RENO, Nev. – The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority (RTAA) has reached another historic milestone. Today, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the airport’s first Public Art Installation Agreement to commission a public art piece in the newly designed Ticketing Hall, set to be completed in spring 2024.
“I am proud to be a part of a Board that so strongly supports public art,” said Adam Kramer, Chairman of the RTAA board. “I look forward to how this arts program will add to the already great positive first and last impression the airport has on this region.”
In 2021, and as part of the MoreRNO infrastructure improvement program, the RTAA Board of Trustees voted to allocate a minimum one percent of design and construction costs for capital improvement projects in public spaces for art at Reno-Tahoe International (RNO) and Reno-Stead Airports (RTS). Under the resolution, the RTAA launched a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the purpose of commissioning public art within the Ticketing Hall Expansion project. 62 qualified artist submittals were received from around the world.
Over a four-month period, the RTAA’s inaugural Art Advisory Committee, comprised of executives from local and regional art organizations, reviewed, scored, interviewed, and selected a finalist to recommend to the Board. Their choice was Dixie Friend Gay of Houston, Texas.
“I am excited to be a part of the Art Advisory Committee and support the airport in its endeavors to showcase our region and the artistic talents of people like Dixie Friend Gay,” said Jennifer Cunningham, Trustee and Board Liaison to the Art Advisory Committee. “We are elevating the experience of our passengers and providing another great program for our travelers to enjoy.”
Dixie Friend Gay is a nationally acclaimed artist, with 20 years of experience creating public art, some of which can be seen in airports like George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Indianapolis International Airport. Dixie was enamored by the rich hues and natural beauty of the region and plans to create a vibrant piece that represents the textures and colors of the seasons in Reno-Tahoe and provides an immersive experience for airport visitors.
The commission is valued at $247,000 and will be completed for the Ticketing Hall grand opening.
Art will continue to play a prominent role as RNO is reimagined and the facility undergoes a generational transformation through MoreRNO. With the recently approved Art Master Plan and construction continuing at the airport for several years, the opportunity to celebrate the vibrant culture of the region through art is at the forefront of each project.
