If you fly in and out of Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) at all, then you’ve probably noticed some cool artwork on display throughout the building and outside.
The art doesn’t just appear there. Every so often artists compete for a chance to show – and sell – their works to area flyers. This week, once again, the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority – the seven-member board that runs the airport – announced that it is opening the 2023 search for artists “with a call for two-dimensional paintings, photographs, mixed media, small, three-dimensional sculptures, and large outdoor sculptures.”
The authority is seeking out works from artists in North Carolina as well as from some southern Virginia counties.
The works will be displayed on a wall on the lower level in the north baggage claim area as well as on two 8-foot walls at the bottom of the central escalator. There are also four plexiglass pedestals in the meet and greet areas of the departure level and the main terminal’s ticketing area where art will be placed.
In addition, there are eight outdoor spaces where sculptures are needed. A stipend of $2,000 will be given for each sculpture to cover delivery and transportation costs.
There are a lot of specifics with regard to size of the works and logistics of delivery, etc., so any interested artists should check out the fine print at https://flyfrompti.com/2023-call-to-artists/
The art works will be on loan to the airport for one year. Each 2D and small 3D artist will be paid an honorarium of $100 for allowing the airport to display the work. The art will be insured by the airport while exhibited there, and, importantly, the artist’s name and contact information will be on each label – so those interested can call to inquire about buying a work. If a piece sells, the artists can replace it with another similar work.
Eligibility applies to all artists “who live or work in North Carolina and southern Virginia – PTIA’s market area).
Artists within the Piedmont Triad will be given preference. The Piedmont Triad consists of the 12 counties of Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin.
Artists from the Virginia counties bordering the Piedmont Triad are also invited: Grayson, Carroll, Patrick, Henry, Pittsylvania, and Halifax.
The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 17, 2023.
A selection panel will judge the works in April and the lucky artists will be contacted by Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
To see a walking tour of art at the airport to know what types of things have been selected, check out https://flyfrompti.com/art-walking-tour/
Emailing information is preferred. Hopeful artists can send it to Cheryl Stewart, Public Art Consultant at ccstewart44@gmail.com. Also, contact Stewart with any questions about the selection process through the same email address.
If you prefer to mail information, send it to:
PTI Public Art Project
c/o Stephanie Freeman
1000A Ted Johnson Parkway
Greensboro, NC, 27409
This is a terrific idea. Will assume no tasteless, vulgar or controversial art will be allowed.
Do you know how to spell ASSUME?
The airport should be paying more than $100/year for the rental of the artwork to each artist. It would cost a lot more to rent decorative art from a professional stylist to provide art pieces for them to display, the least they could do is pay these professional artists a professional rental fee for their artwork. The airport is getting a bargain but they shouldn’t treat them like they’re amateurs doing art as a hobby. Give them the credit and rental fee they deserve.
The airport does not provide anything free. This is how they lost Southwest Airlines coming to GSO. Southwest requested 3 rent free jet bridges from the airport authority. Airport authority refused. Southwest moved to RDU, built a terminal, increased RDU airport revenue, passenger loads, parking fees, etc… All due to the airport authority not seeing the big picture.