Call for Artists: Live Art at Skate America 2026
Snohomish County Arts Commission
in partnership with APEX Everett, Snohomish County Sports Commission, U.S. Figure Skating, & Snohomish County Tourism Promotion
Deadline: September 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
Artist Fee: $7,500
Opportunity
The Snohomish County Arts Commission, in partnership with APEX Everett and the Snohomish County Sports Commission, invites artists to submit qualifications for a live painting commission tied to Skate America 2026, an elite international figure skating competition hosted in Everett, Washington.
Skate America is one of six stops on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series, bringing world-class athletes, officials, and international visitors to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, November 13th to 15th, 2026. The Snohomish County Sports Commission is hosting an official pre-event dinner for U.S. Figure Skating officials at APEX Everett, a landmark arts and culture venue home to the AMGRAF Museum and the DogTown Collection, the world's largest collection of graffiti and urban art on canvas. The selected artist will complete an original work live during this event before an audience of international guests, county leadership, and arts community members.
This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Artists will be selected based on their past experience, artistic style, and ability to complete a project of this scope and setting. Applicants should not submit new artwork proposals at this stage. Once selected, the artist will collaborate with the Arts Commission to develop the design concept and production schedule. The selected artist must be available to attend to the pre-event dinner on the evening of November 12th and possible other dates during the event.
The Project
The selected artist will create a single large-scale original work using aerosol and finishing media. The piece will be completed in two stages:
Pre-event groundwork: All aerosol-based layers will be completed by the artist off-site, in advance of the event. The artist will develop the composition and complete all spray work prior to the evening of the dinner.
Live finishing at the event: During the pre-event dinner at APEX Everett, the artist will complete the piece in full view of the assembled guests, applying finishing details, refining the composition, and bringing the work to completion. This live stage is the centerpiece of the artistic experience for attendees. It should be satisfying and engaging to watch, with the final layers making the piece feel complete and alive.
This two-stage approach is a natural fit for the APEX setting and for aerosol-trained artists who move fluidly between spray and brush media. The indoor setting and intimate nature of the event require that the live finishing work be done without aerosol spray.
Artwork Specifications
Size: 4 feet by 6 feet or 5 feet by 7 feet (artist's choice). Both sizes are standard and within the project budget.
Format: Stretched canvas over a custom-built frame. Canvas and paints will be provided by APEX Everett.
Media: Aerosol and traditional finishing media (brush, marker, pen, or other hand-applied media). Aerosol spray work must be completed off-site prior to the event.
Indoor or outdoor finish: The artist may design the piece for either indoor or outdoor display. The Arts Commission will work with the artist and County Facilities to confirm an appropriate permanent installation location based on materials selected.
Themes and Style
The artwork should explore themes that resonate with the event, the venue, and the region. Possible directions include:
Global unity and international athletic excellence
The energy, movement, and artistry of figure skating
Snohomish County as a destination for world-class sport and creative culture
The Pacific Northwest as a place of community, landscape, and identity
The work does not need to depict skating literally. What matters is that the piece carries energy, intention, and a visual presence that holds its own in the company of international guests in an urban arts setting. We are looking for work that reads as: dynamic, figurative, bold, expressive, movement.
Artists whose practice lives within or in conversation with graffiti, aerosol, street art, and urban art traditions are especially encouraged to apply. The evening takes place at APEX Everett, one of the most significant urban art venues in the Pacific Northwest, and the selected artist should feel at home in that context.
Budget
The selected artist will receive a flat fee of $7,500.
Canvas and paints will be donated by APEX Everett. No materials stipend is included.
The Arts Commission will coordinate logistics for the pre-event evening, documentation, and public display following the event.
Display and Public Legacy
Upon completion, the artwork will be temporarily displayed at Angel of the Winds Arena alongside a written profile of the artist and an account of the creative process. Following its time at the arena, the work will be permanently acquired into the Snohomish County public art collection and installed at a County property accessible to the public.
Eligibility
Artists must be 18 years or older at the time of application.
Applicants must have demonstrated experience creating work in aerosol, graffiti, street art, or related urban art traditions.
Applicants must be comfortable working in front of an audience in a live, performance-style setting.
Preference will be given to artists residing in or closely connected to Snohomish County or the broader Pacific Northwest. Artists from outside the region are welcome to apply.
Project Timeline
RFQ published - Late August 2026
Application deadline - September 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
Artist selection and notification - Mid to late September 2026
Artist contracting - Early October 2026
Design development and aerosol groundwork - October through early November 2026
Pre-event dinner and live finishing - November 12, 2026
Temporary display at Angel of the Winds Arena - November 13-15, 2026
Permanent acquisition and installation - Following the event; location to be confirmed
**Dates are subject to change.
Application Requirements
Artist Bio: A short narrative of your artistic background, influences, and experience with aerosol art, public art, or projects of similar scope.
Statement of Interest: A brief paragraph on why you are interested in this project and how your work connects to the themes of movement, athletic excellence, global unity, or community.
Work Samples: 3-5 images of past work that demonstrate your artistic style and ability to deliver large-scale or live work. Please include at least one example of aerosol or spray-based work.
Selection Criteria
Artists will be selected based on:
Artistic merit and visual strength demonstrated in prior work
Experience with aerosol, graffiti, street art, or urban art traditions
Ability to work live in front of an audience and deliver a compelling, engaging demonstration
Alignment with the project's themes and the aesthetic context of APEX Everett
Preference given to artists residing in or Snohomish County or the Pacific Northwest
A panel composed of Arts Commissioners, APEX Everett representatives, US Figure Skating officials, and community members will review applications and recommend an artist for selection.
For questions or to request accommodations, please contact:
Richard Porter
Snohomish County Arts Commission
Richard.Porter@SnoCo.org
Request for qualifications
Please submit the form below to be considered for this project! Application due: September 18th, 2026, 5:00 PM