In collaboration with the Pike Place Market PDA, we are calling for artists to submit their qualifications to design a mural that brings new life to the Soames Dunn Courtyard.

The application below is intended to take just a few minutes! 

Posted: April 14, 2026

Contact Email: hello@overallcreative.com

Location: Post Alley, between Pike and Virginia Seattle, WA (north wall, approximately 1,000 square feet)

Eligibility: This RFQ is open to all artists and designers, regardless of geography or mural experience, though artists with a past or present connection to the Pacific Northwest and work samples that are relevant to the design prompt are most strongly encouraged to apply. Finalists will need to be available for installation late May to mid-June, or coordinate with overall creative for installation assistance.

Phase 1 Project Scope: 3 artists will be invited to present site-specific design proposals and compensated $1,000 upon delivery. The selected designer will be compensated an additional $4,000 for up to 3 rounds of design reviews with revisions, a total of $5,000 for delivery.

Phase 2 Project Scope: mural installation will occur during May/June 2026. Installation budget will be ~$20,000, with supplies and rentals paid for by Pike Place PDA. Please note that there are other efforts underway to beautify this space and landscaping, lighting and other elements may be considered in conjunction with the installation. Artist (or their chosen install team) but be willing to work on a lift or swing stage, as determined by Pike Place Market PDA.

Anticipated Timeline (2026): This project is moving fast, please read carefully before applying. RFQ posted April 14, qualifications due April 28, finalists notified May 1, concepts due May 8  (the artist invited to install will have 2 weeks from notification to revise / refine their concept before it is presented to the Market)

About Pike Place Market / Soames Dunn 

Created by public ordinance in 1907, Pike Place Market is one of the oldest continuously operated public markets in the United States and is widely recognized as the “Soul of Seattle.” The Market is the only public market in the nation to include low-income housing and the only historic district in the country formed by citizen vote. It is managed by the PDA, a nonprofit public corporation chartered by the City of Seattle.

Nestled in the heart of downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market is a nine-acre historic district and campus that offers world-class shopping, dining, fresh food, and cultural experiences. The Market serves as both a regional economic engine and a vital civic gathering place, welcoming upwards of 7 million visitors annually, making it one of Washington State’s most visited destinations.

The PDA has adopted the Pike Place Market Master Plan in 2024, as a long-term roadmap for reinvestment and stewardship of the Market over the coming decades. The Master Plan envisions Pike Place Market as a supportive, diverse community and a thriving center of Pacific Northwest food, commerce, and culture, while remaining true to its historic purpose and character.

The Master Plan advances four interrelated strategies:

1. Pacific Northwest Food Life – Reattract locals and reenergize the Market’s farm program.

2. Business Supports – Promote local entrepreneurship, craftspeople, and small business vitality.

3. Sustainable Physical Investments – Maintain and adapt the Market through targeted capital investments that improve accessibility, resilience, and environmental performance.

4. Partnerships – Amplify the Market as the Soul of Seattle through collaboration, advocacy, and support of social services.

An important aspect of Strategy 3 is the desire to enhance entry points along First Avenue and strengthen hidden courtyards and alleys to create a sense of discovery and further help distribute visitors and support small businesses in those locations.  

The Soames Dunn Courtyard, tucked within Pike Place Market, reflects the layered history of the market as a place shaped by everyday use rather than grand design. Named after early market figures and tenants, the courtyard functioned as a utilitarian service space—supporting deliveries, storage, and the behind-the-scenes labor that kept the market running. Over time, as the market evolved and was preserved through community effort, spaces like this were adapted for public use while still retaining their modest scale and character. Today, the courtyard stands as a quieter counterpoint to the busier arcades of the market, and one of the first public gathering spaces that the PDA plans to breathe new life into, in support of the Master Plan. , The design envisions the space to have “secret garden” vibes, with updated landscaping, furniture and lighting, all anchored by an iconic and immersive large scale wall mural inspired by the fern fill forested bluffs of the Northwest.

About overall creative: Kathleen + Lina co-founded overall creative, a woman owned creative services company that focuses primarily on large scale murals and assisting artists, communities and clients to achieve their artistic vision. For this grant we will be managing the RFQ, design reviews as well as assisting with any materials, production and installation needs.

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To apply please fill out the form below with the following information:

Personal Qualifications: After filling out your basic information, you will be prompted to answer three narrative questions below. We are looking for an artist who exhibits the ability to answer with succinct and thoughtful words.

Submit by 4.28.2026