Asheville Regional Airport Begins Call to Artists for AVL Forward Permanent Public Art Program

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) has launched its Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a permanent public art program as part of AVL Forward, the airport’s terminal modernization project.

The RFQ invites artists and artist-led teams nationwide to submit qualifications for two large-scale, permanent installations in the new terminal. The works will anchor key spaces and reflect the natural beauty, culture, and creative spirit of Western North Carolina.

“This is an opportunity to bring world-class art into the heart of our airport,” said Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport. “AVL has always aimed to reflect the region it serves, and this program deepens that commitment.”

The initiative builds on AVL’s existing arts programs, including Art in the Airport and Music in the Airport, and expands the airport’s approach to placemaking by integrating art directly into the new terminal design.

The new terminal design is guided by the concept of a modern gateway rooted in natural beauty. Selected artworks will support this vision and create a strong sense of arrival.

Two installation sites have been identified:

  • The terminal’s grand hall at the main entrance
  • The airside central concessions area

Submissions are open now on CallForEntry.org and are due by June 22, 2026. Finalists will be invited to submit proposals, with installations expected ahead of the terminal’s completion in 2028.

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.