Tampa Airport Seeking $3 Million in Public Art

As part of its continuing $2 billion expansion, Tampa International Airport is about to go shopping for more public art, and its budget is $3.1 million. Airport officials are in the market for nine new pieces of public art, with commissions ranging from a little under $100,000 to $520,000.

Airport officials will reach out to local, national and international artists. The Airport’s Public Art Committee, whose seven members include current and former airport officials, the executive director of the Tampa Museum of Art, the manager of Tampa City Hall's arts programs and the director of the University of South Florida's Institute for Research in Art, will use a two-step process to select artworks for installation.

First, a technical evaluation committee will review qualifications to develop a short list of eligible artists, which will go to the Hillsborough Aviation Authority board for approval. Second, the public art committee will evaluate proposals from the short-listed artists. The Aviation Authority board must approval final selections.

Interested? The airport will hold an information session for artists at 3 p.m. June 10 in the Aviation Authority boardroom on the third floor of the main terminal. Artists can register to attend online and get on the mailing list for the airport's public art program by going to tampaairport.com/PublicArt. The airport also is inviting artists to build a profile with CaFÉ, which will manage the applications, through CallForEntry.org. Artists have until July 17 to apply to be considered.