Queens in Flight Local Art Program
 at JFK Terminal 6

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Release Date: July 7, 2025
Submission Deadline: August 29, 2025
Artists Notified by: October 27, 2025

Description

The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), on behalf of JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), invites local Queens-based artists to submit proposals for the Queens in Flight Local Art Program at JFK Terminal 6 who meet one of the following criteria:

a. Queens residents for at least twelve months, or; 

b. Artists who make art at the time of their submission out of a Queens-based studio or location, or;

c. Artists who can demonstrate a strong personal or professional relationship to the borough. 

 This program will showcase the cultural and artistic diversity of Queens through contemporary art installed on in high-traffic areas of this new and expanded airport terminal. Artists selected will license their artwork and have the opportunity to display it before millions of global passengers, to provide signage and information on their work, portfolio, and art practice (e.g. QR codes), and to sell the displayed artwork if they choose. Artwork will be on display for 12 months, after which a new cohort of local artists will be selected to display their artwork.

The Art

Queens in Flight is not a commissioning program; this RFP is to surface only preexisting artworks by Queens-based artists that a) reflect the cultural and artistic diversity of Queens, and b) fit a prefabricated display case (specifications are provided in Appendix). Any artwork that is considered for display may only "utilize statements, symbols or markings in the artworks submitted that are suitable for artworks to be displayed in a public space and in conformance with Port Authority standards and that do not violate the right of privacy or publicity of any third party."

Artist Fee

Each selected artist will receive a stipend of $5,000.

Applicant Eligibility

Selected artists must:

· Be at least 16 years of age.

· At the time of their selection, provide proof of one of the following:

o are current Queens residents for at least twelve months, or; 

o artists who make art at the time of their submission out of a Queens-based studio or location, or;

o can demonstrate a strong personal or professional relationship to the borough. 

· Make artwork available for license that reflects the cultural diversity and dynamism of Queens.

· Make artwork available that fits in a prefabricated display case.

While only artists who meet the eligibility requirements may apply, applicants of all races, colors, religions, languages, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, disabilities, socioeconomic status, marital status, and all other protected categories are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Proposal Requirements

• Cover Letter: Provide a one-page cover letter (with name, snail/email address, phone number) explaining your interest in the Queens in Flight Local Art Program, and how your work as      an artist will benefit from this program.
• Artist Statement: Provide a statement of no more than five hundred words (2 pages or less) detailing your artistic      journey, the themes you explore in your work, and how your artwork aligns  with the purpose and goals of the Queens in Flight Local Art program.
• CV/Resume: Provide a CV (if appropriate) or professional resume.
• Portfolio: Submit up to 5 high-quality images of preexisting artworks for consideration for the program.

Submission Deadline 

All proposals must be submitted through Submittable at the following link: https://jcal.submittable.com/submit/331578/queens-in-flight-local-art-program-at-jfk-terminal-6

Selection Process

A seven-member selection committee, comprising representatives from JCAL, JMP, the Port Authority, and local and national art experts, will evaluate submissions and select up to six artists whose work reflects Queens' cultural diversity.

Art Installation, Exhibition & Preservation

· Artwork preparation and installation logistics will occur in November of each year, and the artwork will be on display for 12 months.

• Art installation will be strategically placed in high-traffic areas of the airport that transit  international passengers and provide signage and information (e.g., QR  codes) where the traveling public can view and purchase the work on display. An introductory plaque or digital display near each artwork will provide information about the artist, the title, and a brief description or statement about the work.
• The artist will have the opportunity to sell the work on display, with such sale facilitated by      JCAL.
• Each exhibit will be documented through high-quality photography and video to create an archive  of the program for promotional purposes of future exhibitions. Artists' works will be featured on the Port Authority’s JFK Airport T6 website, specifically on the Art page.
• All art  placement, signage, and placement of QR codes must be approved by JMP and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Legacy and Continuation

JMP will document each exhibit through high-quality photography and video to create an archive of the program. This can be used for promotional purposes of future exhibitions. The Port Authority T6 Art webpage will feature artists' works.

Other Matters

• Certification Process: Selected artists must provide proof to have met the eligibility requirements spelled out in this RFP. 
• Contractual Agreements: The contract for the artists will be between JMP and the Artist, facilitated by JCAL 
• Community Engagement: An opening  reception will be held for the new exhibition, inviting the community,      airport staff, and travelers to celebrate the unveiling of the works. Promotional materials (flyers, social media campaigns, press releases) will be created to publicize the  opening receptions and highlight the artists and their works. 

About JFK Millennium Partners and Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

JFK Millennium Partners (JMP)

Terminal 6 is an award-winning public-private partnership between the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) – a consortium that includes Vantage Airport Group, an industry leading investor, developer and manager of award-winning global airport projects, including LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B; American Triple I, a certified minority-owned investor, owner, developer and manager of infrastructure assets; RXR, an innovative New York real estate investor and developer; and JetBlue Airways. As part of its agreement with the Port Authority, JMP also currently manages JFK Terminal 7, which will be demolished in 2026 when the second phase of Terminal 6 construction begins. For more information, visit  https://www.anewjfk.com/jmp-terminal6/ 

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL)

Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), founded in 1972, is a multidisciplinary arts center based in the diverse community of Southeast Queens. Our mission is devoted to offering quality visual, and performing arts, and to providing accessible education programs to encourage participation in the arts. JCAL is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm; closed Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays. For additional information, call JCAL at 718-658-7400 or visit www.JCAL.org.

Appendix A

RFP Opens: Monday, June 30, 2025

RFP Closes: Monday, August 4, 2025

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) invites New York City-based visual artists to apply for its Artist Residency and Training Seminar Series (ARTWorks), a six-month Fellowship that focuses on career sustainability. While all New York City-based visual artists may apply, priority will be given to Queens-based BIIPOC artists.

During ARTWorks, six artists will regard their practice as a small business, identify entrepreneurial and professional goals, and generate a long-term plan to accomplish them. In doing so, ARTWorks Fellows receive the practical knowledge to navigate the aesthetic and socioeconomic complexities and substructures of the New York art world. Through fiscal and technical support, Fellows will learn the business of art as they expand their professional network Fellows will engage in regular meetings with the rest of the cohort, coordinated by Sherwin Banfield, Program Manager. Fellows will also be required to participate in at least six events in a Seminar Series that will explore topics chosen by the Program Manager in consultation with the Fellows. Seminar speakers may include:

· established and emerging artists from Queens, New York City, and the United States at large,

· curators, conservators, exhibition designers, and researchers,

· MBAs, MFAs, CPAs, managers, and agents,

· gallerists, collectors, academics, and appraisers,

· journalists, editors, and critics,

· observers, supporters, and influencers in NYC’s contemporary visual art scene

Past Seminar topics have included: 

· artist copyright & contracts,

· building relationships with collectors,

· establishing one’s artistic legacy,

· working with commercial galleries,

· career insights,

· writing about art,

· grant writing,

· wellness and artmaking,

· using social media and other marketing tools to promote one’s work,

· taxes and accounting for artists,

· art handling basics, and more!  

Fellows will also engage periodically with an established career artist, who will serve as Artist Mentor to the group. During the program, the ARTWorks Artist Mentor and Program Manager will both act as contact points and resources. Their roles, in part, are to ensure that the Fellowship serves the needs and meets the interests of each artist. Occasions for peer-to-peer, group, and/or one-on-one guidance and feedback are provided.

Members of the 2026 ARTWorks cohort will have the opportunity to interact with previous ARTWorks Fellows for occasional guidance and support. After their own Fellowship is completed, the 2026 cohort would be welcome to mentor future cohorts as well.

Each Fellow in the ARTWorks program receives $5,000, paid out over the course of the program. Fellows are also eligible for free studio space at JCAL, comprised of about 550 square feet, on an as-available basis. (Applicants should be aware that this studio space will be shared with other JCAL programs.) One 7’ x 4’ studio closet will be allotted to Fellows for storing projects and materials if needed. Working through the Program Manager, Fellows may also take one free class at JCAL on a space-available basis.

At the conclusion of ARTWorks, Fellows participate in a two-month public group exhibition (with catalogue) in JCAL’s Miller and Community galleries.

Program Timeline:

· Applications due midnight Monday, August 4, 2025

· Selected artists notified via email on Monday, August 18, 2025

· Contract and supporting materials due midnight Monday, September 1, 2025

· Announcement of Fellows made public on Monday, September 15, 2025

· ARTWorks 2025 begins Wednesday, October 1, 2025

· ARTWorks 2025 ends Friday, May 1, 2026

Program Eligibility:

Top priority will be given to Queens-based artists of underrepresented communities. Artists with multidisciplinary practices are welcome to apply, with the understanding that ARTWorks focuses on visual artists who work in traditional forms. Applicants must also:

· reside in New York City (preferably Queens) or Long Island,

· identify as BIIPOC (Black, Immigrant, Indigenous, People of Color),

· demonstrate clarity of concept in their work and strong evidence of craft,

· possess a deep commitment to social practice in their work,

· not have received major exposure via exhibitions, grants, or other residencies,

· not be enrolled full- or part-time in any college degree or certificate program.

· past ARTWorks Fellows are ineligible.

Selection Criteria:

Artists will be evaluated on the strength of their submission (see Application Requirements). Strong preference will be given to Queens-based artists and to those artists who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, those issues relevant to underrepresented communities of Queens and the greater New York City area.

Fellows will be selected by a jury that will evaluate all submissions without obvious identifiers. As a cultural institution, JCAL is committed to serving those of all races, colors, religions, languages, gender identities, sexual orientations, national origins, ages, disabilities, socioeconomic statuses, marital statuses, and all other differences. Demographic information will be collected internally by JCAL to determine program eligibility and for grant reporting purposes only. 

Application Requirements

To apply, all of the following must be submitted online to https://jcal.submittable.com/submit.

· Work samples: six images (.jpg, .pdf, .png, .tiff only) OR two videos 3-5 minutes in length (.mp4, .mov, .wmv, Quicktime only). No password-protected files will be reviewed.

· One-page description of work samples, including title, date, dimensions, and medium (for images) or title, date, duration, B&W/color, and silent or sound (for videos).

· One artist statement of no more than 300 words.

· One professional reference of no more than 300 words.

· CV with all relevant contact information.

· One paragraph summarizing your expectations of ARTWorks.

All submitted materials, including work samples, must be original to and the sole property of the applicant, or the application will be disqualified. Applications will not be considered complete and will not be reviewed without all required materials submitted.

Major support for ARTWorks is provided by the Jerome Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mellon Foundation, and the Howard Gilman Foundation. JCAL is especially grateful for support from City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, City Council Member Nantasha Williams, and the Office of the Mayor through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. JCAL also acknowledges season support for visual arts from Con Edison.