Project Background and Full Description

The Art of New Jersey digital exhibition is part of a large-scale public art project at the airport’s recently completed Terminal A, focused on creating a transformative customer experience offering a distinctive New Jersey sense of place. The overall goal of the project is to highlight the broad spectrum of talent, opportunity, and cultures that make our state so vibrant.  

The next installment of this annual exhibition, featuring artwork displayed in the digital welcome banner spanning the departures area of Terminal A will be unveiled in early 2024. Artists’ names and artwork information will be included with the display.   

When applying, artists are encouraged to be considerate of the ridership and public nature of art in transit spaces. The PANYNJ Art Advisory Council will review each submission received and will select approximately twenty (20) artists’ work to be included in the exhibition. In addition to the digital display of their work in Terminal A for approximately one year, the artists’ names and images of the project will be shared with the public through Munich’s, PANYNJ’s, and the State Arts Council's social media and other communication platforms.   

Artists should submit up to three (3) examples of completed work to be considered for use. Work samples submitted will be the basis for the Art Advisory Council’s consideration. PANYNJ and their contracted terminal management company, Munich Airport NJ, LLC which is a subsidiary of Munich Airport International, Europe’s only five-star airport, will work with the selected artists to approve final digital image submissions, and schedule the exhibition of the works in digital gallery displays in the terminal. Each selected artist will receive a $1,000 stipend in exchange for use of the artist’s work. Artists will retain copyright to their work.    

For this project, we are seeking completed, 2-dimensional, still artworks in a digital format for digital display. Submitted works could be high-quality digital images of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, etc., or work in a native digital format (digital photos, drawings, paintings, etc.). Moving images (films, animations, etc.) and performative work will not be considered for this call. Upon selection notification, the exact format and process for the final submission of digital images will be communicated to the selected artists.   

Artists must consider that the work will be displayed in a public location and display of the digital gallery, located in the departures level at Terminal A, will be rotated with other digital media on large digital display units in the terminal. Selected Artists must work in a timely fashion with the project coordination team to ensure the final work files provided are the correct file type, of high quality for digital use, and appropriate for public display.  

Budget and Contracts  

The PANYNJ will provide one $1,000 stipend to each selected artist/artist team to license their work for digital display for one year in the Airport. Approximately twenty (20) artists will be selected to be featured in the digital gallery. Artists will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to award announcements and will sign legal contracts with Munich Airport NJ, LLC, operators of Terminal A for the use of their work.   

Selection Process  

The Art Advisory Council, a diverse group of state arts experts with a vested interest in the outcomes of this project, has determined the selected work will fall into the general curatorial themes of:  

• The story of New Jersey and its people- from pre-colonial to contemporary communities, indigenous and immigrant; including our diverse people, places, and geographies – rural, suburban, and urban
• The state of New Jersey as a year-round destination, with a wide variety of cultural, historic, and innovative opportunities for tourists and residents alike

There is no expressed preference for a particular style of work- artistic excellence and appeal to the airport’s passengers will be the determining criteria for selection.  

*Important note about what work cannot be considered:  

• Work will be displayed in highly public spaces, and as such, work that could be interpreted as political, sexual, or violent in nature will not be considered.
• Works including logos or business signage of existing businesses, corporations, and the like cannot be considered.
• Moving images (films, animations, etc.) and performative work will not be considered for this call.

The Art Selection Council includes members of the New Jersey local artistic community, academic and museum arts experts, tourism and regional government staff, and a representative from the State Arts Council. The committee will review all application materials and make final recommendations. The selection committee reserves the right to reject any or all entries at any time in the review and selection process.   

Selection Criteria 

The goals of this program are to connect Airport Passengers and staff with new, exciting art experiences during their transit through the Newark Airport, and to provide New Jersey Artists with exhibition opportunities and a public venue to share their work.   

Successful submissions will be consistent with the values and aesthetics of the Port Authority and Munich. All submissions will be evaluated using the following standards:  

• High artistic quality of the proposed submission and work samples provided
• Potential for the submission to promote the goals of the program
• Potential for positive experiences or interactions with the proposed submission by New Jersey communities (the intended audience of the work)
• Feasibility of the submission as proposed or with minor changes

Timeline 

Call Posted: July 27, 2023  

Deadline for artist submissions: September 12, 2023   

Artist Notifications: No later than December 30, 2023   

Project opening is scheduled for Winter/Spring 2024   

Application Requirements

For this project, we are seeking completed, 2-dimensional, still artworks in a digital format for digital display. All static media, in digital format, that is appropriate to the project will be considered. Artists may submit 3 completed artworks for consideration. These will be submitted individually in CaFE. 

The application also requires the artist to submit a brief artist biography and complete a questionnaire.

Eligibility Criteria

This project is open to artists/artist teams who are at least 18 years of age, and legally able to complete a contract with PANYNJ and/or their contracted management for the terminal. Artists (individuals or all team members) must be current residents of the State of New Jersey. Priority consideration will be given to artists who reside in Newark and/or Elizabeth, as the Airport is located in those cities. Artist/Teams must be able to work effectively and collaboratively to provide requested digital image files of the type and size specified in a timely manner. Further, artists should consider the project timeline prior to submitting work for consideration. Projects are intended to be displayed beginning in early-2024.  

*Artists who were selected for the digital exhibition displayed in 2023 should be advised that preference will be given to artists who have not yet been displayed in the airport.  

Questions?   

Technical assistance using CAFÉ is available at:  https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/  

Please direct any other questions regarding this opportunity to Danielle Bursk, Director of Artist Services, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Danielle.bursk@sos.nj.gov, or Stephanie Nerbak, Artist Services Associate, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Stephanie.Nerbak@sos.nj.gov