Calls for artists and artist submissions vary per public art project. It is recommended that commissioners scale the requirements of an artist to submit to an open call, expression of interest, or request for qualifications to the scope of the project.
The base requirements for an open call include:
- Artist CV
- Samples of Past Work
- Artist’s Statement and/or Expression of Interest or Concept
A proposal fee must be paid when an artist is required or contracted to submit a proposal package as part of the artist selection process, that is above and beyond the base requirements of an initial project open call. Proposal fees are only paid to artists when they are chosen (by invitation, short list, etc.) to submit a proposal for consideration for a public art project.
It is recommended that commissioners consider the number of hours required to complete a proposal and scale the fee based on this consideration. Additional items require additional time and labor, and artists should be compensated accordingly.
The following minimum fee recommendations are based on the scale and timeline of the project, as well as the scope of work required of the artist to meet the requirements of the proposal.
2.1 Temporary Projects and Festivals*
- Minimum Fee Recommended: $500 – $1500
- Based on proposal requirements, which may include:
- Concept Statement
- Draft Artwork or Design Proposal
- References or testimonials
2.2 Proposals for Existing Works for Re-Display*
- Minimum Fee Recommended: $500 – $1500
- Based on proposal requirements and/or spec work to plan re-display, which may include:
- Getting quotes for packaging and shipping costs
- Installation plans and specifications from previous installations
- Submission of any technical drawings or materials from previous installations
- References or testimonials
*Proposals for temporary projects or existing projects proposed for re-display that require proposal packages that include any of the following additional items should refer to the next Section (2.3) for guidance instead.
2.3 Permanent Project Proposal Fees
Proposal fees apply to artists who have been contracted to submit a proposal via shortlist, an invitation to submit, or through a direct commission. The three types of applications (basic, medium, and complex) and their corresponding budget ranges reflect that each project is unique, and therefore the scale of work required to submit a complete proposal will vary depending on the complexity of the commission.
The range in fees for each package type provides a guideline for commissioners to plan their budgets, but the top end should not be considered a maximum to be paid to artists. Artists and commissioners are encouraged to negotiate appropriate fees, especially for larger scale proposals. Fees for large-scale public art projects (valued over $500K) are not included in this Fee Schedule, and may be added at a future date.
Basic Proposal Package- $1000 – $2500
- Artist Concept statement or creative approach;
- Draft artwork and design proposal (images or illustrations in requested format, description)
- References or testimonials
Medium Proposal Package – $2500 – $5000
Basic Proposal Package elements and:
- Scaled drawings or in situ representation of the proposed art work
- Project plan outline, including detailed budget and schedule (based on the commissioner’s project scope);
- Presentation to the Selection Panel (if required)
Complex Proposal Package – $5000 – $7500+
Basic and Medium Proposal Package elements and:
- Engineer project consultation
- Quotes for materials, fabricators, subcontractors, installers
Additional items required of artists at the proposal phase may not be included in the above packages, and should be compensated as follows:
- Maquettes, physical models, or specific renderings
- Additional drawings, writing, editing, and revisions, including consultations with engineers, architects or other project stakeholders to be submitted that are outside the scope of the initial proposal request from the commissioner: refer to Section C.5.0 of the CARFAC-RAAV Fee Schedule
- In-person or online engagement activities, presentations, community consultation meetings, or similar activities in which the artist must prepare and present to a group: refer to Section C.2.0 of the CARFAC-RAAV Fee Schedule
- Activities requiring travel, accommodations, and/or per diems: refer to the guidelines below.
3. Artist Fees for Commissioning of New Works