RFP Wall-Based Public Art at Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Police and Airport Authority HQ

The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) Arts at the Airport Program seeks to commission a professional visual artist, or artist team, to create site-specific wall-based artwork(s) to be placed inside the new Police and Airport Authority Headquarters building, on Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) property.  This artwork will be thematic, public-facing, and part of the permanent collection at the Airport.

The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) Arts at the Airport Program seeks to commission a professional visual artist, or artist team, to create site-specific wall-based artwork(s) to be placed inside the new Police and Airport Authority Headquarters building (The HQ), on Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) property.  This artwork will be thematic, public-facing, and part of the permanent collection at the Airport.

Click on "View Site Details" link above to see full RFP packet

HQ wall-based Artwork Location(s): Five (5) locations available

Budget: up to $20,000 each, all inclusive

Budget includes, but is not limited to, design fees, travel, mileage, per diem, engineering, fabrication, supplies, material costs, meeting and administration hours, labor, artist fees, legal review fees, approval by a Nevada-licensed engineer, permits, licenses, insurance, lighting, equipment rentals, delivery/shipping, storage, documentation, installation, usage, and licensing.

About Police and Airport Authority Headquarters (The HQ) building

The HQ, a new four-story, 62,000-square-foot building, will house both the airport police station and administrative campus for the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. The building will serve as the headquarters for all police operations, public meetings, and essential business management functions of the RTAA. The $76 million facility is designed to accommodate the airport’s expansion and staff needs over the next 20 years.

The administrative levels will feature modern office spaces for staff, public meeting spaces for the Board of Trustees, and versatile collaborative areas designed to support business operations and stakeholder events. By relocating RTAA staff and board functions from the terminal, the project will free up valuable terminal space, creating new opportunities for vendor operations and enhanced passenger amenities. The HQ’s close proximity to the terminal ensures continued accessibility for essential management operations. 

The new state-of-the-art police station is designed to enhance safety and operational efficiency for passengers, officers, and the community. Strategically located on the ground floor of the new building, the station will streamline emergency response times and provide easier access for public interactions. The new facility reflects RTAAPD‘s commitment to delivering exceptional service while maintaining the highest standards of safety through the airport’s expansion and future growth.

 The HQ is designed with public access in mind to foster stronger connections between airport police, airport authority, and the community. Situated along the airport loop road, the building will feature a dedicated public entrance, a welcoming reception area, and a comfortable public waiting space. The second floor of the building will house all public meetings with the RTAA Board of Trustees and other stakeholders.  

For more information about the Police and Airport Authority Headquarters, visit:

https://www.renoairport.com/morerno/police-rtaa-headquarters/

Carefully read and review the RFQ/RFP information.

Prepare your application materials according to the listed guidelines

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Resume/CV
• Artist Statement/Bio
• Letter of Interest
• Portfolio images (maximum of 10), with descriptions
• Three (3) professional references
• Proposal idea, sketch, mockup, description

Artist Certification Questions must be reviewed, answered, and acknowledged digitally as required.

TIMELINE

April 17, 2026: RFP OPEN

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 10:00 AM-11:00 AM [PDT] Non-Mandatory Artist Info Session via Zoom

WATCH RECORDED INFO SESSION from 04/29/26 HERE

Saturday, May 23, 2026 10:00 AM-11:00 AM: Non-Mandatory Artist Info Session: In-person at McKinley Arts & Culture Center, 925 Riverside Dr, Reno, NV 89503

WATCH RECORDED INFO SESSION from 05/23/26 HERE 

May 26, 2026: Written Questions Due to RTAA

May 27, 2026: RTAA Written Responses to Questions via Addendum Posted to CallforEntry.org

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 2:00 PM [PDT] Application Due Date & Time / RFP CLOSED

 UPDATE: we are allowing applications until 11:59pm 

Late July 2026: Issue Notices of Intent to Award to Finalists

Late July 2026 through August 2026: Agreement Negotiation & Legal Review

September 10, 2026: RTAA Board of Trustees Meeting/Award Consideration (UPDATE: August 13th, 2026)

No later than September 10, 2026: Notice to Unsuccessful Respondents

Fall/Winter 2026: Finalists’ Artwork Revisions/Approvals

Spring 2027: Artwork Installation/On-Site Painting

Spring 2027: Police & Airport Authority Headquarters Opens

Professional visual artists, or artist teams, at least 18 years of age are eligible.  Artists residing in Northern Nevada, Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Area, Carson City, and the Lake Tahoe region, surrounding counties, and those with demonstrated close ties to the region are eligible to submit.  Demonstrated experience creating commissioned public art and working with diverse community stakeholders is desired.

About the Reno-Tahoe Region map https://www.renoairport.com/about-the-region/

Employees of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA), the RTAA Board of Trustees, appointed RTAA Art Advisory Committee members, RTAA tenants or their employees, airline employees, airline affiliate partner employees (including any appointees thereof), and each of their respective consultants, contractors, employees, subcontractors, and immediate family members are ineligible to submit a response to this solicitation.

ADDENDUM Q&A

Q: I missed the Artist Info Sessions -- How can I watch them?

A:  WATCH RECORDED INFO SESSION from 04/29/26 HERE

WATCH RECORDED INFO SESSION from 05/23/26 HERE 

Q: Can I submit multiple applications? 

A: No. Limit to 1 application per CaFE account. You may apply to both the wall-based & Police mural separate proposals, although an artist can only be awarded one commission.  

Q: Is there a limit to the number of proposed sketches + mock-ups I provide in a single application? 

A: You should self-edit and submit your top 2-3 ideas MAX (too many ideas shows the selection panel you may not have a clear vision of what you are passionate about proposing).

Q: There are five locations available -- Will this RFP selection process be awarded to five different artists / teams, or can one artist / team be awarded multiple contracts through a single RFP application? 

A: We will be awarding 5 different artists these commissions.

Q: What are the themes of each floor in the HQ building?

A: First floor: "Flowing Through Northern Nevada", Second floor: "Inner Workings of Flight (Aviation)", Third floor: "Valleys to Peaks", Fourth Floor: "Inspiration From the Sky"

Q: Can I apply for more than one of the spaces to paint murals? 

A: You can apply for a specific location/floor you envision your artwork, but ultimately we will curate exactly where each artist's work will be located. We would like to see artwork beyond a painted flat wall mural in these locations -- think broader wall-based ideas, possibly incorporating 2-D, 3-D elements. The Police mural on first floor is the area we envision flat wall painting only. 
 

Q: Can I submit different styles for my proposals?

A: Make sure your proposal styles match the style shown in your past work portfolio images or the selection panel will not see a correlation between qualification capabilities and proposal idea. 

Use of AI generated proposal imagery must be noted in your application.

Q: Will we be provided the surrounding color scheme and furniture layout in the space?

A: Yes, the selected artist will work closely with our design team and will be provided color swatches, fabric palette samples and visuals of each space to coordination artwork with the interior finishes.
 

Following many inquiries on deadline timing, we are allowing applications to be submitted until 11:59pm PST