The competition programmes vary from project to project. Make sure that you have read the programme carefully before submitting your proposal.

A competition programme includes the following:

• The purpose of the competition
• Requirements for eligibility
• Prizes or possible sketch fee
• Background of the competition
• Competition assignment: the description of the site, the goals and conditions of the competition
• Budget for the artwork(s)
• Evaluation criteria
• Instructions for how to make the competition proposal (content, format, printing size etc.)
• Description of the selection process and the members of the jury
• Submission deadlines
• Schedule for the competition and for the project completion
• Contact information

NOTE: Avoid competition with an entry fee, unless you have reached the level of having your own design firm.

After you have read through the competition programme, you need ask yourself is if this opportunity is for you. Learn about the project, find out if it is suitable for you and are you eligible to take part in it.

Studying the site

After reading the competition programme, study the site properly, as it is the location but also the context for the artwork. Usually, the organizer of the competition provides photos, floor plans, land use plans and architectural drawings of the site.

Visit the site if possible. Learn how and by whom the site is going to be used as well as what is the relationship of the site to the surrounding area. Remember to have your camera with you while visiting the site.

Learn about the people using the building or area. Questions to ask:

• Who will be using the site?
• What is important to people in the site?
• What potential effects might the project have on the area or the people / organizations operating there?

Working on the proposal

Read the instructions carefully to provide all the materials and information requested in the competition programme. Remember that your proposal should be professional looking.

Pay extra attention to the visual materials. Usually, you need to submit a floor plan marked with the exact place for the artwork and embedded images and/or perspective drawings from different directions. It is also important to show the scale of the artwork for example with a virtual drawing with a human.

Make your proposal according to the instructions. If something is unclear, do not hesitate to contact the organizer of the competition.

After submitting the proposal

Actions after the competition are usually described in the competition programme.

Artists are selected to move forward in the competition based on set criteria, which may be for example:

• Artistic quality and creativity
• Feasibility and developmental ability of the proposal
• Technical competence demonstrated by past work (if requested)
• Experience working on public art projects

The evaluation criteria are often included in the competition programme. Sometimes the jury might ask for extra information for the decision-making.

Source:

Public Art Commissions: An Artist Handbook. A Publication of the North Carolina Arts Council.

 

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