Tips For Commissioners

CODAworx gives commissioners access to artists, Industry Resources, public art projects, and other professionals across the creative industry. Using the platform strategically can make it easier to research possibilities, identify qualified partners, and build stronger project teams.

Complete your Professional Details

Keep your organization, professional role, location, website, and other profile information complete and current.

Artists and Industry Resources may look at your profile when researching an opportunity or deciding whether to connect with you. A complete profile helps them quickly understand who you represent, the kinds of projects you are involved with, and the type of work your organization commissions.

Use the Creative Directory to narrow your search

The Creative Directory is most useful when you take advantage of its filters rather than browsing broadly.

Search by professional type, expertise, and location to narrow the field to artists or Industry Resources that match the needs of a particular project. For example, you can use the directory to identify artists with relevant experience or specialists in fabrication, engineering, installation, lighting, and other services.

Search the Project Library for relevant experience

An artist’s profile tells you who they are, but their previous projects can tell you whether they have handled work similar to yours.

Use the Project Library to research work by factors such as budget, location, medium, setting, purpose, theme, and project type. These filters can help you find artists who have already worked at a comparable scale or within a similar environment.

For example, if you are planning artwork for a hospital, transit facility, corporate campus, or public plaza, looking at comparable completed projects can be a useful starting point.

Look beyond visual style

Strong imagery is important, but it should not be the only factor you consider when evaluating an artist.

Review project descriptions and details for evidence of relevant experience, including project scale, budget, materials, location, site conditions, community involvement, fabrication requirements, and installation complexity.

An artist whose previous work demonstrates the right technical or project experience may be a stronger fit than someone whose portfolio simply looks similar to your initial concept.

Use multiple search terms

Artists and projects can often be described in several different ways, so try more than one search term when researching a project.

A search for “interactive art” may surface different work than “digital installation,” “projection,” or “experiential.” Likewise, “metal sculpture,” “stainless steel,” and “fabricated sculpture” may produce different results.

Searching with a few variations can help uncover artists or projects you might otherwise miss.

Research the team, not just the artist

Public art projects often require more than an artist.

Use the Creative Directory to research Industry Resources in areas such as fabrication, engineering, lighting, installation, logistics, conservation, and specialized materials. Looking at these partners early can help you understand what expertise may be needed and identify potential collaborators for the project.

You can also review completed projects to see which artists, fabricators, consultants, and other specialists have successfully worked together before.

Save examples that help define your project

The Project Library can be useful even before you begin identifying specific artists.

Browse projects with similar settings, budgets, materials, or goals to better understand what has been done elsewhere. Examples can help your team discuss scale, creative direction, materials, installation approaches, and what may be realistic within your budget.

Rather than starting with a completely blank page, use existing projects as research to help clarify what you want from your own commission.

Make it easy for artists to understand your organization

Artists evaluating a potential commissioner are doing their own research too.

Keep your profile and organization information accurate, and make sure any projects associated with your organization provide enough context to demonstrate the type and scale of work you commission.

A clear presence on CODAworx helps potential partners understand your organization before they begin a conversation with you.