Pittsburgh International Airport Provides Online Art and Aviation Learning Opportunities for Back-to-School Season

With summer travel plans on hold and the start of the school year anything but typical, Pittsburgh International Airport is providing new opportunities for children and families to engage in creativity and learning.

One of those opportunities is a Student Art Exhibit open to schoolchildren in Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties. Beginning Sept. 1, children ages 6-18 will be able to submit original artwork to the airport with the theme of “Nobody Owns the Sky,” the title of a children’s book about Bessie Coleman who became the first African-American licensed aviator in 1921.

Winners will be chosen from three age groups, and digital images of their work will be displayed throughout the airport and on its website, FlyPittsburgh.com. All types of artwork media will be accepted until Oct. 1.

Details on how to submit artwork and other rules can be found on the FlyPittsburgh.com website.

The airport has also partnered with Pittsburgh artists and previous airport artists-in-residence to create a free activity book for families to download that contains aviation-themed puzzles, games and other entertaining pastimes appropriate for all ages.

The PIT Safe Travels @Home activity book features local artists including Toby Fraley, Tereneh Idia, and Blaine Siegel, along with artist-designed activities showcasing passenger favorites like the Fraley’s Robot Repair Shop exhibit in Concourse A.

The activity book can be downloaded from the FlyPittsburgh.com website.

“Our vision is to reflect and serve our community especially during this difficult time,” said Rachel Saul Rearick, Arts & Culture Manager. “Our team is pleased to have collaborated with local artists to offer these opportunities that help children catalyze their energy and creativity, and learn about art and aviation in the process.”