Do you have background and interest in public art? The Seattle Public Library is seeking applications from members of the public to serve as representatives to the Library’s Art Review Committee (ARC)!
The Library is currently seeking three (3) members of the community with excellent knowledge of the arts and strong familiarity with local Northwest arts, in particular, to participate on this committee.
About the ARC
ARC’s role is to advise and assist the Library in the implementation of policies, procedures, and practices strictly related to works within the public art collection held by the Library and/or the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts and Culture (ARTS).
ARC helps define the parameters of these collections within the Library and reviews inquiries and requests related to the addition, siting, maintenance, and disposition of artwork within these collections as governed by Library Board policies and administrative procedures.
About ARC membership
ARC will be comprised of the following members:
- Three (3) ex-officio members
- One (1) SPL Arts Collection Manager
- A non-voting, ex-officio member assigned to the Library’s Special Collections Services Manager position.
- Acts as chair of the committee, providing all necessary logistical support, including scheduling meetings, preparing study materials, and writing draft recommendations for review.
- One (1) representative from the Office of Arts and Culture
- One (1) representative from the Library’s Capital Improvements Program
- One (1) SPL Arts Collection Manager
- Three (3) community representatives serving staggered terms
- Two (2) additional Library staff members serving staggered terms
- One (1) member of The Seattle Public Library Foundation’s Board serving a two-year term
What members can expect
Members should expect to spend, on average, 4-6 hours per quarter on ARC activities, including bi-annual in-person meetings, online meetings, and other committee and/or sub-committee activities.
Successful applicants will:
- possess an understanding and appreciation of the role of art in Seattle’s public libraries; and
- be free of conflicts of interest as it relates to the committee.
- Conflict of interest is defined in the ARC charter as “a close relationship through business, romance, intimate relationship, or having a strong dislike/objection” to the City’s or Library’s civic art program.
As the charter requires only one community representative term ending each year, inaugural appointments will be for different term lengths.
When applying, please indicate your preference to serve in one or all of the following position opportunities:
- Position One: Will serve for a 3-year term
- Position Two: Will serve for a 2-year term
- Position Three: Will serve for a 1-year term
Vacancies that occur prior to end of a member’s term will be filled on an interim basis until completion of the term.
How to apply
If you are interested in serving as an ARC community representative, please send an email to Sean Lanksbury (sean.lanksbury@spl.org), the Library’s Special Collections Manager, with the following information:
- First and last name
- Preferred position(s):
- Position One, (three-year term, 2027-2029)
- Position Two, (two-year term, 2027-2028)
- Position Three, (one-year term, 2027)
- What Seattle neighborhood do you currently reside in?
- What Library branches do you frequent?
- Why are you interested in the work of SPL’s Art Review Committee?
- Do you believe art has a role in public libraries? If so, please elaborate on what you feel that role should be.
- What skills, knowledge, and experience would you bring to the committee? For example, do you have familiarity with local arts and/or the art movements of the Pacific Northwest region? Please provide some background information.
Please submit this information by 4:00 p.m. PST on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
Applicants will be notified of decisions this October.
Learn more: Committee charter
The Art Review Committee evaluates artwork in the Library Art Collection, proposed acquisitions of new works within defined boundaries for the Public Art Collection and de-accessions of works no longer appropriate for the collection using the Library Art Collection Vision, and the Acquisition and De-Accession Policies and Procedures. The Public Art Collection Manager acts as a non-voting facilitator providing guidance and support to the ARC. The ARC makes recommendations to the Executive Director and Chief Librarian and the Library Board of Trustees concerning the disposition of artworks. Recommendations may include accessioning, re-siting, de-accessioning, storing, loaning to institutions for display, or other actions that benefit the Library’s Public Art Collection. The ARC may consult with other agencies, Library staff, community groups, or arts professionals to aid in making their recommendations.
Membership
The Art Review Committee membership may range in size from 9 to 10 members with varying terms of service and consists of the Public Art Collection Manager (non-expiring), two Library staff (two-year terms), one to two members of The Seattle Public Library Foundation Board (two-year terms), and three members of the community (three-year terms). Project coordinating delegates from the Library’s Capital Improvements Program and from The Office for Arts & Culture serve as ex-officio members of the ARC and are to be continually assigned to the committee through their respective organizations. The terms of service for the staff, board, and community members are staggered so that a new committee member is appointed each year. To maintain staggered terms, shorter interim appointments may be determined by the manager to establish a cadence or complete a position that is vacated early. Candidates are referred to the Executive Director and Chief Librarian for review before approval by the Library Board of Trustees, which approval may be delegated to the Executive Director and Chief Librarian.
Requirements for the appointment of the three community members include an excellent knowledge of the arts and familiarity with local Northwest arts. An understanding and appreciation of the role art will assume in a public library is highly desirable. Any conflict of interesti in the activities of the ARC with the personal or professional activities of the members will not be tolerated. Community members shall serve on the committee without compensation.
The Art Collection Manager is Chair of the ARC, and provides all necessary logistical support for the ARC, scheduling meetings, preparing study materials, and writing draft recommendations for review.
Meeting schedule
Meetings are scheduled twice annually with additional meetings scheduled as necessary.