FAQ
What is the Selection Criteria for choosing Cover Artists?
Artists 18 years or older who have officially participated in Olympia's Arts Walk within the last two years are invited to submit images of current work. Official participants are ones that have been listed in an Olympia Arts Walk map individually or in group show.
Submitted portfolio must demonstrate the artist's ability to create work that lends itself to print media.
Submitted portfolio must show excellence in craftsmanship, consistency of style, originality, and connect with a wide audience.
Intent of the annual selection is to provide a wide variety of style, media and subject matter that reflects the diversity of the Arts Walk event.
Artists should bear in mind that the audiences will be broad-based and of all ages and artwork should be appropriate for display in a public place and must not violate any copyright or right to image/likeness, or any other law. Any content, photos or linked information must not violate Washington’s Law Against Discrimination RCW C49.60
What materials are required with an application?
The following will be required when submitting your online application: NOTE: We suggest typing your responses in a separate document then copying the text over to the application.
A description of the focus of your studio work, including the media in which you are most fluent and the themes that inspire you. (400 words or less)
If applicable, the option of describing your cultural heritage as it relates to your work (200 words or less).
Lastly, you will be asked to share information on the list of 5 works you will submit with your application including: Artwork title, media, dimensions, and dates.
What are work sample requirements
Work samples can now be uploaded directly to the online application.
File requirements: JPEG, GIF, or PNG format between 1 and 5 MB each, titled to correspond with the slide number provided in your online application. File names should include the artist name followed by the slide number, all in lowercase, one word, with no spaces. Example: For artist John Doe upload file names would read -johndoe1, johndoe2, johndoe3, etc.
What are important dates?
October 15, 2025: Applications open for submissions
November 17, 2025: Application deadline
December 2, 2025: Jury panel meets to review applications and select a recommendation for spring and fall Arts Walk plus an alternate. The panel for 2026 includes Arts Commissioner, Coral Garey, Desiree Freeland, and Mikaela Shafer. The recommendation is then presented to the Arts Commission and final selections are made.
January 7, 2026: Cover Art Concept Plans due for review by Arts Commission.
February 18, 2026: Due date for final commissioned works.
Is there anything else I should know when applying?
Selected artists agree to sign a contract with the City regarding the purchase of their work, and to provide a business license to receive payment.
If selected as a cover artist you are asked to participate in the corresponding Arts Walk, as a participating artist.
Once selected, commissioned work must be formatted to fit the map publication, traditionally a square format has worked well. 3-D work must be able to be photographed in a similar format.
Artists will provide the artwork unframed - the City is responsible for framing, if applicable.
The original works will become the property of the City of Olympia's portable works collection. Each work will appear on Arts Walk maps, posters and in various print and web publications.
The artist retains all rights under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., as the sole author of the artwork for the duration of the copyright. The artist will assign to the City all rights to future reproduction of work for promotional and fundraising purposes. In view of the intention that the artwork composition be unique, the artist shall not make any exact duplicate two-dimensional reproductions of the artwork.
What kind of art forms are eligible to apply?
Call is open to artists working in a wide range of media including 2D, 3D, installation based work, performance and more. The only requirement is that the work must be able to be represented in a 2D format in publications - this is typically a photo of the work.