CALL FOR ARTISTS
BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT
FEATURE WALL ART

Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) in Paducah, Kentucky is interested in commissioning an artist or artist team to create a site-specific work of art for the airport ticketing area. The budget for the entire project is not to exceed $100,000. Based on the selected artist’s concept proposal, and in consultation with the artist, PAH may contract with the selected artist for fabrication and installation or may contract for the fabrication and installation with an outside contractor.

To be eligible, artists must currently live or have previously lived within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport.

Up to three (3) finalists will be selected to develop concept proposals for this opportunity. The application process is described below. Applications are due July 11, 2022.

An open call for artists for other PAH artwork opportunities “Gate Area Projects” is also open until July 11, 2022. Artists interested in being considered for these artwork locations must apply for these opportunities separately. The application for the “Gate Area Projects” can be found: here.

About Barkley Regional Airport

Barkley Regional Airport was created in 1941 through the efforts of then-Senator Alben Barkley, native Kentuckian and longtime resident of Paducah. The site was a military surplus airport throughout World War II. After the war, the airport began commercial service with the first commercial flight in 1946. It was named for then-Vice President Barkley in 1949 in honor of his contribution to the airport’s creation. PAH is currently constructing a new terminal building, scheduled to be complete in spring 2023. The approximately 25,000 square foot terminal is a light-filled contemporary space with masonry elements inspired by the architectural elements of Downtown Paducah.

PAH will commission artwork for three locations throughout the newly built terminal building. The future art locations are dispersed throughout the public areas of the building and will reflect the region’s appreciation for the visual arts. The goals for public art at PAH are to:

• Provide an impactful “wow” experience that welcomes people to Paducah and the region.
• Generate community pride through high quality works of art.
• Communicate to visitors and locals that Paducah is a place that values and is enriched by art.
• Highlight aspects of Paducah’s art and culture that it has become known for worldwide.
• Bring to light elements of the region’s people, places, ecology, culture, heritage, and/or celebrated places and experiences.

DESCRIPTION OF OPPORTUNITY

A focal point for the Terminal, the Feature Wall is in the Ticketing/Security Checkpoint area and is highly visible to all visitors to the pre-security terminal. The wall welcomes people into the terminal. It is adjacent to the central meeter/greeter waiting area and is prominent as passengers move through the ticketing area and security checkpoints. It is also a focal point for passengers exiting the concourse upon their arrival in PAH.

The slightly recessed artwork area of the wall will be about 34’ wide and 7’4” tall. Depending on the selected proposal for this opportunity, the selected artist will be commissioned to develop, fabricate, and install a site-specific installation for the space, or the selected artist will be commissioned to develop a design and PAH will contract with a fabricator for production and installation of the artwork. Artwork should be fabricated with durable, low maintenance materials, such as glass, tile, metal, or a similarly durable substrate, or if artwork is made from more fragile materials, such as fiber, the project should include custom high-quality glazing for the entire recessed area to ensure that the artwork is protected.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Airport’s Art Committee will advise PAH on artist selection. The Art Committee will review concept proposals and recommend selections to the Barkley Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors for approval.  

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, artists must currently live or have previously lived within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport. There are currently three (3) open opportunities for artwork at PAH, including this call for artists.  At least one of the artists selected for these projects will currently live within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport.        

Pre-Application Workshop

Prospective applicants will be able to attend a virtual Pre-Application Workshop on June 30th at 3:30pm CST. 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 Art Committee will review artist qualifications and select up to three (3) finalists to create concept proposals for the Feature Wall Art opportunity. Artist qualifications will be reviewed by the Art Committee based on the following criteria:

• Artistic excellence and innovation as demonstrated by past work.
• Understanding of the project and ability to create an artwork that responds to the goals of the project.
• 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 for the Feature Wall Art opportunity 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 Art Committee. The Art Committee will review concept proposals and recommend their selection to the Airport Staff and Barkley Regional Airport Authority Board of Directors for approval.

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

• The ability of the proposed concept/artwork 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.

ARTIST SCOPE OF WORK

The selected artist will be responsible for designing a site-specific artwork, including:

• Developing the final design and final design plan, including final materials selection, budget development, and project timeline on schedule and in a manner that conforms to the approved concept.
• Participating, as requested, in community outreach and attending dedication events.

AND if the selected artist is also contracted to fabricate and install the artwork, they will be responsible for:

• Communicating with the Airport throughout the design development, fabrication, and installation process to facilitate reviews and coordination of installation.
• Fabricating the artwork.
• Installing the artwork.

OR if the selected artist’s concept includes a separate contractor for fabrication and installation, with PAH holding the contract with said contractor, then the selected artist will be responsible for:

• Supplying design documents and fabrication specifications as required by the fabricator.
• Reviewing fabrication plans and samples as needed by the fabricator.

BUDGET

The budget for the Feature Wall Artwork is not to exceed $100,000. This budget includes all costs of designing, fabricating, and installing the artwork and any mounting or enclosures required to protect work made of less durable materials. The budget includes but is not limited to all design fees, fabrication, materials and equipment costs, professional fees, travel and lodging during design, fabrication and/or installation, insurance, overhead, sitework, shipping, and installation costs. Depending on the selected artist’s concept, PAH may contract for the fabrication and installation of all or parts of the artwork or artwork enclosure with an outside contractor and/or may contract with the selected artist for fabrication and installation with all associated costs remaining within the project budget of $100,000.   

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

 ATTACHMENTS

1. Specifications of Feature Wall.
2. Rendering of Airport Terminal with Feature Wall pictured to left.

Application Requirements

TO SUBMIT

Follow the instructions below for the online Call for Entry application, upload the required responses, images and files, and submit.

All materials are due before 11:59 pm CST on July 11, 2022.

An open call for artists for additional PAH artwork opportunities “Gate Area Projects” is also open until July 11, 2022. Artists interested in being considered for these artwork locations must submit a separate application, available: here.

You will be asked to submit the following response in your online application:

• A statement which describes your artistic approach and interest in the project (no more than 500 words).
• Information and a short description about your connection to the region.

You will be asked to attach the following files in your online application:

• A résumé/CV no longer than 3-pages (PDF).
• Names and contact information for 3-5 professional references (PDF).
• Up to 10 sample images of previously completed projects that represent your body of work (JPEG).
• 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 June 30, 2022. Responses to all questions will be posted to www.flybarkley.com/call-for-artists by July 1, 2022. 

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

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, artists must currently live or have previously lived within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport. There are currently three (3) open opportunities for artwork at PAH, including this call for artists.  At least one of the artists selected for these projects will currently live within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport.