Budget considerations
- Rates: Artists should be paid at rates in line with sector guidance such as that produced by Artists Union England. Artists should not be expected to undertake any unpaid work.
- Payment Schedule: Artists usually operate as freelancers so it is important to ensure the payment schedule for the project is fair and ensure that they don’t end up cash flowing the project
- Project Management: Who is managing or producing the commission and are there any consultant fees?
- Access Costs: Have you built in potential access costs for the artist or those participating?
- Recruitment Costs: e.g. costs to advertise the brief, room hire for artist interviews, selection panel expenses, artist travel costs to attend for interview.
- Engagement: Costs associated with community engagement such as room hire, refreshments, publicity, materials etc.
- Permissions: Costs associated with a potential site and gaining permissions - e.g. land ownership search, searches for suppliers of underground statutory services, potential CAT scan to check for underground services, planning application costs.
- Highways: Do any roads need to be closed to install the artwork? Costs of applying for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO), other Highways licences or Traffic Management services.
- Installation: Contractors’ costs – installing artwork and making good afterwards/ landscaping.
- Legal: Fees associated with any legal advice required - e.g. preparing an artist contract.
- Insurance: Will the work need any additional insurance?
- Maintenance: An allowance for ongoing maintenance.
- Decommissioning: Awareness of these potential costs is useful, especially for temporary works.
- Contingency: Factor in an allowance of at least 10% to cover potential cost increases or unforeseen costs.
- Documentation & Interpretation: Professional photography, film, print, interpretation panels etc.
- VAT and / other tax