If you have difficulty decorating your home or office, just think of the challenge to make the vast hallways of an airport seem less institutional. Traditional artwork would be lost on the massive stretches of walls next to the moving walkways and cost is certainly a factor for such expansive space.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) airport solved some of these problems by holding an annual art competition and then displaying a vast array of entries for seven months. The 13th Annual exhibit is open to employees, retirees, or volunteers of the airport, tenants, and airlines and is part of an extensive judging process that provides cash prizes. There are multiple categories, and thus, multiple entries — filling yards and yards of display cases with beautiful art.
While you may not have the same decorating challenge as MSP, you can adapt their idea to suit your own needs. How can you engage your employees — or community members — by providing a forum for them to participate in mutually beneficial ways? Whether it be through art, other hobbies, writing, archives, or any other medium, allowing others to contribute can be a delightful partnership for both parties.
