Local committees representing the project sites make all final artwork selection decisions. As a result over 4000 works of art have been placed or commissioned throughout Washington state's public buildings. These works make up the State Art Collection . This collection represents a broad diversity of contemporary artistic production. Artists eligible for projects are represented in Art in Public Places juried Artists Resource Bank .
Eligibility is established though an open competitive process once every two years.
Art in Public Places was established by legislation in 1974 and is funded through the state's capital budget.