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Connections into the visual arts for all visual
and applied artists
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Commissions
Artists have been commissioned to make work for individual clients, organisations and venues for centuries.
Nowadays, there is a wide scope of commission opportunities for artists working in a variety of media and and at all career stages.
Introduction
Commissions - an introduction
Free taster of subscriber-only material in the Commissions section. Fully updated for 2008. Read on…
Introduction, a-n.co.uk September 2008
Discussions
Public art and compromise
Close proximity speaker, David Cotterrell gives his view of the pitfalls and advantages of work in the public realm. Read on…
Discussion, a-n.co.uk September 2005
Tours
Commissioning views
Mark Gubb asks public art commissioners and consultants their views on how they select artists for commissions and what they expect artists to prepare for interview. Read on…
Tour, a-n.co.uk October 2008
Commissions
Jane Watt delves into the process of commissioning and looks at the organisations and bodies offering opportunities to artists at all stages of their careers. Fully updated for 2008. Read on…
Tour, a-n.co.uk September 2008
Guides
Commission agreements
This checklist by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp covers many issues relevant to small-scale private and public art commissions, with questions to consider and further explanation of issues arising in the notes. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Profiles
Frances Lord
Frances Lord discusses her practice as a curator, writer, freelance project manager and art consultant with Jane Watt. Read on…
Profile, a-n.co.uk April 2009
Safle
In October 2010 Safle ceased trading following the withdrawal of funding from the Arts Council of Wales. Back in April 2009, Jane Watt spoke to Safle’s Project Managers and Executive Director about how they were supporting artists to develop and make work in the public realm. At the time Safle was one of the UK’s largest independent public art consultancies. Read on…
Profile, a-n.co.uk April 2009. Updated December 2010.
Profiles: artists
Clare Twomey
Penny Jones profiles Clare Twomey, who makes large-scale ceramic installations for galleries and museums often in collaboration with the UK ceramics industry. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk June 2008
Dalziel + Scullion
Jane Watt talks to Dalziel + Scullion about their collaborative practice, unusual studio set up and processes involved in their commission for Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk November 2004
Fred Baier
Penny Jones profiles Fred Baier exploring the development of his career since the 1970s and commissions for an impressive range of private and public clients. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk June 2008
Graham Fagen
Lee Corner interviews Graham Fagen about his commission in Kosovo for the Imperial War Museum. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk April 2003.
Updated November 2006.
Linda Florence
Frances Lord profiles Linda Florence, who creates wallpapers, flooring surfaces and interior textiles for domestic and commercial interiors, as well as temporary installations in transient materials. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk June 2008
Peter Freeman
Peter Freeman makes light sculptures and installations that articulate public spaces. Kate Stoddart explores his practice. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk June 2008
Sabrina Cant
Susan Jones looks at the practice of Sabrina Cant, who works with glass, including her commission for Bookham United Reform Church. Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk August 2007
Shauna Richardson
How do artists go about delivering a very large commission to deadline? Emily Speed interviewed Shauna Richardson about her Artist Taking the Lead Commission: The Lionheart Project.
Read on…
Profile: artist, a-n.co.uk June 2011
Features
The hole of France: Part 1
Stephanie Délcroix on the processes of public commissioning in France. Read on…
Feature, a-n.co.uk August 2005
The hole of France: Part 2
Stephanie Délcroix on the processes of public commissioning in France. Read on…
Feature, a-n.co.uk September 2005
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In html format
Gayle Chong Kwan: Underground exchanges
Charles Danby explores how Gayle Chong Kwan developed avenues of exchange centred on relationships with food through a community-based residency facilitated by Platform for Art. Read on…
Publication in html, a-n Collections September 2008
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