rated among the best in the country. The BelRed Arts District, stewarded by a Community Alliance formed in 2023, has the highest concentration of arts and cultural organizations and artists in Bellevue and across the Eastside. Many of these arts organizations, big and small, are hidden within gritty, post-industrial warehouses, aging commercial spaces, and older strip malls reminiscent of the 60s and 70s era. The eclectic mix of arts and cultural, and supportive creative economy businesses brings thousands to the area.
Eligibility
This call is open to all active professional visual artists who meet the following requirements:
- Live in the states of Washington, Oregon or California.
- Have completed at least five (5) public murals of their own design.
- Artists must be able to travel to Bellevue, WA, to install their designs in the spring of 2026, with a preference for delivery before the World Cup (June 15, 2026).
- Artists must also meet the city’s mandatory insurance coverage, including Commercial General Liability coverage with limits not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 annual aggregate.
Project Timeline
- August 13, 2025 Deadline for application submissions
- October Notification of selection
- November Concept design development
- January 2026 Final design development
- February Permitting
- April-June Installation
Please note that dates are tentative and subject to change.
Application Requirements
- Artist Application: Complete all required fields in the online application, including your primary location, artistic medium, and the items below.
- Artist Bio: Summarize your background as well as artistic influences, training and significant achievements.
- Example Projects: Submit one (1) image each of five (5) previous projects (5 total images). Please show images from five distinct projects. This call is a request for qualifications, so please do not submit proposals. Applications that do not adhere to this requirement will not be accepted.
- References: Provide three (3) professional references with contact information.
- Resume (optional)
How To Apply
Complete the online application by midnight on August 13. All applications will be collected through SurveyMonkey Apply, unless other arrangements are made prior to August 4.
Selection Criteria and Process
An artist or artist team will be selected based on eligibility, artistic merit, mural experience, and compelling examples of artwork relevant to this project.
Artists must meet eligibility requirements and submit complete applications. A technical review by staff will be conducted before the review by a selection panel. A panel composed of representatives from the Public Art Committee or Arts Commission, art professionals, and community representatives will recommend the selected artist. The City of Bellevue reserves the right not to select any applicants.
General Design Guidelines
- The artist must supply an original design that can be painted onto a surface (wall).
- The artist must own all rights to images and content used in the artwork.
- The artwork must be appropriate for display in public spaces and viewing by a general audience, containing no text (including words, quotes, or letters), advertising or branding, or graphic depictions of violence and sexually explicit material (including nudity).
- The artwork cannot contain any representations of traffic lights, signs, or signals and should not aim to confuse or endanger drivers and pedestrians.
- The average lifespan of a maintained mural is typically 20 years. This timeframe should be considered the general lifespan of the artwork; however, it may be significantly shorter if the existing wall is demolished or funding for maintenance is unavailable.
Project Site: 13440-13430 NE Spring Blvd
Contact Us: For questions regarding the call and how to apply, please contact Manette Stamm at (425) 452-4064 or mstamm@bellevuewa.gov
For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable modification requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-4064 (voice) or mstamm@bellevuewa.gov. For complaints regarding modifications, contact the City of Bellevue ADA, Title VI, and Equal Opportunity Officer at ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov.