OVERVIEW

 

This is a paid opportunity from JFK T5/Fraport USA : Call for Artist Terminal 5 Art Installation Mural and Digital Screen Art display. Fraport USA recognizes the depth and vibrancy of Queens, and all of New York City. This is why we will be presenting your art, your stories, and the heart of our neighborhoods within Terminal 5 at JFK.

​

We are seeking artwork that reflects the true spirit of our community: bold, fresh, smart, stylish, witty, and rooted in authenticity. Art that resonates with New Yorkers and global travelers alike, reminding them exactly where they’ve arrived the moment they step into the terminal.

As JetBlue’s hometown terminal, we want the airport to feel like home unmistakably NYC. To bring that vision to life, we’re calling on local artists like you. Selected artists will receive a one time stipend to produce:

​

Mural Artists/ Teams

• (2) Mural on a feature wall  

• (1) Mural across one column

• 6 Mural finalists will receive a one-time stipend of $500 each to develop custom mural concepts

• For completed Murals, artist(s) or team will receive between $15,000 - $30,000 depending on chosen location.​

​​

Please Read Project Scope and Specifications below for mural size info.

​​

​

RFP

CALLING NYC ARTIST

​

We’re announcing  the Terminal 5/Fraport USA art installation open call for Artists to submit their artwork for bold new art opportunities. These works will embody T5’s brand spirit: innovative, authentic, and deeply connected to the community, while standing strong in the pulse of a busy airport environment.

​

​We’re looking for art that moves, capturing the rhythm, flow, and intersections of people and journeys. The Terminal 5/Fraport USA Art Installation celebrates the energy of travel, the thrill of discovery, and the grace of movement that defines every traveler’s experience.

Together, these pieces will honor the identity of New York City, expressed in a way that feels fresh, modern, and elevated. Artists are encouraged to draw inspiration from the textures, patterns, and character of the city, without leaning on the obvious or cliché.

​

THEME​

 

Celebrating New York’s identity and JetBlue’s role as its hometown airline. This should be expressed in a modern and elevated way, drawing inspiration from New York’s culture, patterns, and character without relying on literal or cliché imagery.

​

A vision of possibility; a celebration of imagination, resilience, and creativity that rises above the everyday. It evokes the act of building dreams in the air: ideas that feel impossible until they take form. For Terminal 5, the airline’s hometown hub, your submission symbolizes what New Yorkers do best, turning vision into reality, creating beauty from hustle, and finding meaning in motion. ​

​

We’re seeking artwork that embodies this upward energy: bold, fresh, witty, stylish, and unmistakably New York. These works should welcome travelers with the rhythm and spirit of the city, reminding them they’ve arrived in a place defined by creativity and culture. 

​

​​​

Artists are invited to interpret their work as both a metaphor and a mission; to elevate stories of Queens and New York City into the sky, where dreams and departures meet. Whether through murals that anchor the terminal walls or digital works that move across its screens, each piece will represent the limitless creative spirit of the NYC Artist.

​

PROJECT SCOPE AND SPECIFICATIONS

​

Artwork will be formatted in proportion to the following sizes:

 

Feature Wall 1
Mural Location: Center Node

Mural Image Size:

45' 4 1/4" W  x  5' 7” H

​

Feature Wall 2

Mural Location:  Food Court

Total Size: 228’ 6" W x 7’ H

into 4 sections (1A,1B and 2A, 2B)

 

Mural Image Size:

1A: 128' 6" x 4'

1B: 15' x 4'

​

2A: 100' x 7'

2B:  15' x 7'

​

​

Column Wrap
Mural Location:  Center Node

Mural Image Size:

Height: 10'

Circumference: 16' 7.5' W

​​

​

REQUIRED GUIDELINES AND ELIGIBILITY

​

​* Submit ONE application

​

* NYC-based artists only

* Artist must be 18 years or older

* Must be artists original work. Artwork that is not originally created by the applicant will not be accepted ( replicas, studies, prompted a.i generations, art reproductions ). Artwork must not include branded symbols, logos or direct representation of specific persons, or any intellectual property not owned by applicant. 

* Multiple applications will not be accepted.

* The selected artist will be required to sign an agreement stating the artwork accepted is their original work.

* Selected artwork for mural will be formatted digitally, upsampled, and printed and installed to mural site specifications.      

* If selected for the Mural(s) 6 Finalist will be Required to Develop a detailed Mural proposal, including design mockups. Each of the 6 Finalists will receive a stipend of $500 for the mural proposal.

* No Screenshots of artwork will be accepted.

​

TIMELINE

​* Open Call for Submissions Starts January 30, 2026

​

* In-Person Information Session February 11, 2026 5-7pm

  Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) 153-10 Jamaica Ave, Jamaica NY 11432

RSVP on EventBrite

 

* Deadline for final submissions: February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. 

  Submissions will no longer be accepted after this time.

​

Top Finalists will receive notifications in May 2026.

​

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

 

* Application

* Artist statement 500 words max

* Curriculum Vitae (CV)/ Resume

* Include full name, address, email and phone number

* Submit 5 images

* Description list matching images i.e. Title, Medium, Size, Year

* High quality photos of artwork

* PDF, JPEG, PNG or shared permission drive link

* 1 PDF file Preferred​​​

​​

Please Review application materials and fill out the application form on this page below to submit. Vaughn Bentley Creative will NOT accept artwork submissions outside of this application form. For frequently asked questions, see the following FAQ listed.

 

For additional submission Inquiry, application questions, or correspondence please contact: submit@vaughnbentleycreative.com

​

FAQ

 

What is the JFK Terminal 5 Open Call?

A paid public art opportunity for NYC-based artists to create large-scale murals and column wrap artwork inside JFK Airport’s Terminal 5.

 

Who is organizing the project?

Vaughn Bentley Creative (VBC), an NYC-based public art and creative consulting studio specializing in artist-centered, community-responsive projects.

 

Who can apply?

Artists or artist teams who are:

• Based in New York City

• 18 years or older

• Submitting original work

 

What type of murals will the artwork submitted be used for?

Interior murals and column wrap murals designed specifically for high-traffic airport environments. The artwork will be formatted for a completed design layout.

​

Where will the artwork be installed?

Highly visible locations throughout Terminal 5, including feature walls, food court corridors, and structural columns.

 

What is the theme?

Artwork should reflect New York City identity, including creativity, resilience, imagination, movement, and everyday moments of inspiration. 

 

What style is encouraged?

Bold, contemporary, visually engaging artwork that feels unmistakably New York.

 

Is this a paid opportunity?

Yes. All selected artists will be compensated.

 

How much are artists paid?

• Final mural commissions range from $15,000–$30,000, depending on scale and location

• Selected finalists receive a $500 concept stipend

 

What does the application require?

Applicants must submit:

• A brief project concept

• A short artist statement

• A résumé or CV

• Five original art work images 

• Summary list of artwork submissions.

 

How are artists selected?

Applications are reviewed by a committee based on artistic quality, theme alignment, feasibility, and relevant experience.

 

How is fairness ensured?

The process uses clear guidelines, standardized review criteria, and equal consideration for all applicants.

 

Will artists receive support?

Yes. Selected artists receive guidance, print/ sizing templates, layout design and art sample assistance, production coordination, and installation support.

 

OPEN CALL COMMUNICATION POLICY​

​

To preserve the integrity of the selection process, applicants are strictly prohibited from contacting, corresponding with, or attempting to communicate with any member of the review or selection committee regarding their submission, including but not limited to inquiries about application status, finalists, or awarded selections. All communications and inquiries concerning the Open Call and its results must be submitted solely to the following email address: submit@vaughnbentleycreative.com. Any communication made outside of this designated channel, or any attempt to influence or obtain information from committee members, constitutes a violation of the Open Call terms and may result in immediate disqualification of the applicant without further notice.

​

 

ALL documents in this list MUST be submitted through the form below.