CALL FOR ARTISTS
BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT
GATE AREA PROJECTS: WEST WALL and GLASS WALL

Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) in Paducah, Kentucky is interested in commissioning two artists or artist teams to create site-specific works of art for the airport gate area. The opportunities are 1) the Gate Area West Wall and 2) the Gate Area Glass Wall. The selected artist for each opportunity will prepare and deliver a print-ready digital file of their approved design. The final artwork will be printed and installed by a specialty fabricator contracted by the airport. The design fee for the Gate Area West Wall will be $3,500; the design fee for the Gate Area Glass Wall will be $7,500.

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 each of these two opportunities. The application process is described below. Applications are due July 11, 2022.

An open call for artists for another PAH artwork opportunity “Feature Wall Artwork” is also open until July 11, 2022. Artists interested in being considered for this artwork opportunity must apply for it separately. The application for the “Feature Wall Artwork” 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 renamed 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 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.

GATE AREA PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Opportunity 1: Gate Area West Wall

An artwork will be commissioned for the west wall above a row of privacy seating, near the gate counter. The artwork will be highly visible for passengers in the gate seating area and at the work hub station. The artwork area is approximately 23’ wide and 8’ tall.

The artwork at this site will be printed on Koroseal, a commercial fabric wallcovering. The selected artist will be responsible for delivering a print-ready digital file of their selected design prepared to the specifications provided by the architects and fabricators. PAH will contract for the printing and installation of the Koroseal wallcovering. The artist will have the ability to review print samples of the artwork prior to final printing and installation.

Opportunity 2: Gate Area Glass Wall

An artwork will be commissioned to be printed on window film on the glass wall that separates the security checkpoint line from the concourse area. The glass wall is visible from the ticketing area, the security checkpoint line, the ramp into the concourse, the concourse seating area, and the ramp for passengers exiting the concourse. The variety of locations from which the glass wall is visible creates multiple distinct experiences of viewing an artwork on this wall. Artwork in this location could also provide visual cues for passengers’ intended movement into and out of the concourse. The lower glass panels must have a certain level of opacity or incorporate a frosted glass effect to create privacy in the security screening area.

The glass wall is approximately 950 square feet, the part of the glass wall which is visible from the concourse area includes panels up to 15’ 6” high. There are 18 panes of glass most of which are 4’ wide and various heights.   

For this opportunity, PAH will contract for production and installation of a custom printed window film. The selected artist will be responsible for delivering a print-ready digital file to the specifications of the fabricator and architect. The artist will have the ability to review print samples of the artwork prior to final printing and installation.

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 to 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 opportunities 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 Gate Area West Wall and up to three (3) finalists to create concept proposals for the Gate Area Glass. 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

Up to six (6) total finalists for both Gate Area Project opportunities (three (3) for each opportunity) will be paid a stipend of $1000 to attend an orientation, develop a site-specific concept proposal (including a visual rendering of the artwork concept and a narrative description), 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 for each opportunity will be responsible for designing a site-specific artwork, including:

• Furthering the selected concept into a final design deliverable.
• Executing the final design on schedule and in a manner that conforms to the approved concept.
• Supplying digital artwork files as required by the fabricator.
• Reviewing fabrication plans and samples as needed by the fabricator.
• Participating, as requested, in community outreach and attending dedication events.

BUDGET

Opportunity 1: Gate Area West Wall

The selected artist for the Gate Area West Wall project will be paid a design fee of $3,500 inclusive of any travel costs. The Airport will contract directly for the fabrication and installation of the Koroseal wall covering.

Opportunity 2: Gate Area Glass

The selected artist for the Gate Area Glass project will be paid a design fee of $7,500 inclusive of any travel costs. The Airport will contract directly for the fabrication and installation of the printed glass film.    

TENTATIVE TIMELINE

ATTACHMENTS

1. Specifications of Gate Area West Wall
2. Rendering of Airport Gate Area with West Wall pictured to left.
3. Specifications of Gate Area Glass.
4. Renderings of Airport Gate Area with Glass pictured in center.
5. Renderings of Airport Ticketing Area with Glass pictured to right.

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 another PAH artwork opportunity “Feature Wall Artwork” is also open until July 11, 2022. Artists interested in being considered for this artwork opportunity must submit a separate application. The application for the “Feature Wall Artwork” is 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.
• The Gate Area Project(s) for which you are interested in being considered.

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 opportunities. 

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 to artists. At least one of the artists selected for these projects will currently live within 50 miles of Barkley Regional Airport.