From inquiry to a defined engagement
Clarity before commitment.
A clear brief, a defined scope and a deliberate decision before the next commitment.
Projects arrive at different stages. We begin with the decision you need help making and propose work that is proportionate to it. Sending an inquiry does not book a service or authorize project work.
Describe the decision
Tell us where the project stands and what you need to decide. An early inquiry might contain a site, an ambition and several unknowns. An existing proposal might need a more focused review. Both are useful starting points.
At this point: A shared understanding of the question, the organization’s role and the information available.
Agree a scope
If there is a suitable next step, define the proposed work before it begins. The scope should name deliverables, inputs, responsibilities, exclusions, review points and the basis for fees and timing. Identify which assumptions could change that proposal.
At this point: An agreed engagement with a clear boundary and a way to judge whether its output answers the brief.
Develop the agreed work
Research, compare or coordinate the work specified in the scope. Keep the artistic purpose visible alongside practical constraints. Where a question needs the artist, host or a specialist, identify who can answer it and what decision depends on that answer.
At this point: A usable brief, comparison or planning document, with recommendations and unresolved questions clearly distinguished.
Choose the next commitment
Review the output with the responsible decision-makers. The next step may be a narrower question, an artist conversation, a specialist appointment or a revised brief. Continuing into another phase requires its own scope; a useful outcome can also be a decision to pause.
At this point: A recorded decision, the reasons behind it and named responsibilities for any next actions.
Keep authority and responsibility visible.
The host, artist and any specialist advisers each bring different knowledge and approvals. We agree who can instruct work, approve changes and accept deliverables. A research reference does not appoint a provider, and a recommendation does not replace the responsible party’s confirmation.
If purpose, funding, site or timing changes, revisit the scope before extending the work. This keeps new requests, changed assumptions and additional responsibilities visible to everyone involved.
Start a conversation
What needs to become clear?
Share what you know and the decision you need help making. We can then discuss whether a scoped proposal is appropriate.