Artists

London has a very strong network of artists and also attracts many artists from the UK and internationally who come to show and make work in the city. Its arts organisations are respected both for their exhibition and projects that often have an international profile, and for education and outreach work with audiences and localities. Within this context, commissioning artists to work outside in the public realm is just as important for London and its many different localities, as elsewhere.  It can help an area gain recognition, affect local pride and result in an artwork that becomes part of a place.

It is important to think carefully about the kinds of artists you want to work with, their experience and approach. If you or your organisation has no previous experience of commissioning, it can be very daunting, and worth seeking out arts expertise such as consultants/curators to guide you.

Looking at case studies, visiting contemporary art galleries and talking to your local authority arts officer can all help. Although there are a number of online databases of artists (see links), it is often difficult to judge the quality and appropriateness of the work from looking online.

Selecting:
Selecting artists can happen in a number of ways: direct invitation, competitive interview, invited competition and open competition. Often an art expert (consultant, curator or arts organisation) oversees this process and has the knowledge and visual arts background to identify artists. Using a steering group for a commission can bring in additional expertise to the process as well as a community viewpoint.