| Agency: | Fort Wayne Airport Authority |
|---|---|
| State: | Indiana |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| NAICS Category: |
|
| Posted Date: | Jul 16, 2026 |
| Due Date: | Jul 27, 2026 |
| Solicitation No: | #RFQ for Wall or Ceiling Hung Art - Project Gateway |
| Original Source: | Please Login to View Page |
| Contact information: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Documents: | Please Login to View Page |
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority is seeking qualifications from professional artists or teams to design, fabricate, and install a three-dimensional artwork in the terminal’s “meeter greeter” area near baggage claim. The piece should create a welcoming, visually engaging first impression while celebrating Fort Wayne’s aviation history, reflecting the community’s identity, and supporting an inclusive, first-class passenger experience.
FORT WAYNE-ALLEN COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
WALL OR CEILING HUNG ART-PROJECT GATEWAY
FORT WAYNE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Project Budget: $200,000
Entry Deadline: 7/17/2026
Work Sample Requirements
Images Minimum: 5; Maximum: 10
Video Minimum: 0; Maximum: 6
Total Samples Minimum: 5; Maximum: 16
1. Call Description
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority (the Authority) is seeking qualifications for a
professional visual artist or team to design, fabricate and install three dimensional wall-or
ceiling-hung art inside the terminal in the "meeter greeter" space near baggage claim and the
welcome center. The purpose of the artwork is to enhance the "meeter greeter" space by
creating a welcoming and visually engaging piece that reflects Fort Wayne's rich aviation history.
The piece should celebrate the community's connection to aviation and be cohesive to providing
an accessible and inclusive environment for all passengers. As one of the first spaces
encountered by visitors, the artwork should support a first-class customer experience and help
establish a strong sense of pride within the airport.
The Authority is currently completing the East Terminal Expansion and Renovation
Modernization (Project Gateway). Additional information about Project Gateway can be found
on our website, Airport Projects | Fort Wayne Airport Authority. The facility construction
sequencing is currently planned for completion in July 2026. The Authority's intent is to have
the artwork hung after the space has been opened, with installation in the winter of 2026.
To be considered for this engagement, one (1) printed original and one electronic copy (USB
Drive) of your statement of qualifications as well as a minimum of five images must be received
at the offices of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, 3801 W. Ferguson Road, Suite
209, Fort Wayne, IN 46809 by 4 p.m. EDT, on July 17, 2026. Proposal statement of qualifications
must be sealed and clearly marked "Wall or Ceiling Hung Art - Project Gateway". The Fort
Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority reserves the right to reject any and all proposals
submitted.
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3801 W. Ferguson Rd., Ste. 209 * Fort Wayne, IN 46809-3194 * Ph: 260-747-4146 * Fax: 260-747-1762 * Web: www.fwairport.com
Questions concerning the proposal should be directed to Katie Scherer, Operations Manager at
kscherer@fwairport.com by July 1, 2026 at 5pm ET. Artists are welcome and encouraged to visit
Fort Wayne and tour the art site at the Fort Wayne International Airport. Contact Katie
Scherer, kscherer@fwairport.com for a tour.
2. About The Site
The Authority is looking for an artist to create three-dimensional wall or ceiling hung artwork
appropriately designed for the area located in the "meeter greater" space within the terminal.
The art cannot be floor mounted or impede the flow of traffic in any way. The art cannot be a
mural. The art cannot impede on the fire suppression system. Appendix A contains a rendering
of the area and a Project Gateway construction drawing.
Limitations of the Space:
Hung artwork shall be hung from and coordinated with primary structural steel system.
Artwork is not permitted to be hung from ceiling framing or from the metal deck
without prior approval. Any required supplementary steel framing shall be the
responsibility of the artwork supplier's engineer.
Installation will have to occur without impacting passenger traffic during flight hours, or
after the last arriving flight and prior to the first arrival the following morning.
3. Budget
The submitted proposal should consider the following budget items:
The Authority has set aside $200,000 for art as part of Project Gateway.
Semifinalists will be awarded $1,500 for their design proposal to include stamped drawings and
installation quote from a contractor.
The selected artist will be awarded up to $200,000 in three installments to cover all costs
associated with the project, inclusive of, but not limited to, artist design fee, materials,
fabrication, lighting integral to the design, transportation, travel to and from the site, per diem
expenses, insurance, project documentation, all engineering fees, installation, site preparation,
signage, contingency to cover unexpected expenses and any other costs related to the art not
covered in the preceding list. It will be the artist's responsibility, upon awarding of the contract,
to pay an Indiana licensed structural engineer to prepare stamped construction drawings of
structural components related to artwork before fabrication may proceed. Liability insurance
will be provided by the artist up to completion and through installation.
4. Eligibility & Qualification Submission Requirements
Artists who are at least 18 years of age and have completed at least five (5) previous projects of
a similar size, scope and budget may submit for consideration an initial statement of
qualifications by 4 p.m. EDT, July 17, 2026.
Your submission of qualifications should include the following:
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a. Resume (not to exceed 2 pages).
b. Two references letters to include name and contact information. Include information
regarding any professional mentor roles or client/partner relationships.
c. Five (5) examples of previous, installed works relevant to this project. Include pictures
of these examples. You must include the title, medium, dimensions, project budget or
price, year completed and location (if applicable) for each work. The value must be
indicated in US dollars.
d. Letter summarizing interest to complete this project. Include a description describing the
process and procedures that you might use in your approach to this project.
Up to five (5) artists will be invited to submit artwork design and additional information to select
the artist who will contract with the Authority to provide the finished product. Information
summarizing the requirements for the final selection phase can be found in Appendix B.
5. Art - Project Gateway Selection Committee
The Authority's Art Advisory Committee will consist of airport staff, board members and
individuals from the community who have participated in art commissioning in the past. Final
recommendation of the selected art will be presented to the Airport Authority Board for final
determination.
This team will review qualification submissions and select a final list of up to 5 (five) artists who
will be invited to submit stamped drawings, proposed fabrication timeline and installation
quotes from a list of provided contractors and additional information for final artist selection.
6. Selection Process
The selection process will include:
a. The Authority Evaluation Committee, with guidance from the Authority Art Advisory
Committee, will consider artist's resumes, portfolios and letters of interest and notify up
to 5 artists.
b. One artist will be selected to produce the proposed wall or ceiling art.
7. Timeline
June 3, 2026 Request for Qualifications Issued
July 1, 2026 Questions Due Regarding Statement of Qualifications
July 17, 2026 Artists Submit Statement of Qualification
July 17- Aug 11, 2026 Committee Review of Qualifications
August 14, 2026 Top 5 Artists Notified
October 9, 2026 Top 5 Artist Drawings, Timeline & Quotes Due
November 16, 2026 Final Board Award
Winter 2026 Art installation completed.
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8. Reservation of Rights
With the exception of the $1,500 stipend referenced in Appendix B, this RFQ shall in no manner
be construed as a commitment on the part of the Authority to award a contract, to pay any of
Proposer's cost incurred in the preparation of this RFQ, or to procure or contract for the services
contemplated hereunder. No charge for delivery, express, parcel post, packing, cartage,
insurance, license fees, permits, proposal preparation costs, or any other costs in connection with
the preparation or submittal of the Proposal, or for any other purposes will be paid by the
Authority.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to advertise for new
qualifications. The Authority reserves the right to waive minor irregularities in proposals. More
than one submittal from the same artist under the same or different names will not be considered.
Reasonable grounds for believing that a Proposer is submitting more than one proposal will cause
the rejection of all proposals in which Proposer is involved. One or all proposals will be rejected if
there is reason for believing that collusion exists among Proposers, and no participant in such
collusion will be considered in any future proposals for the operation of any Service by the
Authority.
The Authority reserves the right to request supplementary information it deems necessary to
evaluate Proposer's experience or qualifications. This may include: supplemental financial
information, scheduled interview(s) and/or additional presentations by the Proposer.
Data prepared or obtained from the selected artist under the terms of the agreement are the
property of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority unless otherwise agreed to by both
parties.
9. Appendix
The following items are covered in the appendix.
a. Appendix A-Site Rendering and Drawing
b. Appendix B-Sculpture Design Finalist Requirements
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Appendix A
Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
Wall or Ceiling Hung Art-Project Gateway
Final Selection Criteria
Fort Wayne International Airport
Ceiling structure before drywall was installed
Current space for wall or ceiling hung art to be installed
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