Organizer Information
The City of Redmond, Washington, runs this call through its Cultural Arts Program, in coordination with the Redmond Arts & Culture Commission (RACC) — a nine-member, Mayor-appointed, Council-confirmed advisory commission that advises the city on arts policies and programming. Redmond Lights is the city's established annual winter celebration of illuminated public art, running for multiple consecutive years, traditionally centered on Downtown Park.
The screening site, "Buoyant," is the signature artwork/pavilion in Downtown Park, created by Jill Anholt Studio in collaboration with Arup. It functions as an inhabitable sculpture, illuminated water feature, and platform for digital projection and performance — its water wall of 185 vertical stainless steel rods was purpose-built to serve as a projection surface for other artists' work, with a dedicated tie-line and mounting system for both artist-supplied and city-owned projectors.
Note: this call is explicitly the video-projection counterpart to the separately administered 2026 Redmond Lights Temporary Public Art Call (for illuminated installations at Downtown Park and Esterra Park) — the two are run in parallel with matching deadlines but are distinct applications.
Title & Description
2026 Redmond Lights at Downtown Park — Call for Video Artists
Artists are invited to submit existing video works to be projected on the Buoyant Pavilion's water wall in Downtown Park during Redmond Lights, the City of Redmond's winter celebration of illuminated art installations. Selected videos will be shown on a nightly, sound-free loop with other selected works throughout the exhibition period.
Categories
- Video Art
- Digital Art
- Projection Art
- New Media
- Public Art
Eligibility
No eligibility criteria (nationality, residency, age, or experience level) are stated in the source. The call is open to submission of existing video works only — this is not a call for newly commissioned or in-progress work.
Program Benefits & Awards
- $500 stipend paid to each selected artist, as compensation for presentation permission for an existing work
- Selected artists' names listed on on-site signage and promotional/outreach materials (headshot and bio required if selected)
- Nightly public screening for one month at a high-visibility civic site during a major seasonal event
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 30 August 2026
- Selection Announced: 14 September 2026
- Nightly Screening Period: December 4, 2026 – January 4, 2027
Location
Redmond, Washington, United States
Additional Details
Video guidelines:
- Run time must not exceed 10 minutes
- No amplified sound (selected videos are played with no sound during the screening)
- 1920x1080 resolution is ideal
- High contrast and high color saturation are most visible on the water-wall surface; thin lines and small details are not legible due to the texture of the water-wall rods
- Text becomes legible at 84 pt, with sizes above 100 pt preferred
- A detailed technical/programming manual for the Buoyant Pavilion projection system is available for download: https://www.redmond.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28463/Buoyant-Pavilion-Artist-Programming-Manual-
Selection criteria (panel-reviewed):
- Submission meets the stated video guidelines
- Appropriateness for the specific location and event
- Artistic merit, originality, and creativity
Other terms:
- The City of Redmond reserves the right to document accepted work via print, film, or electronic media for promotional purposes
- The City reserves the right to alter the selection process or recommend non-funding if deemed necessary
- Selected videos are shown on a loop alongside other selected works, without sound, for the full screening run