PUBLIC ARTAPPROCAHING THE COMMISSIONING PROCESS

Presented by Caroline Orr

WHY UNDERTAKE COMMISSIONS

Opportunity to expand practice

New audiences

Income

WHO COMMISSIONS

Per Cent for Art Scheme: 1% of capital construction project funding from Irish Govt Depts, subject to limits, granted for art projects.

Commissions administered by Local Authorities, Office of Public Works, Schools, Fire Service

Per Cent for Art Scheme General National Guidelines published 2004. www.publicart.ie

OTHER COMMISSIONERS

Galleries and Arts Organisations with off-site projects

Festivals

Private Developers

FORMS OF COMMISSIONING

Open competition– Openly advertised and generally a 2 stage process– An opportunity for emerging artists

Limited competition – By invitation and generally a 1 stage process

Direct commission– By invitation

COMMISION OPPORTUNITIES INFO

Websites: Arts Councils, Local Authorities and arts resource organisations ie. Visual Artists Ireland, CREATE, Community Arts Forum, National Sculpture Factory, Leitrim Sculpture Centre. Also art-public.com

E-shots / E-newsletters: as above

Publications: Visual Artists Newsheet, Circa, Irish Times, Local newspapers

Word of mouth

THE BRIEF

Ensure to read carefully

Request clarity if necessary

An indication of commissioners vision

Is this commission opportunity for you?

THE PROPOSAL

Allow sufficient preparation time

Respond imaginatively to the specifics of the brief

Respond to the selection criteria

Fulfil all submission requirements

Write engagingly and with clarity

Be professional– Typed/ checklist / Spell checked / Proof read / include name, date,

and page number at bottom of each page / keep a copy

PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Curriculum Vitae– Up to date, relevant to proposal and not too long

Artist’s Statement– Interesting, clear and not too long

Explanation of the creative idea for the art work– Original, engaging, challenging, responsive to brief

PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Visual information ie. maquettes, drawings, computer-generated images

– Good quality – In appropriate format– Clearly labelled with your name

Details of materials and dimensions

Information on realising the art work ie. fabrication, transport, installation etc

PROPOSAL CONTENTS

– artist’s fee – insurance– workshops– materials– fabrication– transportation– possible site works

– traffic management costs

– installation– possible lighting

features– title plaque– Etc.

Realistic and detailed budget

An itemised budget may include;

PROPOSAL CONTENTS

Realistic timeline

Support and resources necessary

Health and Safety information

Maintenance requirements

SELECTION

Selection panels are thorough in their deliberations and base decisions on the selection criteria

Proposal selected– Congratulations!

Proposal not selected this time– Request feedback

RESOURCES

Visual Artists Ireland website: ‘info-pool’ section on www.visualartists.ie (Preparing proposals and The Science and Art of Pricing and Costing your Work by Annette Clancy and Undertaking Commissions by Annette Moloney)

Arts Council of Ireland website: ‘supporting documentation’ section within available funding pages on www.artscouncil.ie