Nashville International Airport Public Art RFQ for CONRAC Facility

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority and Arts at the Airport invite artists to submit qualifications to design and install public artwork on 23 concrete columns leading to the Nashville International Airport's Consolidated Rental Agency Complex (CONRAC). The site consists of 11 columns measuring 10' tall and 34" in diameter, and 12 columns measuring 8' tall and 24" in diameter, located on pathways from the Short-term Parking Garage to the CONRAC facility. Artists may propose designs for all 23 columns or fewer if the overall design is cohesive.

The artwork will serve as a way-finding process for pedestrians traveling between the main terminal and the CONRAC building. Projects should utilize contemporary media such as mosaic tile, metal, ceramic, wood, paint, or vinyl wrap to create an aesthetically pleasing, creative design with a professional installation. The artwork should have a life expectancy of at least 20 years and may reflect aviation, music, or life in Middle Tennessee. The project budget is $220,000.

Eligibility is open to individual artists and artist teams from Tennessee and surrounding regions (Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Artists must provide evidence of prior work experience with similar scale public art projects through résumé, photographs, and references. Emerging artists are encouraged to apply but must demonstrate resources for completing a project of this size. Current Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority employees, commissioners, and Arts at the Airport Board members may not apply. Submissions must include a statement of interest, current résumé, artist statement, 7 images of past work with descriptions, and 3 professional references. Three to five finalists will be selected by September 1, 2016, and will each receive $2,500 to develop detailed proposals. Final selection and contract award is scheduled for February 2017, with installation beginning June 1, 2017, and project completion by December 15, 2017.