Concourse E Extension Public Art Commission

The Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Port of Portland invite artists and teams living in the U.S. and Canada to submit qualifications for permanent complementary suspended artworks at Portland International Airport's Concourse E Extension. One artist or team will create large-scale, signature artworks for two separate locations along the concourse. The total art budget is $600,000, which includes artist design fees, travel costs, permits, insurance, fabrication, transportation, and installation.

The artworks will be suspended from the ceiling in two 60-ft by 60-ft zones, with artwork required to be at least 12 feet from the ground plane. The highest point on the sloped ceiling is 30 feet, and each area is engineered for a weight load of 12,000 lbs. The primary goals are for the art to express inspiration from regional features through light, form and materials; be impactful, iconic, and memorable for travelers; and be designed specifically for the airport environment in consideration of architectural factors and the character of PDX.

Eligibility is open to artists and teams in the U.S. and Canada who have successfully completed at least one art commission (public or private) within the past five years. RACC staff, Artist Selection Panelists, and Port of Portland employees or their immediate families are not eligible. Applications must include a statement of interest (2000 characters or less), a two-page résumé with professional references, up to 10 images of past work with details, and an annotated image list as a PDF. Up to 2 videos may be included. The Artist Selection Panel will evaluate applications based on artistic merit, statement of interest, ability to work at appropriate scale and with suitable materials, and ability to collaborate as part of a design team. Up to four finalists will be selected for on-site interviews. Each finalist will receive a $2,000 honorarium plus travel expenses for a three-day site visit. Project installation is scheduled for early 2020.