Planning your project

There are a number of things that need careful consideration before you embark on commissioning a public art project:

• Decide what you want your project to achieve and find out if it needs to fit within an existing public art strategy
• Identify potential sites and opportunities for artists (see ‘What is public art?’)
• Establish a budget and timescale for the project – is it permanent or temporary?
• Create a brief that covers your proposed consultation process, appropriate materials, site, theme, ownership and future maintenance
• Agree an appropriate artist selection process – do you want to advertise the opportunity or have you already got an artist in mind?
• Consider ways in which you want to involve the public in the development of the project
• How do you plan to support the artist through the commissioning process and ensure all parties are kept in regular communication?
• Who will oversee the production and installation of the work?
• How will you promote your project – have you planned a marketing campaign?

Commissions East can offer advice and support for all of above.