Hosted by the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (PAFAC)• Rolling proposal review & notifications; deadline April 20th
This will be a permanent installation in Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park
Installation Time Frame: May 26- June 7, 2025
Artist Stipend: Up to $5,000
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center seeks proposals for 2-5 outdoor-friendly FUNCTIONAL artwork that will be permanently installed in Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park.
Overview: Everything in our natural landscape serves a function, from leaves that help the tree’s breathe to roots that draw water from the soil, the natural world is defined by functionality. Even to humans, nature offers practical benefits- a sturdy stump becomes a seat, a canopy of leaves proceeds shade for a perfect picnic. Inspired by this symbiotic relationship, the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center invites artists to create outdoor- friendly, functional sculptures that will become a permanent part of Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park.
This year’s Summertide sculpture installations celebrate art that serves a purpose. With the park’s newly completed ADA-accessible trail, there are abundant opportunities to create works that enhance visitors’ experiences while harmonizing with the natural surroundings. Artists are encouraged to imagine sculptures that offer utility, inspire interaction, and deepen visitors' connection to the environment. Examples might include an artistic bench designed for birdwatching, a whimsical table evoking a tree snag for family picnics, or a creative gathering space where community and nature meet.
Submissions should have:
- Function: Offer a practical use while maintaining artistic integrity.
- Integration: Reflect and complement the natural beauty of the park.
- Durability: Be constructed of materials suited for long-term outdoor exposure.
- Accessibility: Provide an inclusive experience for a diverse range of visitors.
Inspiration for Artists:
- A sculptural bench that doubles as a storytelling nook.
- A musical installation activated by wind or visitors’ touch.
- A shaded pavilion or seating area inspired by natural forms.
- A unique picnic table that encourages gathering and connection.
By blending art and utility, this exhibit seeks to redefine how visitors experience Webster’s Woods—as a space where creativity and nature converge to serve and inspire.
Existing pieces as well as proposals for new works will be considered. The selected works will be permanently installed among more than 100 existing sculptures throughout the park’s 5 acres of forested parkland and open meadow. Applicants are encouraged to visit Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park to experience firsthand the park’s rugged terrain, second-growth Olympic forest, and striking views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Eligibility:
Open to all artists and artist teams residing within the United States. Artist teams please designate one primary contact person for your group. We welcome entries from youth and emerging artists.
Artwork must be:
- Functional (ie. bench, table, bike rack, etc.)
- The artist or artist team’s own original work
- Suitable for viewers and users of all ages
- Able to withstand adverse weather conditions throughout the year
- Soundly constructed and firmly anchored to prevent theft and ensure public safety
- PAFAC will work with Artist to make sure the artwork is anchored into the ground upon installation.
- Leave a minimal footprint in the woods
- Be constructed from materials that will not degrade or harm the surrounding plant or animal life.
- Materials strongly suggested: metal, rock, treated wood.
Terms & Conditions:
- Selected functional sculptures will be permanently displayed in Webster’s Wood.
- Upon installation, the PAFAC is the owner of the artwork.
- If the artwork becomes no longer suitable for Webster’s Woods, the PAFAC will contact the artist to either come repair or take back their work.
- If the Artist is unable to be reached, the PAFAC will do with the artwork as they see fit.
- Artists can request a stipend for their work.
- Additional funding for travel or materials may be available on request.
- Any images submitted or photographs taken of the artwork may be used by PAFAC for promotion and to encourage public engagement with the sculpture park
- Artwork that differs substantially from submitted image(s) or project proposals may not be installed.
Installation:
- Artists are solely responsible for transportation and installation of their work, to be ready for display by end of day on June 7th, 2025.
- Artists need to design a system to permanently attach their work to a base that the PAFAC will help install.
- The PAFAC will work together with the artist to determine the location for the Functional work.
Exhibit Timeline:
Rolling Review & Acceptance begins once the call is live.
Final Entry Deadline: April 20, 2025
Final Notifications Sent: May 1, 2025
Installation Time Frame: May 26- June 7, 2025 *unless other arrangements are made
Summertide Sculpture Festival: June 14, 2025
Hosted by the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center (PAFAC)• Rolling proposal review & notifications; deadline May 10th, 2025 •
You may submit up to 3 pieces
Exhibit Dates: July 18- September 7, 2025
Installation: July 7- 16, 2025
International Surf Days Festival: July 18, 2025
* The PAFAC will be hosting International Surf Days presented by the Surfrider Foundation
Exhibit Overview:
In the heart of a region where the streets cascade down from snow capped mountains to converge with the rhythm of the ocean we find a community deeply rooted to the joy and sustenance that this unique landscape offers. This Pacific Northwest confluence of land and sea has inspired a passion for outdoor adventures offered through surf, skate, and snow and a way of life for intrepid creatives that has been cultivated over generations.
Surf, Skate, and Snow, explores the dynamic intersection of sport, design, and creative placemaking in harmony with the natural landscape. This exhibit showcases the work of regional and national artists, past and present who have drawn inspiration from the connected movement and reverence for the land that unfolds from these activities. From the artistic legacy of Esther Webster, the founder of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, who was a trailblazer in the early ski culture of the region, to those current artists using innovative mixed media design and eco-friendly experimental techniques to develop functional and inspiring works of art, their collective body of work reflects a shared value for the exhilarating ways our bodies and minds can move in harmony with our environment.
The Artwork:
The PAFAC is looking for eco-friendly designs and nature based artwork that is created on either a surfboard, skateboard, or snowboard/ skis, or inspired by any of these activities and the outdoors. This could include:
- Original, nature based, artwork that is painting on these objects
- Original, nature based, artwork that has been digitized and put onto these objects
- the art of shaping and making these objects
Artwork must:
- Have a hanging mechanism or else the piece will not be considered
- Be completed by the time of submission
- Be suitable for viewers of all ages
- Be the artists own original work
The artist is responsible for getting the artwork to the gallery.
Exhibit Timeline:
Rolling Review & Acceptance begins once the call is live
Finale entry Deadline: May 10th, 2025
Final Notifications Sent: May 31st, 2025
Installation Time Frame: July 7th- 16th, 2025
Exhibit Dates: July 17th- September 7th, 2025
The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center seeks locally-produced artisan gift items for our seventh annual Wintertide Makers Market.
How it Works
The Wintertide Makers Market connects shoppers with inspiring locally-made gifts in a peaceful natural setting. In addition to supporting Olympic Peninsula artists, this event is a key source of income for the nonprofit arts center.
Entries will be accepted through August 8th, 2025.
Participating artists are responsible for preparing and pricing their items (PAFAC will provide sticker barcodes as well, which artists must add to all inventory), setting up an attractive merchandise display in their assigned location in the gallery, and assisting with promotion of the market. Artists will also be expected to abide by inventory and restock scheduling times designated by PAFAC staff. PAFAC will promote and staff the market, manage all sales, and issue commission checks to participating artists.
We will be offering in-person sales ONLY. With this emphasis on in-person sales, we plan to drive market traffic through a series of special events and promotions, including a PAFAC members' preview, extended evening shopping hours each Friday night, and of course our Wintertide Festival of Lights event.
Merchandise
The Wintertide Makers Market is oriented towards holiday shoppers and includes a wide range of affordable artisan-made gifts. We hope to highlight the value of artist skill and handcrafted items, while also providing a selection of items for a rage of visitor budgets.
We will welcome multiples such as prints, stickers, or mold-made pieces; however, all wares should feature the artist's own original designs. Suitable items include, but are not limited to: art prints, cards, seasonal ornaments, home decor items, wearables, small toys, books, body care goods, and more. See below for more examples.
Allowed:
- Stickers of the artist's design
- Artist prints on other materials (shirts, bags, decor)
- Handmade soaps and candles
- Art reproductions on cards, postcards, or prints
- Books
- Jewelry
- Visual art, fiber art, ceramics, woodworking, glasswork, metalwork
Not allowed:
- Food or consumable items
- A manufactured item with less than 50% artist input or craft.
Please inquire if you have questions about the suitability of a particular item.
Display Spaces
PAFAC staff will do their best to accommodate artist space requests, but curation of the market and final decisions will be made by staff. Be aware that there is limited space in the gallery and you may not get the booth dimensions you request.
Pricing Tiers
Our best-selling artisans include items at a range of price points for different budgets. We encourage artists to feature a few aspirational show pieces at higher prices alongside a selection of smaller and/or simpler designs in the $15-$40 price range. Please do not discount the prices on your time-consuming original work!
Sales & Commission Payments
All sales will run through the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, which takes a 40% commission on sales. Participating artists are encouraged to set retail prices accordingly. Commission checks for Makers Market sales will be mailed on or before December 23, 2025.
Eligibility
The market is open to all artists and artisans residing in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Timeline
- August 8 – Final Entry Deadline
- August 15 – Final Notification Deadline
- September 3, 5pm-7pm – Makers Market Info Session (strongly encouraged for new participants)
- November 21-23 – Merchandise delivery & display setup
- November 25 – VIP Market Preview (PAFAC members only)
- November 28 - December 14 – Market open to the public
- December 15-17 – Market takedown; artists retrieve unsold items
- December 23 – Commission checks mailed on or before this date
PAFAC will be responsible for:
- Promoting the market throughout the Port Angeles area & beyond
- Providing print & digital promotional materials to participating artists & artisans
- Providing security for all items throughout the event
- Staffing the market & managing all sales & taxes
- Tidying, re-merchandising, & replenishing items throughout the event
- Promptly issuing commission checks to participating artists
Participating artists will be responsible for:
- Following instructions carefully, including complying with safety requirements and market deadlines.
- Selecting and preparing merchandise for market, including providing PAFAC with an accurate inventory and marking each item with a price label and SKU barcode.
- Assisting with market promotion, including reaching out to the artist’s own contacts and sharing digital and/or print publicity materials.
- Delivering merchandise and setting up an attractive display prior to the market opening.
- Abiding by the scheduled set up, restock, and take down times established by PAFAC Staff.
- Picking up unsold items promptly after the market closes