CALL FOR ARTISTS
BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
CONCOURSE WALL ARTWORK 

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock is interested in commissioning an artist, or artist team, to create a site-specific work of art for a wall in the airport concourse area. The opportunity is for the design and possibly fabrication and installation of a custom site-specific artwork made from durable, low maintenance materials. The selected artist will receive a design fee of $12,500. An additional budget (not to exceed $115,000) has been allocated for fabrication and installation and will be paid by the Airport. Based on the selected artist’s concept proposal, and in consultation with the artist, LIT may contract for the fabrication and installation with an outside contractor or may contract with the selected artist for fabrication and installation. 

To be eligible, artists must currently reside in Arkansas or have lived or studied in the state.

Up to five (5) finalists will be selected to develop concept proposals for this opportunity. The submission process is described below. Submissions are due May 9, 2022.  

CONTEXT

About Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, located in Little Rock, is Arkansas’s largest commercial service airport, with nearly two million passengers annually. The airport hosts six airlines with dozens of daily departures and nonstop service to 14 destinations. The mission of the airport is “to pursue all Opportunities in Flight to safely and efficiently connect our customers with the world and to promote economic development for all aeronautical activities.”

Clinton National Airport recently completed a multiphase construction initiative aimed at strengthening the passenger experience. Improvements include upgrades to the pre-security terminal, modernization of the concourse and a new baggage-handling system. Renovations to the pre-security terminal also included the completion of two site-specific artworks, Over an Arkansas Sky a 4,000 square foot terrazzo floor designed by Tiffany Black, and Tales of the Land: A Metaphorical Topography a sculptural wall installation by June Sekiguchi. The projects are the first commissioned works of the Art in the Airport program, a multi-phased initiative to feature the work of talented artists to showcase Arkansas' natural beauty, unique arts, and culture. Upcoming changes to the concourse area will make room for the artwork requested in this Call for Artists.  

CONCOURSE WALL ARTWORK DESIGN OR INSTALLATION OPPORTUNITY

Description of Opportunity

The location of the artwork wall is on the east side of the concourse, near Gate 5. The wall is approximately 36’ long by 8.5’ high. The selected artist, or artist team, will be commissioned to design a custom, site-specific wall artwork or installation project for this wall.

Based on the selected artist’s concept proposal, and in consultation with the artist, the airport may contract for the fabrication and installation with an outside contractor or may contract with the selected artist for fabrication and installation. The selected artist will determine the medium of the artwork, but the completed project must be:

• Made of materials that are durable and low maintenance.
• Designed, fabricated, and installed in such a way that the artwork can be removed and re-installed (in consultation with the artist) should a future airport construction project change the nature of the wall.

The airport will prepare the wall surface to receive the artwork based on the agreed-upon specifications in the selected concept design. The airport will also install lighting appropriate to the selected concept.

Artwork Goals

The overarching goals for public art at Clinton National Airport are to:

• Enhance the customer experience.
• Improve visual appearance and ambiance at the airport.
• Reinforce a sense of place and arrival to the region.
• Strengthen connections to the regional community.

For the concourse wall project, Clinton National Airport is interested in commissioning a work of art that:

• Reflects an aspect of the State of Arkansas’ celebrated places, destinations and/or experiences.
• Welcomes people to Little Rock and Arkansas.
• Creates a positive first impression of the airport and the region.
• Infuses creativity and artistry into a highly visible location at the airport.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Clinton National Airport Art Committee (AC), comprised of regional arts and culture leaders, will advise airport leadership on artist selection and approval of the Concept Design.

Eligibility

To be eligible, artists must currently reside in Arkansas or have lived or studied in the state.

Pre-Application Workshop

Prospective applicants will be able to attend a virtual Pre-Application Workshop on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at 3:30pm CST. Here airport staff and consultants will talk about the opportunity and walk through the application process. The workshop is optional.

Advanced registration for the workshop is required through Zoom: Registration Link

Qualification Review Process

The AC will review artist qualifications and select three to five (3-5) finalists to create concept proposals for the project opportunity. Artist qualifications will be reviewed by the AC based on the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence and innovation as demonstrated by past work and the submitted materials.
• Understanding of the project and ability to create an artwork that responds to the goals of the project.
• Ability to meet the timeline.
• Ability to create artwork that provides interest in public spaces and continues to engage viewers through multiple visits as demonstrated by past work and submitted materials.

Finalist Review Process

Finalists will be paid a stipend of $1,500 to attend an orientation, develop a site-specific concept proposal (including renderings, a narrative description, budget and timeline), and present it to the AC. The AC will review concept proposals and recommend their selection to the Airport Executive Staff and Airport Commission.

Any in-person visits will be subject to public health conditions. Additional stipend may be available for a requested in-person visit by finalists related to the selection process.

Finalist proposals will be reviewed by the AC based on the following criteria:

• The ability of the proposed concept to respond to the public art goals and strengthen the airport’s sense of place.
• Demonstrates artistic excellence, maintaining high quality, innovation, creativity, and clarity of vision in the concept proposal and presentation.
• A clear understanding of the site, including how the artwork will be viewed from multiple vantage points.

BUDGET

The selected artist will receive a design fee of $12,500. A separate budget, not to exceed $115,000, will be set for fabrication and installation and will be paid by the Airport. The Airport may contract for the fabrication and installation with an outside contractor or may contract with the selected artist for fabrication and installation. 

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

Application Requirements

TO SUBMIT

Submit the following through this online application before 11:59 pm CST on May 9, 2022.

• A statement that indicates your interest in the project and how you might approach the commission (no more than 500 words).
• A brief description of your connection to Arkansas (no more than 25 words).
• Attach a résumé/CV no longer than 3-pages, including current contact information and email address (PDF).
• Attach names and contact information for 3-5 professional references (PDF).
• Attach up to 10 sample images of previously completed projects that represent your body of work (JPEG).
• Include corresponding image information about each work sample, including: artwork title, a brief description of the artwork (100 words or less), medium, completion date, dimensions, location, and total budget/cost (please use the Price/Value field in CaFE). In the description field, please state the commissioning agency if applicable, and state your role in the creation of the artwork if other artists or design professionals were involved in its creation.

Please do not send specific proposals at this time. Only finalists will be asked to create concept proposals for the opportunity.

QUESTIONS

Please submit all questions via email to villa@viapartnership.com no later than April 25, 2022.  Responses to all questions will be posted to https://www.clintonairport.com/art/ by April 28, 2022. 

For Technical Questions about the submission process, visit: https://www.callforentry.org/ artist-help-cafe/ or click on Help on the CaFE website.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, artists must currently reside in Arkansas or have lived or studied in the state.