The mission of the Washington State Arts Commission is, “The conservation and development of the State’s artistic resources are essential to the social, educational, and economic growth of the State of Washington. Artists, works of art and artistic institutions contribute to the quality of life and the general welfare of the citizens of the State, and are an appropriate matter of concern to the government of the State of Washington.”

Established in 1961, the Washington State Arts Commission (WSAC) collaborates with artists and arts organizations to conserve and develop critical artistic resources. WSAC strives to further policies that promote statewide arts awareness, develop sustainable arts resources for future generations, and deepen investments in Washington's dynamic cultural legacy. Below are some of Western Washington's most active and well-represented community organizations and their beautiful public displays of art.

Bellevue

City of Bellevue Arts Program

Public Art Program
Bellevue's public art program was first established in 1979. Today approximately 55 works are in the collection, with more on the way. The Arts Commission serves as the Public Art Program's key advisor, guiding the city as it secures a wide variety of art and disperses it throughout the community.

Two Bellevue City Hall public art projects have been selected as examples of the best in public art across the nation by Americans for the Arts (AFTA), the leading national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the arts. This is the first time public artworks in Bellevue have received this honor. The selected works are "Current," a 12,000-square-foot terrazzo floor of the main concourse, created by Linda Beaumont of Whidbey Island, and "Compass," a 51-foot-tall sculpture powered by wind and the action of visitors opening City Hall's front doors, created by Alan Storey of Vancouver, B.C.

"Current" and "Compass" are two of three art works commissioned for City Hall.  A third, "Root," by Dan Corson of Seattle, is in the process of being installed and was not eligible for entry. Bellevue Mayor Grant Degginger said, It's gratifying to have our art recognized as among the nation's best. We wanted City Hall's public art to speak to who we are as a community and to the role of City Hall, and we have succeeded.

"The best advocacy for public art is great public art," said Roxanne Shepherd who chairs the Bellevue Arts Commission. "Having our projects picked as among the country's best confirms what we already knew, that the art in City Hall is exceptional. We hope this national recognition generates momentum in the community to include superb public art as a matter of course as we build our sidewalks, streets, plazas, parks and buildings."

Bellevue's Public Art Program purchases and commissions art for the city with the advice and guidance of the Bellevue Arts Commission. The focus of the program for the next seven years includes using public art to define and enhance an urban walkway from City Hall to the waterfront, working with the private sector to increase public art in the city, and working with neighborhoods to commission public art  that expresses their unique characters.

Everett

City of Everett Cultural Commission

Public art creates livable cities. It enhances neighborhood identity. It strengthens tourism and economic development. It connects people to their environment and to each other. The City of Everett’s one percent for public art ordinance allocates funds from municipal construction projects for public art.

The 1% for art program integrates artworks and the ideas of artists into a variety of public settings. By providing opportunities for individuals to encounter art in parks, libraries, community centers, on roadways, bridges and other public venues, we simultaneously enrich citizens' daily lives and give voice to artists.

The City’s art collection includes more than 285 permanently sited and integrated works by 147 artists. Artworks are commissioned through a public process. Panels comprised of professional visual artists along with community and city representatives evaluate the artist applicants. The Everett Cultural Commission oversees the public art program and works with artists to develop permanently sited, portable, and architecturally integrated art. The Commission is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Collection.

Public art can be viewed at the following sites:  
• 10th Street Boat Launch
• Animal Shelter
• Broadway Plaza
• Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens
• Everett Events Center
• Everett Performing Arts Center
• Everett Station
• Evergreen Branch Library
• Fire Department
• Forest Park   
• Kasch Park
• Legion Memorial Golf Course
• Main Library
• Police Department, Main
• Police Deptartment, South Precinct
• Senior Center
• Service Center
• Wall Street Building
• Wiggums Hollow Park

Issaquah

City of Issaquah Arts Commission

The City of Issaquah Arts Commission enhances the quality of life for Issaquah citizens and visitors by supporting and encouraging visual and performing arts in and for the community. The Issaquah Arts Commission was created in 1988 as an advisory board to provide guidance and direction in meeting the arts and cultural needs of the City.

King County

4Culture

4Culture is the cultural services agency for King County, Washington providing programs, financial support and services in the arts, public art, heritage and historic preservation for all residents and visitors in King County.

4Culture is a new model for public support of cultural programs. It combines the resources of the public sector with the flexibility of a non-profit. Through the integration of four program areas, 4Culture stimulates cultural activity and enhances the assets that distinguish our communities as vibrant, unique, and authentic.

Olympia

Olympia Self-Guided Public Art Walking Tour

In 1990, the City of Olympia passed an ordinance designating that one dollar per person and one percent of major City construction projects be set aside for public art. Projects range from small local artist projects in neighborhood parks to major installations and design teams.

In 1998, the Olympia Arts Commission created a long-range plan for public art in Olympia. The vision for the future states: "We envision a public art program that is inspiring-thought provoking and functional, inclusive and diverse. We envision a public art program that is woven into the community and our daily lives-our neighborhoods, parks, buildings, infrastructure and public spaces. We invite all segments of our community to work with the City to sustain the current vitality of the arts and embrace new challenges."

Puyallup

Arts Downtown

Arts Downtown, Puyallup's Outdoor Gallery is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization that curates a rotating and permanent collection of quality art by professional, emerging and student artists. This organization began with a dream in 1995 to bring quality art to Puyallup and has built a collection of over 32 pieces. Through support of the City of Puyallup, businesses and private citizens Arts Downtown provides a free, year-round gallery that features works by student, professional and emerging artists.

Seattle

Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs

Seattle was one of the first cities in the United States to adopt a percent-for-art ordinance in 1973. For more than 30 years, our public art program has been considered exemplary. The program integrates artworks and the ideas of artists into a variety of public settings, advancing Seattle's reputation as a cultural center for innovation and creativity.

The program specifies that 1% of eligible city capital improvement project funds be set aside for the commission, purchase and installation of artworks in a variety of settings. By providing opportunities for individuals to encounter art in parks, libraries, community centers, on roadways, bridges and other public venues, we simultaneously enrich citizens' daily lives and give voice to artists.

The collection includes more than 350 permanently sited and integrated works and 2,600 portable works. Artworks are commissioned through a public process. Panels comprised of professional visual artists along with community and city representatives evaluate the artist applicants. The city stewards and maintains its artworks through an ongoing program of coordinated conservation activities, which include inspections, major restorative work and routine maintenance.

Seattle Public Walking Tour Maps

Downtown Full Guide PDF (5.21mb)
This map is your guide to more than 160 diverse, public artworks in downtown Seattle. Inside you will find all the permanently sited downtown artworks in the city of Seattle's collection, as well as select artworks in other government and private collections. This brochure contains information about the public art dispalys at: Seattle Center, Waterfront, Belltown, Denny Triangle, Pike Place Market & West Edge, Central Business District, Pioneer Square, Chinatown/International District and SoDo.

Ballard (Seattle)
Ballard today is a "city within a city" that retains its Scandinavian flavor with institutions such as the Nordic Heritage Museum. As residential development grew in the 1950s, the branch library and community center were built north of N.W. Market St. and a new municipal center was created in midtown Ballard. From the industrial zones along its east and south edges (home to many artists' studios), to the fishing, recreational, and environmental activities at Salmon Bay, Chittenden Locks, and Shilshole Bay, Greater Ballard remains a thriving and diverse neighborhood.
Central Ballard
Greater Ballard

Georgetown (Seattle)
Georgetown started as an independent city in 1904 but joined the city of Seattle in 1910. Today, due to the ongoing efforts of this close-knit community, Georgetown is recognized as a neighborhood anchor. The area is abuzz with prize-winning gardens and artists' studios and workshops. Enjoy your visit to this wonderful community.
North
South

University District (Seattle)
The University District in northeast Seattle is a diverse area encompassing University Avenue, the University of Washington campus, and a kaleidoscope of parks, museums, theatres, historic houses, shops and restaurants. This vibrant community straddles N.E. 45th Street, running from Ravenna Boulevard in the north to Montlake Cut in the south. It runs from 7th Avenue N.E. to Montlake Boulevard N.E.. With so much to see in the University District, we've split the tour into two maps, north and south. Enjoy exploring this wonderful community.
North
South

Snohomish County Arts

The Snohomish County Arts Commission cultivates and enhances a vibrant community of artists and arts organizations by connecting citizens with a range of cultural opportunities to celebrate, appreciate and participate in the diverse arts and culture of the County.

Tacoma

The Tacoma Arts Commission

The Tacoma Arts Commission is a 15 member volunteer commission made up of Tacoma residents who are arts advocates and artists. Commission members are appointed by the Tacoma City Council following an application process. Created in 1965, the Tacoma Arts Commission is one of the oldest arts commissions in Washington State. The primary responsibility of the Tacoma Arts Commission is to create policies to support the ongoing development of arts programs and projects in Tacoma. Its primary programs include the funding of artists and arts organizations to provide services for the citizens of Tacoma, and oversight of the Municipal Art Program.

Public Art is the manifestation of a community's self-identity and a reflection of the value citizens place on their environment. A diverse collection of art in a city tells our stories, provides interest in neighborhoods, creates identity, establishes community presence, and reflects the many talents of artists. Public art should be incorporated into the fabric of our infrastructure, its presence clear in public spaces and neighborhoods. It can transform eyesores into amenities, enliven design, provide way finding, become a landmark, and create spaces and places where people want to visit and stay. Public art creates community dialogues and we should celebrate its role in providing that discourse.

The City of Tacoma's public art collection is diverse and pieces can be found in virtually every neighborhood in Tacoma.  We encourage you to take a tour of some of the public art pieces you can find throughout Pierce County. Some of these pieces are part of the City of Tacoma's public art collection.