SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES

Searching for public art projects can be a long and complicated process. Calls for proposals are sometimes posted with private development companies who fund the projects, not by arts boards or councils. As an emerging public artist, you will have better chances winning commissions for smaller projects. The size of the project is determined by the allocated budget, and this figure is also listed within each call for proposals. It is in your interest to consider participating in even very modest projects, as a way of gaining some experience. This will help you in future applications.

The first step to take when starting your search is to think about what type of project you would like to do. Outdoor/Indoor? Temporary/Permanent? Non-profit/Commissioned? Then you need to find out who may be looking for the sort of project that you have in mind. A corporation looking for an outdoor sculpture is different from a town council looking for a memorial or a community piece. Recently we have seen a number of community based projects, where the artist is hired to directly engage with and involve the community and the neighbourhood into the creative process. This often involves workshops conducted by the artist, where families participate in, for example, making tiles. A sense of shared participation is essential for these community based projects. Other types of public art are more conventional: an artist or a small team is hired to make a specific piece for a specific space.

Consider where you are willing to travel to create the piece (often you can work travel costs into your budget) since this will help you get started. First contact the local Arts Council or Board of the town/city to find out if they have any leads. Then find out if there is a gallery or an artist-run centre that may have a bulletin board with postings for Calls for Submissions. Also contact that province/state's Arts Council for the same information.

After hunting through these sources, you may want to try looking through internet web-sites. The internet may be quite helpful if you know what you are searching for. Getting started and sorting through hundreds of sites will be the hardest part, but usually goes quickly as you discover links to more helpful sites and gain further direction to what you are looking for.

The following is a list of web-sites to get you started in your search for opportunities. Following the annotated sites is a list of key words which you may want to use to get started in your own search.

KEYWORDS:

public art opportunities
public art proposals
outdoor art
calls for submission
arts deadlines
art in public places
municipal public art
visual art opportunities

ARTIST, DESIGNER, ARCHITECT TEAM

You have different options for presenting your proposal. You may want to submit an idea as a solo artist. Equally acceptable is the submission of an idea by a team. A team is typically comprised of one or two artists, perhaps pairing up with an architectural firm, or a design firm. As the initiator of the project, you may want to approach a designer or an architectural firm to participate with you on a project.

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WEB-SITES TO VISIT

Don't hesitate to check out sites around the world. You will learn a lot, simply by comparing and contrasting. Some opportunities are an open call to citizens of the world, others are local or regional in nature. Your chances of making a public piece are sometimes, but not always, higher in your own region. Do remember to check and see if the posted opportunity is restricted to the citizens of a particular province, state or country.

Groups, Organizations, On-line Discussion Boards, Newsletters, etc.

www.publicartonline.org.uk - Detailed information on public art practices; news and recent commission opportunities, advice forum, discussion board, information sheets, links to other public art web sites.

www.sigap.net - Art-public.com publishes regularly a newsletter addressed to the professionals in the field of art, architecture and urban design.

www.sculpteurs.org - French Union of Sculptures and Plastic Artists

www.traces.ws - International stone sculpture symposia

www.sculptor.org - Here are resources related to sculptors and sculpture on and off the internet. It a useful tool for sculptors and those interested in sculpture. Over 400 pages of resources and tools, 12,000+ links, 35,000+ visitors per month. Consistently a top site for sculpture and sculptors on the web.

www.linst.ac.uk - This guide provides a general introduction to the field of public art, rather than to the work of a particular artist, or using particular techniques. Many of the sites listed include links other relevant sites. Some organisations also give information on funding, events and opportunities.

www.artsjournal.com - ArtsJournal: Daily digest of arts, culture, and ideas.

www.Zpub.com/public - Public Art on the internet, discussions about current issues. They have been on the web since 1987.

www.publicartreview.org - Published bi-annually since 1989, listings of current contests, back issues available.

www.a-n.co.uk - Public Artist's Resource for writing proposals, finding opportunities. Based in United Kingdom (UK) they also have opportunities for artists who live outside the UK.

artdeadline.com - "The art world's source for Income and Exhibition Oportunities" A comprehensive site, listings of visual arts deadlines, alternate media deadlines, art in public placess, funding deadlines, fellowships, internships, jobs.

www.globalartinfo.com - International listing of public art opportunities, subscription mailing lists (with a yearly cost), free listing of exhibitions, competitions, festivals, residencies, grants, etc.

www.artistsincanada.com - Listing by province of public art opportunities.

www.artbusiness.com - ArtBusiness.com provides complete art services, art appraisals, art price data, news, articles, and market information to art collectors, artists, and fine arts professionals.

www.cityofboston.gov/arts/culture - The Boston Art Commission, established in 1890, is the oldest municipal art commission in the United States. It exercises legal authority to approve and site new public art on property owned by the City of Boston.

egov.cityofchicago.org - The Chicago City web-site. Search for "public art" to find their current listings of public art projects.

www.city.thunder-bay.on.ca - Thunder Bay arts and heritage home page, information about applications and grants as well as other funding opportunities; Committee for Art in Public Spaces (CAPS);

www.ottawa2020.com - This website outlines the plan for Arts and Heritage funding in Ottawa, ON. For more information contact Cathy Shepertycki, Cultural Planner, Arts Development.
e: cathy.shepertycki@ottawa.ca

www.florida-arts.org - Individual Artist Fellowship Program, Art in State Buildings Program, Opportunities for individual artists: Public Art Opportunities, employment, exhibitions, grants. Based in Florida State, USA.

www.arlingtonarts.org - Arts community web-site, listing of Public Art opportunities. Based in Arlington, Virginia (USA).

www.city.vancouver.bc.ca - List of Public Art opportunities in Vancouver, BC (Canada) as well as listing of past projects and recently completed work.

www.town.grimsby.on.ca - Artist opportunities, Calls for submissions, proposals for exhibitions. Based in Grimsby, ON (Canada).

www.city.toronto.on.ca - Archive of public art created in the Toronto, ON (Canada) area.

Websites of practicing sculptors

www.bewsgorvin.co.uk - Diane Gorvin & Philip Bews

www.myklebust-sears.com - Andrea Myklebust & Stanton G. Sears

www.macklemjones.com - Jennifer Macklem & Kip Jones

www.andyplant.co.uk - Andy Plant :: Mechanical sculptures for public art.