University of Washington Seattle – Chemical Sciences Building – RFQ

Call for artists Before you start, please read the full prospectus below or click here to view and download as a PDF.

Call to Artists | Request for Qualifications

Submissions Due: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 4 PM (Pacific)

Artwork Budget: $360,000

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an artist or artist team to create public artwork for the UW Seattle campus, commissioned through the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) in partnership with University of Washington. 

Budget

The selected artist will receive a $35,000 design contract covering travel and stamped structural engineering. Upon design approval by the UW Art Selection Committee, they will receive a commission contract of $325,000 for all fabrication and installation costs, including sales tax and contingency.

What we are looking for

ArtsWA and the University of Washington Seattle are seeking an artist or artist team to create engaging, unique, and contemporary public artwork for the Chemical Sciences Building and its surroundings. The Art Committee is interested in artwork that evokes or reflects on the innovative, interdisciplinary research that takes place within the Chemical Sciences Building. The Committee is also interested in artwork that responds to the surrounding natural and built environment. Artwork may be sited inside or outside the building, or both, and the selected artist will work with the Chemical Sciences Building design-build team during the proposal stage.

Eligibility

You must be an established artist or artist team residing in the United States or British Columbia. Neither ArtsWA nor UW discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, or gender identity. UW staff and artists with current ArtsWA public art contracts are ineligible.

About the Chemical Sciences Building

The Chemical Sciences Building (CSB) will enable a new mode of science where fundamental chemical research can transform into real-world applications in real-time. Located in the heart of UW’s cluster of science buildings and adjacent to centers for life sciences, molecular engineering, and nano-engineering research, the CSB will provide unique opportunities for interdisciplinary education and discovery for undergraduate and graduate students. The Department of Chemistry is a national leader in areas where data science intersects with chemical, materials, energy, and bioanalytical research, and the new building will support established and emerging areas of collaborative chemical sciences research including synthetic biology, polymer science and engineering, machine learning and AI applications in molecular science, clean energy materials research, and chemical catalysis and reaction engineering. The CSB will strengthen the Department of Chemistry’s ability to recruit and retain faculty and graduate students, expand hands-on research opportunities, and support the development of new technologies that translate from the laboratory to industry and the broader community. Learn more about the site plans here.

How to submit

All materials are due by 4pm, Thursday, July 30, 2026, through ArtsWA’s Submittable site. If you do not have a Submittable account, sign-up is free. You should receive confirmation of your submission within one business day. 

If you require an alternate format or assistance to access the application, please reach out to AIPP Project Manager Janessa Post at the contact information below or ArtsWA Accessibility Coordinator Alexis Sarah at alexis.sarah@arts.wa.gov or 360-228-6359 (please limit to accessibility requests; Alexis will not be able to assist with technical issues on the Submittable platform).

What to submit

Please prepare and enter the following through Submittable:

1. Statement of interest (limit 250 words) summarizing your interest in this project. Please describe any experience you may have with projects of a similar scope. Include anything that might help us differentiate you as a candidate.
2. Brief biography or artist statement (limit 250 words). Artists working collaboratively may submit a statement for each member.
3. Design process statement (limit 250 words). Describe your approach to developing artwork in close dialogue with an architectural design team, including how you incorporate feedback and navigate changes to your concept during the design process.
4. Eight (8) images of past works, preferably created within the past 5 years. (Horizontal orientation displays best.)
5. Brief descriptions (1-2 sentences) for each image. Also include title, dimensions, materials, date, location, budget/cost, and commissioning entity (if applicable).
6. Three (3) professional references (limit 250 words). Include name, title, and contact information.

How we choose the artist or artist team

The UW Art Selection Committee consists of UW administrators, faculty, students, curators, and members of the Chemical Sciences Building design team. In a process facilitated by ArtsWA, the UW Art Selection Committee will review submitted materials from all applicants and select an artist or artist team to develop a design proposal for a new campus artwork. Upon design approval, the artist will receive a commission contract for fabrication and installation. The committee may choose to interview 2–3 finalists during this process.

The UW Art Selection Committee will evaluate applicants using the following criteria:

• demonstrates clarity and distinctiveness in the artist’s overall practice and approach
• shows a potential to engage with or respond to its surroundings 
• demonstrates skill in technique
• relates to the vision for the Chemical Sciences Building artwork
• shows willingness to work collaboratively to ensure a strong, site-connected final artwork

If selected, you will:

• be briefed on specific siting opportunities and artwork criteria prior to developing your design proposal.
• design and propose an artwork for review and approval by ArtsWA staff, professional conservator, structural engineer, and the UW Art Selection Committee
• travel to the project site up to three times during the proposal/design process to meet with the UW Art Committee and ArtsWA project manager (some meetings may be held remotely)
• be available to meet with CSB design-build team and UW facilities staff to coordinate artwork installation
• work within the fixed budget
• maintain registration as a Washington State vendor 
• adhere to applicable state permitting and licensing requirements, including those relating to contracting and the paying of Prevailing Wages 
• enter into contracts with ArtsWA and fulfill those requirements, including paying applicable taxes

Commission and Contracts

The artwork will be commissioned through ArtsWA and will become part of the State Art Collection and UW Campus Collection. Installation will be coordinated through ArtsWA and UW. Sample proposal and commission contracts can be found on ArtsWA’s website.

Anticipated Art Project Timeline 

• RFQ distributed: Week of June 8, 2026

• Applications due: July 30, 2026 

• Art Selection Committee review: August/September 2026 

• Notification to selected artist: September/October 2026 

• Design: October 2026 through June 2027 

• Fabrication: July 2027 through October 2028 

• Anticipated artwork installation: Fall/Winter 2028

Due Date and Time: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 4PM (Pacific)

Applications through Submittable.

To avoid technical problems, please submit well in advance of the deadline. 

Late submittals will not be accepted.

Questions?

Contact Janessa Post, Art in Public Places Project Manager: 360.468.0889, janessa.post@arts.wa.gov

ArtsWA Art in Public Places Vision Statement

Art in Public Places is uniquely positioned to advance and support art and artists across Washington. Our goal is to build and care for a State Art Collection that is impactful, accessible, and valued. We seek lasting artworks that reflect Washington’s diverse communities.