“Please Mind the Mess: Makers Making”
Only artists participating in the 2026 South Sound Studio Tour are invited to submit proposals for this round of installations.
Applications Due March 9at 11:59 pm - One application per artist or artist team.
Olympia Artspace Alliance in partnership with South Sound Studio Tour is seeking proposals from artists and artist teams to develop site-responsive, temporary, 2-dimensional and/or 3-dimensional art installations related to the theme “Please Mind the Mess: Makers Making!”. The artwork will be installed in vacant storefront windows in downtown Olympia, mid-March to April through the end of July 2026.
Project Summary
“Art in Olympia Storefronts” is a project of the Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) to create a series of temporary art installations in vacant storefront windows in downtown Olympia. The project is made possible with the support of Olympia Federal Savings and with funding from Olympia Downtown Alliance, City of Olympia Inspire funding, and individual donations.
Project Goals
Activate vacant and/or underutilized spaces downtown
Provide high-quality exhibition and paid opportunities to local artists and students
Increase public access to professional art
Encourage creative activity throughout our community
Installation Information
In keeping with the focus of the South Sound Studio Tour, installation proposals should present both the excellence of the artist’s work, but also reveal something about how artworks are created. Proposals should showcase the excellence of the artist’s finished works, but also invite the viewers, in an inventive way, into the creative process or into the “studio.” Proposals will be selected through a jury process. We particularly seek work that is innovative and that will capture the attention of people walking through the streets of downtown Olympia.
All 2D and 3D visual media accepted, including video.
Proposed installations may consist of existing or new works. Preference will be given to artwork that responds to the space and the scale of the site. Content must be suitable for the general public. No explicit sexual or violent imagery of profanity will be accepted.
All materials and labor required for installations are the responsibility of the artist. This includes hanging, hardware, curtains or temporary walls, tools and any other materials/equipment required to install the artwork. Artists will be expected to comply with OAA safety protocols.
Artists are responsible for maintaining their work for the duration of the installation and may be asked to repair their work if necessary and requested by OAA.
Submitting Your Proposal - APPLY HERE
Please submit this information at the link above:
Contact Information: Name, address, phone number, email, website/social media links
A statement (~ 200 words) describing your vision for the proposal, design elements, and how it will be displayed.
A sketch or diagram of your proposal
Images of the work for the installation, or work you have created in a similar style
Please indicate if you have a preferred site (see below for window options)
**We encourage you to visit the site before submitting your proposal. This will enhance your understanding of the windows and their scale (reach out if you would like a tour). **
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed and selected using the following criteria:
Overall aesthetic quality and ingenuity of proposed installation.
Ability to create a temporary public installation on scale with the architecture and site.
Appropriateness of work for the general public and site.
Evidence that the proposed project is feasible.
Timeline
Deadline to submit proposals: Monday, March 9 by 11:59 pm
Notification: by March 20, 2026.
Once your proposal is accepted and approved: We will schedule a meeting the third or fourth week of July to sign contracts and dispense your first payment as well as give you more detailed information about the site and materials available for your use.
Installation: by April 13, 2026
Deinstallation: August 9, 2026
Conditions
Stipend: $500
Selected artists will receive $500 in two installments: $350 upon signing the contract, and the remainder upon removal and clean-up of installation space at the end of the installation.
Contracts with selected artists will grant the property owner, ODA and OAA the right to reproduce and distribute images of the artwork in connection with marketing the Arts in Olympia Storefront Project.
Participation in this project is done at the artist’s own risk. Property owner, ODA and OAA will not be held responsible for loss, theft or damage, including breakage, of displayed work.
Artists will be expected to comply with OAA safety protocols.
Artists and their volunteers are responsible for installing the work. OAA Storefront Manager and Board Members will be available for some assistance if necessary.
Goldberg Building
Four sites are available at The Goldberg Building, 403 Capitol Way. OAA anticipates selecting one proposal for each of the four sites. Overhead lighting and electric power are available for each window, and each window has a black backdrop. Note that the building can be damp.
A- 3 Windows to left of main doors
B- Corner 6 windows
C- West end- 2 large(er) windows
D- West end- 2 small(er) windows
Non Discrimination
Olympia ArtSpace Alliance does not discriminate on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any disability.
Questions? Please email OAA Projects Manager Mariella Luz at storefronts@olympiaartspace.org
Partners and Sponsors of Olympia ArtSpace Alliance: South Sound Studio TourOlympia Downtown Alliance (ODA), PBIA, National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsWa, Olympia Federal Credit Union and the City of Olympia.
