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Commissioning artwork
It is fair
and sensible to say here that working with artists isn’t always
easy. Neither, should it be. After all it is their individuality that
gives them their flare.
On the whole artists aren’t team players, they often have problems
with budgets and deadlines.
Selecting and appointing artists can be done one of two ways, the first,
for want of a better description, is patronage. This is the research into
and recommendation of an artist, normally by the arts profesional, to
the arts steering group overseeing the project. The artist will be invited
to produce ideas for which a small commission is placed. The arts steering
group then considers the recommendation and advice upon it’s acceptability.
This process has the advantage of speed and economy. It is suitable for
smaller commissions, less say than £20,000.
The second approach is by advert and public submission which is then considered
and presented to the arts steering group. Small commissions can then be
given to an artist or artists to produce ideas for the advertised opportunity.
This way will almost certainly be more costly. It is advisable in the
case of a large commission of say above £20,000. It has the advantage
of transparency.
But this is perhaps jumping the gun, first there needs to be a brief.
This is produced as a result of the arts steering group discussion of
where to place art in the building. Guidelines for artist similar to those
at the end of this booklet should be attached and understood. The arts
steering group should agree their guidelines.
Once this proccess is completed a contract is issued to the artist and
payment terms agreed including an advance for time and materials if circumstances
demand it, they often do.
At least one studio visit by the arts professional is recommended and
regular contact needs to be maintained during the period of making, the
artist introduced to the architect where appropriate and any specific
installation details communicated.
It must be emphasised that a large part of the suitability of an artist
to undertake a commission is their ability to complete and fit the art
work in time and within budget. Most of the difficulties between artist
and commissioner happen here. Failure can be catastrophic and extremely
expensive.
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