Find active grant opportunities, requests for proposals and calls for public art commissioned by the City.
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Current Funding Opportunities
Apply Now – Downtown Activation and Beautification Application
Downtown is a part of our city’s social and cultural heart, part of what makes our whole city thrive. As part of continuing efforts to support downtown, we are funding projects that bring joy to the community in small, everyday experiences, and in new, innovative ways. These projects can include artwork, interactive exhibits, events, and other features on sidewalks, plazas, parks and other highly visible spaces.
Applications are due before noon on December 9, 2025.
Previously Funded Opportunities
Below is a list of some projects previously funded by the City.
Request for Qualifications – Multiple Artwork Opportunities: The City issued a request for qualified artists to create a roster to be used for one or more upcoming Percent for Art projects. Submissions were due on September 12, 2025, and 81 artists were selected for this list. Juries for each individual project will use this list to select artists and/or finalists and invite them to submit specific proposals. The roster will be renewed periodically through a public process.
Downtown Activation and Beautification Program Projects: Through a competitive application process, 13 projects were selected to receive funding to bring their innovative ideas to life in downtown Bellingham. They are being funded by $539,000 in lodging tax revenue (from overnight stays) and $100,800 in general funds. You can learn about them and track their progress here.
Storybrook Park: The City put out a request for a qualified artist or artist team to design, fabricate and install artwork in a neighborhood park called Storybrook Park. Storybrook Park is a 5.77-acre former residential property located at 2927 W. Maplewood Avenue in the Birchwood Neighborhood. Up to $27,000 was available for artwork fabrication and installation in five to seven locations in the park.
Public Works Operations Building Phase II: Up to $240,000 was available for design, materials, fabrication, and installation of artwork in this new City building. The City put out a request for qualifications with a deadline of January 5, 2024. Clayton Binkley was selected.
Traffic Box Artwork: Original artwork installed on ten traffic boxes located in downtown. The goal of the project was to reinforce a sense of place while adding beauty and interest to the streetscape. Completed in 2024 with a budget of $500 for each image selected and installed.
Sculpture Procurement for Neighborhood Park – The selected work will be a fabricated sculpture for the installation in a small community park. The installation is anticpated to occur in late fall of 2023, with a budget of $15,000.00
Cordata Roundabout: The selected artwork will be installed on the roundabout that sits at Horton Road and Cordata Parkway, which is the gateway to existing and future housing and is near the 25-acre Cordata Park. The project is anticipated to be completed by late fall of 2023, with a budget of $80,000.00 – $95,000.00.
Birchwood Avenue Mural: The selected mural will cover the underpass adjacent to the Bay to Baker Trail, near the hospital staff parking lot. The project is anticipated to be completed by early fall of 2023, with a budget of $70,000.00
Public Works Vehicle Barn: The selected artwork will be attached to undulating metal at the future site of the Public Works Vehicle Barn, 2200 Nevada Street. The artwork will be located along the Virginia Street side of the building, which is 38’L x 31.5’H (at the tallest point), and a long section of vehicle door bays. The site is adjacent to industrial buildings and a bike path/trail connection. The project is anticipated to be completed in the winter of 2022 with a budget of $50,000.
Anamorphic Mural: A mural in the alley behind 1300 Commercial Street, on the columns of the public parking garage to enhance the alley adjacent to the public parking garage. The installation area included eleven concrete columns and two aggregate panels. Completed in 2019 with a budget of $5,000.
N Forest Street: Create and install artwork on two retaining walls along the southern portion of N. Forest Street (between E. Ivy and Rose Streets. Estimated to be completed in 2021 with a budget of $15,000.00.
