Call For Art – Glass Artists for 2025 event

Project Background: 

The Camano Island Chamber of Commerce organizes the very popular Northwest Glass Quest (NWGQ) event every February.  This 10 day event draws visitors from far and wide to search for “clueballs” (3 inch plastic balls) in participating businesses and local parks – those who are lucky enough to find a clueball are given a beautiful hand blown glass ball. Clueballs are hidden throughout Camano Island and Stanwood, WA. The event has grown in popularity every year and in 2024 we had over 400 glass balls to award to lucky “questers”.  For the past 15 years we have purchased the glass balls from Glass Quest Studio (Mark and Marcus Ellinger) however due to a change in their business they will not be able to produce the amount of glass balls we need for the event. The 2025 event will be held from February 14th-23rd and due to the large scale and scope of the event we begin our marketing and registration in September.  

We are currently seeking glass artists who are able to produce glass balls that meet our requirements noted below.  Ideally we would be able to select a variety of artists and part of the “thrill of the hunt” would be for questers to wonder “which artist’s glass ball” they found during the event. 

Definitions: 

Certificated NWGQ Glass Balls: this is a glass ball approximately 5” in diameter that comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity by the artist (chamber will create and provide) as well as a number etched clearly in the bottom “button.”  Certificated NWQG balls are only awarded if an individual finds a clueball during the event – they can not be purchased. 

Non-Certificated NWGQ Balls: this is a glass ball approximately 5” in diameter.  This glass ball does NOT come with a Certificate of Authenticity and is NOT numbered.  Non-Certificated balls can be purchased or given away by raffle during the event.  They can NOT be associated with a clueball. 

Glass Ball vs Glass Floats: the NWGQ event uses the terminology “glass balls” and “glass floats” interchangeably. 

Project Vision: 

The goal of this project is to showcase handcrafted glass art for the annual Northwest Glass Quest event.  The desired outcome is that every year we would have a Call for Artists to showcase new (and recurring) glass artists each year, the items found will be treasurers for questers to cherish and remember over the years. While our focus is primarily on approximately 5” glass balls we are also open to submissions of other types of glass art that may be considered for other promotional means during the event.  

Submissions will be reviewed and voted on by a panel of individuals representing the Camano Island Chamber, the City of Stanwood, local art organizations, and business representatives.  

Content Information: 

This is the first time since the beginning of the event we have had a Call for Art for the glass pieces – so we may be figuring out some of the logistics as we go through the process.  Thank you for your understanding. 

More information about the event can be found here: 

www.northwestglassquest.com – reading the FAQ section can also be very helpful for a better understanding of the event as a whole.  Please keep in mind content is from the 2024 event.

Historically the event has had approximately 400 Certificated Balls (number etched on bottom and certificate of authenticity) and an additional 250 Non-Certificated Balls (no number or certificate.) Multiple artists can be chosen to create the glass art.  Bidding artists must indicate how many glass balls they would like to produce. Such a request is not a guarantee of the final contracted agreement. Final numbers of requested glass balls will be communicated to artists by December 1, 2024.  Product should be delivered to the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce in early February (exact date and location will be provided.) 

Submission Criteria: 

• Open to professional, amateur and student artists over 18. 
• Teams of artists are permitted. 
• One to three physical samples of work should be submitted upon request for consideration.  Work will be returned to the artist if not chosen.
• Upon successful contract award, each artist will be required to provide three Non-Certificated (unnumbered) glass balls for purposes of display and marketing by the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce. These should be accounted for in the final proposed cost.  Samples should include the studio name and year on the bottom. An artist can choose to create new glass balls or allocate some or all of the sample submitted as display glass balls. 
• Each selected artist must submit a short bio to be used in promotional material for the event. 
• Each artist must submit a digital signature to be used on the Certificates of Authenticity for the Certificated glass balls.  
• The glass floats pictured below exemplify the quality standard expected for the Northwest Glass Quest event. In addition glass balls must be: 
  • Spherical in shape, yet free standing on a flat surface.
  • Make use of different colors or shades of colors (two colors at a minimum – three preferred.) 
  • Display uniformity of whatever design is chosen around the glass ball. 
  • Glass balls should be approximately 5 inches (4.5 to 6 inches in diameter).
  • Glass balls need to be thick enough to survive transport and reasonable storage. 
  • Each glass ball should be unique and varied.
  • Artists will be provided with an event stamp to be imprinted in the bottom and serve as the “glass button.” Stamp should be returned to the Camano Island Chamber upon project completion.
  • If creating Certificated Glass Balls the artist will be given a range of numbers to etch CLEARLY on the bottom of each ball that is easily readable. 
  • Artists should include the studio name or signature on the bottom of the glass ball. 
  • Artists are encouraged to impart their individual style, however, glass balls that do not meet the program standards will be returned and replacements will be requested.

Submissions are accepted July 12, 2024 – September 1, 2024

July 12, 2024  – Call for Art Opens

September 1, 2024 – Submission Deadline which includes completion of online form and photos of artwork emailed.

September 2-13, 2024 – Submissions reviewed by panel

September 16, 2024  – Notice of Intent to Award Contract and request for artwork samples. Upon request physical sample of artwork should be mailed to: 

Camano Island Chamber of Commerce 973 Lawson Rd. Camano Island, WA 98282

October 1, 2024 – Anticipated contract start date

December 1, 2024 – Confirmation on number of glass balls sent to artists

February 1, 2025 – Glass balls received by chamber.