Hundreds of Olympia residents vote on Percival Plinth Project People’s Choice Award 

A total of 519 community members voted in July to select their favorite sculpture for the 2025 Percival Plinth Project, an annual public art exhibition in Olympia.

Each July, the first month of the exhibition, the public is invited to rank their top three choices for the People’s Choice Award through online voting. The award is intended to share decision-making power with the community, making the public vote a key factor in the city’s final purchase decision.  

Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Arts Program Manager Stephanie Johnson is scheduled to present the voting results at the art commission meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14.

The commission will then consider three options: recommend the public’s top choice to city council for purchase, suggest an alternative or make no recommendation at all.  

According to the staff report, while the project does not directly impact climate strategies, having sculptures displayed on Percival Landing “encourages use of active forms of travel, such as walking along the waterfront. Artwork in public spaces promotes safe and welcoming public spaces and a walkable city.” 

The winning sculpture, if approved by the city council, would be acquired for up to $10,000 with the money coming from the Municipal Art Fund.  

For this year, the Percival Plinth Arts Project features 18 sculpture created by local and regional artists. The artworks are temporarily installed along Olympia’s waterfront park.