Call for Submissions: “Art Upon Arrival” @ St. John’s International Airport

The St. John’s International Airport is embarking on a project to boldly impact travellers’ sense of arrival in Newfoundland and Labrador when they touch down in St. John’s. We want to transform our baggage collection area into a bright, welcoming space by commissioning art to be wrapped around 8 large columns throughout this central thoroughfare for all passengers arriving in St. John’s.  

We want travellers to know where they are, and feel welcome and at home as soon as they arrive. We are looking for designs that are bright and help reflect the visceral feeling of arriving in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Our goal is to commission artworks that engender these feelings, while still allowing the individuality of an artist’s voice to shine through. It’s okay to think beyond the old clichés – unexpected imagery around what this sense of arrival means to you is encouraged. 

Are you an illustrator, graphic designer and/or a visual artist with a strong graphic aesthetic? We’re looking for an artist, or group of artists, to produce scalable vector-based art that will be printed on vinyl and wrapped around these columns, each of which is 98” x 40” and approx. 78” in diameter, with a small vertical gap or seam. 

Selected artworks will be seen by over a million passengers and up to 5 million local “meeters and greeters” passing through the airport each year.   

Artist fee: $ 23,200, or $2,900 per column. 

If a group of artists are selected for this contract, the artist fee will be divided at a rate of $2,900 per column, or in the case of collaborative works, the full $23,200 artist fee will be divided fairly in consultation with the artist group.    

St. John’s International Airport Authority will cover costs for printing and installation of the final works. There may be future opportunities to promote the work and the airport through licensed copies, to be negotiated at a future date. 

Interested? Please submit: 

• 3 images of your previous work 

• A description of your vision for the art you would create to cover these columns, and a brief description of your prior experience with vector-based artworks 

• A 200-word biography 

• A link to your website or portfolio

Please also indicate in your application if you would consider sharing the commission with another artist. For example, if the jury felt that two strong submissions were complementary to each other, and achieved more together than separately, the artists may be offered to share the commission.

Submissions should be sent to: ahenderson@businessandartsnl.com.

Timeline:

Submissions must be received no later than July 15th at 11:59pm. 

The selection committee (including staff from the Airport, a representative from Business and Arts NL, as well as representatives from the visual arts community) will make selections by July 22. 

The successful applicant or group will be notified by July 26. 

Turnaround time for production of final artwork files will be agreed upon with the selected artist, but the Airport is hoping, at the latest, for an October installation and public event to celebrate the artworks. 

Interested in learning more about this opportunity, or walking through the space? Join Airport Staff and Business and Arts NL for a site walk through and Q&A on Tuesday, July 5, at 11am. Please register in advance by emailing ahenderson@businessandartsnl.com. Applicants who aren’t within driving distance to the airport are welcome to reach out with questions individually. 

Business and Arts NL believes that diversity strengthens and enriches us, and we are committed to helping to make our province a more diverse and equitable place. Indigenous artists, artists from racialized communities, and artists from other equity-seeking groups are welcome and encouraged to apply. If you wish to self-identify, please do so in your expression of interest. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I see the space where these works will be displayed?

Sure. You can come to a site walkthrough for interested artists on Tuesday, July 5 at 11am. Here are some pictures of the site, as well: 

Is this opportunity open only to artists who are from, or live permanently, in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Yes.

Do I submit one concept to be replicated eight times, or eight different designs?

Each column will have a different image on it – please submit ideas for eight different images that work together as a set. 

Will you accept group submissions?

Yes! We would love to see proposals from groups or artists working together to present a shared vision of this concept, highlighting individual styles and perspectives from within the group. 

Can I submit pre-existing works to be included in the final commission?

Yes, if you have some of your original work at your fingertips that you feel would work wrapped around these columns to create the impact we’re looking for, by all means, please submit them. The final works could also be a combination of pre-existing and new works, or all new works.

Can I submit pre-existing works to be included in the final commission that have previously been commercially produced (ie. wallpaper, prints, etc)?

Yes! Feel free to submit any works that fit the given theme, provided they are your original works and you are the copyright holder. 

Is there a limit on the number of pieces I can submit?

Yes, 3 samples of work that demonstrate your ability to produce vector-based work and creative style. We also encourage you to provide a link to your website or Instagram page to give jurors the opportunity to view a broader range of your work as well. 

What format should I be submitting in?

JPGs under 5MB

Do you accept photography or painting submissions?

Due to the large size and nature of the wrap process, we are only accepting artists or designers who are proficient in working with vector-based software to produce a scalable work that they can wrap around the columns. The selected artist(s) will be provided with the printer’s specs and will be responsible for setting up the files so they are production-ready.  

If my art is selected, should I expect to have to submit mock ups for approval, or make changes to my files once I’ve completed them?

The committee will ask to see a rough mock-up of your concept for approval before delivery of final files. Following that, minor formatting adjustments may need to be made in order to tweak designs for the perfect fit on the columns. Other than this, we expect to give you the artistic freedom and integrity to create the designs as you see fit. 

How will these artworks be protected from wear and tear?

The artworks are being installed in the top 8 ft 1in of the column, under which is a brushed metal base that is able to withstand bumps and contact from luggage carts, suitcases etc. This choice has been made intentionally, in order to prevent serious wear and tear to the bottom of the artwork. However members of the public will still be able to touch the works. See pictures of the columns above. The materials used for installation will be resistant to colour fading, durable to any normal wear, and the adhesive will be suitable for a natural life of a minimum of 10  years.

Is the column installation a permanent addition to the baggage area? What is the protocol regarding damage, re-prints, or other changes that could impact the column installation? 

The Airport retains permission to reprint and re-install the artworks in their original locations for up to 10 years, at no extra cost, in order to maintain the integrity of the artworks should any substantial damage ensue. 

Questions?

Contact Amy @ ahenderson@businessandartsnl.com