White Center Ponds Banners
A group of five individual artists will be commissioned to create two-dimensional designs that will be printed on banners and displayed as part of a rotating banner art installation celebrating the White Center Ponds stormwater facility and greenspace.
Steps to Apply
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About the Project
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About the Project
Budget
Additional funds available for the following:
- $2,000 per artist to digitize files (funds will be provided to the subcontractor completing this work – the selected artist, their subcontractor, or 4Culture subcontractor).
- Up to $3,000 per artist for optional continued community engagement (as explained below).
Note: 4Culture will manage fabrication and installation of the banners as part of a separate budget.
Opportunity
King County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) is redesigning White Center Ponds to create a safer, more welcoming space while improving water quality and community health.
4Culture is partnering with WLRD in seeking five artists to create two-dimensional designs for display along walkways at the White Center Ponds stormwater facility and green space. The artists will each have a year-long exhibition of their designs that celebrate the facility and this special place.
The group of artists will — independently and together — explore the pond’s ecology and consider local history, culture, and the diverse communities of the area. There is also potential for health and climate resilience to inform and inspire the artist’s designs. During the project orientation selected artists will meet with several White Center community groups and learn from WLRD staff about local ecology and the stormwater process. No community engagement after the orientation is required. If active engagement (such as workshops or other activities) is part of the selected artist’s process for design development, an additional stipend of up to $3,000 is available for that work.
The opening celebration will kick off a series of five year-long solo exhibitions featuring each artist’s site-specific designs. The exact total number of banners to be displayed on site is still to be determined, but each of the five designs will be printed and displayed 2-3 times for a total of 10-15 banners per artist.
Each artist will deliver five unique, yet stylistically similar banner designs (approximately 36” tall x 18” wide, exact dimensions to be determined) in the form of high-quality digital files that meet technical specifications outlined by the fabricator. An additional $2,000 stipend is available for this digital file work which can be completed by the selected artist, their subcontractor, or 4Culture subcontractor.
4Culture will select the fabricator and manage the fabrication, oversite and installation of the artwork, making this an ideal project for an emerging artist or an artist new to the field of public art.
Project Location
The White Center Ponds are located just east of downtown White Center and immediately west of Greenbridge with Steve Cox Memorial Park to the South. The White Center Ponds Redesign site stretches from Southwest Roxbury Street to Southwest 100th Street and between 11th and 12th Avenue Southwest.
Background
4Culture is King County’s cultural services agency. Through five integrated program areas—Public Art, Heritage, Arts, Historic Preservation, and Science + Technology—4Culture supports cultural vitality and the assets that make communities vibrant, distinctive, and authentic. Public Art 4Culture ensures that artists’ work and ideas are present in the built environment by commissioning art for shared public spaces, stewarding the King County Public Art Collection, and offering consulting services to public and private partners.
WLRD manages and protects King County’s water resources, aquatic habitats, and natural lands. The division oversees programs related to wastewater treatment, stormwater management, floodplain management, environmental restoration, and the preservation of critical lands and ecosystems. WLRD works to ensure clean water, healthy watersheds, and sustainable natural systems for current and future generations while balancing environmental protection with community needs.
The White Center Ponds are a stormwater pond facility with natural features designed to collect and clean rainwater. By collecting the water after it has run off roads and pavements, pollutants have time to settle out to the bottom of the pond where it can be removed by maintenance crews. Plants growing in and around the ponds draw pollutants and excess nutrients up into their roots. Plants that grow in the water also trap sticky things like oil and grease and prevent them from washing downstream. This cleaner water then drains into Mallard Lake and Hicklin Lake in Dick Thurnau Park before heading into Salmon Creek and out into Puget Sound.
King County is redesigning White Center Ponds to transform the facility from an underperforming stormwater facility with an unsafe greenspace that the community avoids into a multi-benefit community asset. The redesign incorporates enhanced ecological features, improved water quality treatment, and expanded public access and recreational opportunities. The project aims to create a more naturalized landscape that better integrates with the surrounding community while maintaining and improving its stormwater management functions. The design includes new pathway lighting throughout the site with light poles that can act as the mounting locations for the artists’ banners. The redesigned facility will include increased water storage, walking paths, native plantings, habitat improvements, and spaces for community to gather, reflecting King County’s commitment to green infrastructure that serves both environmental, health and recreational purposes.
Additional Information
4Culture Public Art
King County Water and Land Resources Division
White Center Ponds Redesign
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Timeline
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Timeline
Selection Timeline*
| Application Release | Tuesday, March 10, 2026 |
| Applicant Info Session (virtual) | Thursday, April 2, 2026 12-1 PM (PDT) |
| Application Due Date | Thursday, April 23, 2026 |
| Selection Panel Meetings | May 4-7, 2026 |
| Finalist Orientation** | Wednesday, May 13, 2026 |
| Finalist Interviews** | Tuesday, May 19, 2026 |
Project Timeline*
| Contracts Issued | June 2026 |
| Research/Engagement/Design | June 2026–June 2027 |
| Banner Fabrication | Summer 2027 |
| First Artist Banner Install | 2027 (coordinated with reopening of White Center Ponds) |
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Are You Eligible?
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Are You Eligible?
This opportunity is open to individual artists who are at least 18 years old and a resident of King County, WA. No public art experience is required. Emerging artists or those new to public art, as well as artists who have a cultural, historic and/or artistic connection to the White Center Ponds or neighborhoods proximal to the site are strongly encouraged to apply.
Five artists will be commissioned, and each will be responsible for five stylistically similar, two-dimensional designs to be printed on banners. This project is open to artists who work in two-dimensional media such as photography, printmaking, painting, illustration, or graphic design.
Individuals with potential conflicts of interest, including King County employees; 4Culture staff, Board, and Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) members; and their immediate family members or business partners, are not eligible to apply.
Selection Criteria
Finalists will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Artistic merit, as demonstrated through submitted examples of past work.
- Ability and interest in creating site-specific 2D designs that will serve as a strong visual identity for this location.
- Specificity of Statement of Interest, which should include the applicant’s connection to White Center or the White Center Ponds.
- Commitment to equity and social justice, and the ability to create artworks that are respectful of local context within culturally diverse communities.
Selection Process
A five-person panel—comprised of artists, arts professionals, community partners, project consultant, and WLRD staff —will review all submitted application materials, identify finalists for interviews, and recommend five artists for this commission.
Finalists will be invited to a virtual orientation session where they will have the opportunity to learn more about the project and ask questions directly of WLRD and 4Culture representatives prior to their interview.
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How to Apply
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How to Apply
Submission of an online application is required for this opportunity.
Please contact us with any questions. We encourage you to begin your application early.
ACCOUNT SET-UP
Artists will use 4Culture’s application system for this process. You may be required to create a new account. Once you submit your account request, a 4Culture staff member will manually activate it during office hours, Mondays –Fridays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. You will receive a follow-up email within 2 business days with your username and a temporary password. We appreciate your patience and ask that you keep an eye out for this confirmation.
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Your applicant profile must be updated with current demographic information. This helps us understand how well we’re reaching all communities.
PROFILE
Artist’s contact information.
STATEMENT OF INTEREST
A written statement (500 words or less) explaining your interest in this opportunity, your connection to the site, and how you would approach this commission considering your past work. Consider the selection criteria as it relates to your experience and interests. Please do NOT submit a proposal as part of your application.
RÉSUMÉ
Upload a current professional résumé (maximum two pages). Keep formatting simple. PDFs are preferred; .txt files are also accepted.
Some suggested items to include in your artist résumé include:
- Contact information – At the top of each page, include your name, address, phone number, email address and web URL.
- Education – List all academic degrees earned. Also include periods of study at schools or universities attended without completing a degree.
- Exhibitions – List the title of the exhibition, the exhibition venue, and the city/state where the exhibition was presented. Please indicate if it was a solo, two-person, or group exhibition.
- Professional experience – You may also consider listing experience that is relevant to your art practice such as teaching, lectures and artist residencies.
WORK SAMPLES
Submit 10 digital images (no composite images) of past work that best represent your qualifications for this opportunity.
Each work sample requires a brief description (75 words or less) that includes, as applicable: project title, date, location, commissioning agency, budget, partners, photo credit, copyright owner, and a concise summary of the scope, intention, and outcome.
Upload JPG files only; 1920 pixels on the longest side (suggested), at least 72 dpi, and less than 2 MB in size.
DUE DATE
Applications must be received no later than 4:00 PM PDT on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Please allow ample time to complete and upload your application; submissions will not be accepted after the deadline.
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Helping You Succeed
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Helping You Succeed
Virtual Info Session
All applicants are invited to a virtual information session on Tuesday, April 2, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM PDT.
Please register in advance for this virtual workshop, which will be held on Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.
Contact Us
If you have technical questions about the application, please contact:
If you have conceptual questions related to the opportunity, please contact:
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