City of Newport, OR Art Seen - Outdoor Rotating Art Gallery

The Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA) is pleased to invite emerging, mid-career and established artists to submit work to the City of Newport’s program, Art Seen, a rotating outdoor art gallery.  OCCA is offering artists an opportunity to display their work in Newport for a two-year period.

The OCCA Public Arts Advisory Committee is a dedicated group of volunteers composed of local artists, business owners, City council members, and long-term supporters of the arts.  

Artists are offered a one-time stipend of $1,500 to provide their work for a maximum of two years. The stipend will be paid 50% upon contract execution and 50% upon installation of the piece. 

During the two-year period, the art will be offered for sale, with OCCA keeping a portion (30%) of the sale proceeds to support the future of the Public Arts Program.  The artist also has the opportunity to replace any sold art with a new piece during the two-year time frame.

Installation Spring 2026.

Four (4) locations for art have been selected by the Public Arts Committee, two located at Newport City Hall and two at the Newport Library.

Artists are allowed to submit up to two entries for each location.

Each piece submitted will be part of a new application, and a $25 fee will be applied.

Each artist selected will be provided with a stipend for their piece of $1,500.00.

Art displayed as part of the Art Seen program must be available for sale to the public and be available for two years from the date of installation.

Should art be purchased prior to completion of the contract timeline, the artist shall be given first opportunity to replace art with a suitable piece to be approved by the Public Art Committee.  If the artist chooses not to replace the work, the Committee will decide whether to open the space to a new artist.

OCCA will provide bases for the art to be installed upon (Drawing and photo of the bases are attached) and Newport Parks and Recreation crews are available to support installation at the direction of the artist.

All costs associated with transportation of the artwork to Newport, Oregon will be the responsibility of the artist.

All artwork must be the original design and artwork of the artist/s and be suitable for viewing by all ages.

All artists must be over the age of 18 to apply.

Selected artwork will be scheduled for installation based on approval of the PAAC.

The PAAC will determine the location of each piece.

In PDF format, please submit the following information for each piece of art:

Title of work

Date created

Short description of work

List price (please note, OCCA  collects 30% of proceeds if the piece is purchased while on display)

Detailed list of materials used

Height 

Width of widest point

Width of base

Total weight of the piece

Artist’s history using these materials

Recommended maintenance procedures and schedule (repairs of possible damage and cleaning)

An artist statement for use in marketing materials and signage

Other pertinent information

ll artists must be over eighteen (18) years old to be eligible. OCCA and the City of Newport Public Art program is open to all professional artists regardless of race, gender, age, belief or national origin.  

Artist must submit photographs of the specific art that is being entered. Work-in-progress must be at least 75% completed and photographs of the work-in-progress must be submitted. Mock ups, models, drawings, or concepts are not accepted for this call.

Entries must be the original design and artwork of the entrant. Designs must not include any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands, business names, corporate or organizational brandings. 

Entries must be suitable for viewing for all ages. No images of sex, violence, drugs, or alcohol will be considered.

Artwork submitted may not be used for advertisement or to promote a business, product, or viewpoint.

Artists may submit work on their own and/or as part of a team.

Artwork can be of any medium but must be able to withstand coastal weather conditions including salt air, extreme wind and seasonal rain, as well as resistance to theft, vandalism, rust and corrosion, excessive maintenance, and repair costs.

Any required maintenance is to be the responsibility of the artist.

Artwork cannot exceed 500 pounds in total weight, and cannot be taller than 10 feet.

Artwork must include a thirty-six inch (36”) diameter plate at the bottom with four (4) one-inch (1”) diameter bolt holes to accommodate ¾” inch bolts 22-inch on center or equivalent to be used to attach to the base provided by OCCA for installation or other functional mechanical attachment method. (See attached drawing.)

Each work will be evaluated to require that it does not present a hazard to public safety and is accessible.