Organizer Information
The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association is a community-based civic organization operating in Seattle, United States, focused on neighborhood improvement, placemaking, and local cultural activation. Through initiatives such as “Roosevelt Reimagined,” the organization works to transform underused urban infrastructure into temporary public art sites that foster civic pride, community engagement, and visual revitalization.
The association collaborates with local residents, artists, and stakeholders to reimagine vacant lots and fencing as opportunities for creative intervention. Its programming emphasizes participatory design processes, where artists and communities co-create temporary installations that enhance the visual and social fabric of the neighborhood.
Title & Description
Roosevelt Reimagined – Call for Artists: Yarn Design Installation on Temporary Fencing
This opportunity invites artists to develop designs for a temporary Public Art yarn installation along NE 65th Street in Seattle’s Roosevelt neighborhood. The project transforms vacant lots bordered by fencing into vibrant, colorful visual interventions designed to improve streetscape aesthetics and strengthen neighborhood identity.
Selected artists will create up to two original conceptual designs for yarn-based installations to be installed across two fence segments. The artwork will be realized through a community-led assembly process, meaning that local volunteers will physically construct the installation based on the artist’s design guidance.
The aim of the project is to activate underutilized urban space and convert visual signs of vacancy into expressive, community-driven installations. The design process prioritizes accessibility and feasibility, ensuring that the final work can be executed by non-specialist participants using simple fiber-based techniques.
Artists are encouraged to propose lightweight, modular, and visually dynamic designs that allow airflow and environmental interaction. Preferred approaches include woven structures, geometric compositions, and repeating motifs rather than dense or solid forms. The project also emphasizes temporary intervention, with full removability required at the end of the installation period.
The selected artist will collaborate with the organizing team during a refinement phase but will not be responsible for fabrication or installation. All materials, including acrylic yarn, will be provided by the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association.
Categories
- Public Art
- Installation
- Fiber/Textile Art
- Street Art
- Design
- Site-specific
- Community-based Art
- Craft
- Collaborative Project
Eligibility
- Open to international and local artists
- All ages, backgrounds, and career stages eligible
- Strong preference for artists with ties to Roosevelt or Ravenna neighborhoods
- Suitable for artists working in fiber, pattern design, installation, or participatory practices
- Emerging and professional artists are both encouraged to apply
- No geographic restrictions explicitly stated beyond preference criteria
Program Benefits & Awards
- Artist fee of $500 (flat commission payment)
- Opportunity to realize a public-facing installation in Seattle’s Roosevelt neighborhood
- Exposure through a community-driven public art initiative
- Collaboration with neighborhood residents in a participatory making process
- Professional documentation and visibility within local revitalization programming
- Inclusion in a temporary but high-visibility urban art activation
- Portfolio development opportunity through site-specific work
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Up to two sketched design proposals for yarn installation
- Brief project concept or design explanation
- Artist CV or biography (recommended)
- Portfolio or sample works (optional but encouraged)
- Statement of intent or connection to the neighborhood (if applicable)
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email: jack.nash@rooseveltseattle.org
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 June 2026
- Selection Announcement: Late June 2026
- Design Finalization Period: Mid July 2026
- Installation Date: Late July 2026
Location
Washington, Seattle, United States
Additional Details
- Material used: acrylic yarn selected for durability, color vibrancy, and suitability for outdoor temporary use
- Designs must be lightweight and wind-permeable
- Dense or solid yarn structures are discouraged
- Artwork must be fully removable without damaging fencing
- No political imagery, symbols, or messaging is allowed
- Community volunteers will participate in the physical installation
- The artist is responsible for design only, not fabrication or installation
- Emphasis on geometric, modular, or repeating visual systems for ease of translation
- The project is temporary and intended as a neighborhood beautification intervention
- Final outcome will contribute to the broader “Roosevelt Reimagined” placemaking initiative