If your organization is interested in applying for Tacoma Creates funding for the first time, you are encouraged to go through the Organizational Eligibility Review process.

This process will determine whether your organization is eligible for Tacoma Creates funding, so that you will know whether or not to complete the full funding application, which is released in late January 2027. 

Organizational eligibility requirements are explained on the Tacoma Creates website:

• Eligibility for Impact Funding (this funding category is generally for organizations with annual budgets under $400K)
• Eligibility for Comprehensive Organizational Support (this funding category is generally for organizations with annual budgets over $400K and with year-round work in both general public programs and youth education programs)  

If you have any questions about eligibility requirements, please contact Lisa Jaret, Tacoma Creates Program Manager, at ljaret@tacoma.gov. 

Portland Ave Park - Call to Artists

BUDGET: $10,000 design and consultation fee

DEADLINE: June 8, 2026 11:59PM

OPPORTUNITY: Parks Tacoma is looking for an artist or artist team to design site-responsive artwork for Portland Ave Park, specifically, digital vector graphics for potential application as several small art interventions (such as concrete stamps or metal inlays) throughout the new splash pad and spray park areas. The art designs should be relevant to the cultural and historical significance of the park space and appropriate for a “sprayground” water play area. 

The selected artist or artist team will coordinate closely with the architectural and engineering design team, Mithun, to recommend integrations of the artwork into the specific planned improvements. The project will also include engagement with staff, local community members, and the Puyallup Tribe. The selected artist or artist team will recommend fabrication and installation techniques for applications using the designs they produce but they will not be responsible for the final implementation. The selected artist or artist team will provide the final, approved digital art designs to Parks Tacoma, and the fabrication itself will be managed by the Park District. 

 ELIGIBILITY:

• Applicant(s) must live in Pierce County, Washington
• Applicant(s) can apply as a single artist or as an artist team
• Applicant(s) must be 18 years or older
• Applicant(s) cannot be an employee, advisory council member, or commissioner of Parks Tacoma 
• Before starting work, the chosen artist(s) must have:

                     o General Liability Insurance - Full insurance requirement details

People who are members of historically disenfranchised racial, ethnic, cultural, and other identity groups, including artists from Puyallup, Coast Salish, and/or the other tribes of the Pacific Northwest, are encouraged to apply. 

SELECTION CRITERIA: Criteria on which artists/artist teams will be judged by selection panel:

• Artistic quality as exemplified in past work 
• Ability to create artwork that speaks to an authentic Indigenous experience, particularly local tribal experiences 
• Ability to relate to multiple types of viewers 
• Ability to meet project deadlines as exemplified through past projects
• Ability to produce designs translatable into multiple mediums, as exemplified in past work

TIMELINE*

June 8, 2026 11:59 pm Deadline for submissions

Week of June 22, 2026 Review of submissions and selection of artist or artist team

Month of July 2026  Selected artist gets under contract

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 Implementation

*All dates subject to change

ABOUT POINT DEFIANCE PARK AND THE LOOP TRAIL PROJECT:

Portland Avenue Park is a 13.4 acre community park on the Eastside and serves a diverse community. In May of 2023 a master plan was adopted by the Park Board of Commissioners which identified specific improvements for the park, including the work included in this capital project. The current capital improvement project will cover a Phase I design and construction of a sprayground, playground and restroom building with storage. 

 Portland Ave Park is within the boundary of the Puyallup Reservation, and sits within a few blocks of the current headquarters of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians administrative offices. The adopted Master Plan for the park includes elements designed specifically with tribal input, and the designs for public artwork should take into account the role of the space for community gatherings for the Tribe and other local user groups. 

 For more details on the project and to access the full park Master Plan, please visit the project webpage here: https://www.parkstacoma.gov/project/portland-avenue-park/ 

ABOUT PARKS TACOMA

Parks Tacoma is an award‐winning park district in Tacoma, Washington. Incorporated in 1907, the park district is one of only a handful in the country that exists as a separate municipal corporation with the ability to collect property taxes for support.

Parks Tacoma believes that good parks, open space, and program services contribute to economic development by fostering economic benefits and promoting tourism. Environmentally, they provide green infrastructure and help manage climate change. Socially, they revitalize communities, create safer neighborhoods, help children learn and grow, improve public and environmental health, and support smart growth. Culturally, open space and program services can nurture a sense of place in the community, and provide opportunities to engage the public of diverse backgrounds.

Mission: Creating healthy opportunities to play, learn and grow.

Vision: Parks Tacoma envisions a vibrant, active and engaged community.

Questions about this call may be directed to Claire Keller-Scholz, claire.keller-scholz@parkstacoma.gov

REFERENCE IMAGES AND PARK DESIGN CONCEPTS

Potential applications of the design work produced through this commission may include but are not limited to these locations or concepts:

•  Portland Ave Park Master Plan and sprayground rendering
• Sprayground overview rendering
• Potential art design application locations
• Potential art design applications - paving
• Potential art design applications - seat walls

We seek artists to join the City of Tacoma’s Mural Artist Roster. The City, private building owners, and community groups use the Mural Artist Roster to choose artists for ongoing mural opportunities.  Please read the full Mural Artist Roster Guidelines before you apply.

You may save you application and come back to it by clicking "save draft" at the bottom of this page.