PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center has released two open calls for artists to participate in the center’s December events.

Local artists are encouraged to apply for the Wintertide Makers Market, which connects shoppers with local artist-made gift items.

Meanwhile, artists from across the United States may apply for the Wintertide Light Art Experience, which places light-based art throughout the 5-acre Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park at 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd. in Port Angeles.

Both events aim to build on last year’s soft launch of the Wintertide program that featured four lighted outdoor artworks alongside the indoor Makers Market.

The market was “a great way to earn money and meet fellow creatives, not to mention the convenience of not having to (staff) our booth during a busy time of year,” Port Angeles designer Haley Snider said.

Snider, whose home décor items were featured in the 2019 Makers Market, noted, “as a bonus, the fun selection of gift ideas allowed us to take care of some holiday shopping.”

Guests can expect to see a number of changes in the 2020 Wintertide programs, said Sarah Jane, who serves as the center’s Gallery and Program Director.

“We are grateful to the Washington State Arts Commission and the City of Port Angeles Lodging Tax grant, which provides funding that will allow us to offer a more robust program this year,” Jane said. “Guests can expect to see a wider array of lighted artwork throughout the park, and we’ll be offering online sales as well as in-person shopping to ensure that everyone can safely access the Makers Market.”

Artists who live in Clallam and Jefferson counties may apply to sell hand-made gift items through the Wintertide Makers Market that runs Dec. 5-20.

“This has been a strange year for all of us,” Jane said, adding that “gift-giving is a great way to stay connected to family or friends who we may not be able to see in person right now. People don’t have to spend a lot to give something really unique and full of heart.”

Makers Market artists are asked to prepare items for sale and to assist with publicizing the market, while the center is responsible for staffing the market and managing all sales.

Priority consideration will be given to market applications received by Sept. 15. The final deadline to apply is Oct. 31.

Applications are free; those interested may learn more or apply online at pafac.org/wintertidemakersmarketapp.

The center is casting a wide net with its call for lighted outdoor sculptures, a program open to artists who live in the United States. The temporary light art display runs Dec. 5-Feb. 28.

“Light art is a relatively new genre in the arts, and there’s a lot of exciting creative development happening now as people explore new technologies and push the boundaries of what we define as art and who we define as artists,” Jane said.

Artists selected to participate in the Wintertide Light Art Experience receive a $300 honorarium in exchange for a three-month loan of their artwork. Additional funding may be available to help offset material and travel costs. Those interested may learn more or apply online at pafac.org/wintertide-app.