Airports were once boring drab affairs that travellers were only too glad to escape and get on their planes as quickly as possible. However, terminals are becoming impromptu art galleries and helping to raise the visitor experience to new heights.
The art space can act as de-stress for travellers or a distraction to linger a little longer while queueing for their next flight. Here are the latest art projects that you could be quietly contemplating soon.
A new award, Art in the Airport, now in its second year, celebrates the art space standard at airports. The Skytrax World's Best Airports awards were based on the results of the Skytrax judging panel, not customer survey results.
The judges said: “Airports serve as both the welcome and farewell to the city, and in many cases the airport provides local, regional or cultural memories.
“Airport art and sculpture can be a valuable means of customer engagement and marketing, and an excellent stimulus to comfort, distract, and entertain. Many customers today use social media while travelling, and airport artwork is a popular feature to post.”
Houston remains the best
Setting the gold standard is Houston Airports, which, for the second successive year, was crowned with the Best Airport Art & Entertainment Program at the World Airport Awards hosted by Skytrax.
"Houston Airports is dedicated to creating a 5-star global air service gateway that celebrates the magic of flight. We carefully invest in and curate art that reflects our city and the diverse global community we serve," said Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports.
"It's an honor to know that our unique arts program resonates with our passengers and the thoughtful ways we delight and entertain create positive and lasting memories. The arts have a special power, and with creativity and innovation, Houston Airports continues to elevate the airport arts experience to new heights.”
Houston Airports has one of the largest collections of public art in the aviation industry. Placed throughout the airport's terminals A, B and C, and grounds, artworks include everything from sculptures to photographs, predominantly by Texas-based artists. It presently has 350 permanent artworks.
Houston Airports boasts one of the aviation industry's largest civic art collections, overseen by Curator of Public Art, Alton DuLaney. The 350-piece collection is set to grow with the addition of 12 commissioned pieces for the new IAH international terminal.
Houston Airports employs more than 75 local professional musicians through its performing arts program, Harmony in the Air. Maricela Kruseman serves as Program Director of Harmony in the Air. Passengers at Bush and Hobby airports enjoy live performances, making Harmony in the Air a beloved amenity that is often praised on customer comment cards. In 2023, Houston's airports welcomed over 60.1 million passengers.
"Every passenger deserves exceptional experiences at Houston's airports. Maintaining the gold standard of customer service, our airports embody Houston-friendly hospitality,” said Liliana Rambo, Chief Terminal Management and Administration Officer for Houston Airports.
“Houston serves as a global gateway. As Art City, not only do we showcase our diversity and creative spirit, but we also understand art's profound impact, offering world-class entertainment that embraces cultures. This accolade reaffirms Houston’s global position and the transformative power of art in creating lasting memories."
In 2024, Houston Airports announced it would begin collaborating with the Orange Show to showcase Art Cars, FotoFest and the UH Center for Mexican American & Latino Studies.
The Skytrax top ten in the World's Best Art in the Airport 2024 category was:
- Houston Airport System
- Mumbai
- Singapore Changi
- Doha Hamad
- Los Angeles
- Amsterdam Schiphol
- Vancouver
- Bangalore
- Atlanta
- Sacramento
Andy Probert is an independent journalist and PR writer. He writes about travel, aviation, new tech and business. His work has appeared on the BBC, in The Daily Telegraph, Hurriyet Daily News and other newspapers worldwide.
