From an idea to a place in the world
Plan a public
art project.
Discover art. Keep a shortlist. Build a commissioning brief.
Start with what you know. Explore the catalog for a direction, review useful references, then shape a brief around your place. You can also continue a project you have already saved.
Start or continue your brief Your saved project opens here. Talk through your idea at any stage.
Looking for a particular tool? See all planning tools ↓Discover a
direction.Explore documented artworks and the artists behind them. Search and filter by experience, documented setting and material to find ideas for your place.
Discover and filter artKeep what moves you.
Choose Save to shortlist while you browse. References stay on this device, ready for you to review.
Shape your
shortlist.Bring promising artists and artworks together. Review your selection, remove references you no longer need and choose when to carry it into your commissioning brief.
View your shortlistLook closer before deciding.
Compare documented works and their installation considerations. A saved reference does not reserve a work or confirm availability, price or artist participation.
Build your
commissioning brief.Describe your site, audience, budget, timeline and the help you need. Continue the same saved project, export a working brief or review what to share with Big Art Partners.
Build commissioning briefFor detailed cost assumptions and delivery planning, open your full planning workspace. It uses the same saved project.
Budget, site and care
- Build a project budgetAccount for making, moving, installing and caring for the work.
- Compare budget referencesUnderstand what each documented amount covers before applying it to your brief.
- Assess your sitePrepare questions about access, setting and installation.
- Plan long-term careIdentify who will look after the artwork and what they will need.
Production and installation
Research production specialists by capability and location. Explore our Tucumcari production base as you consider where and how the work could be made.
Confirm each team's scope and availability for your project.
All planning tools
Know what you need? Go straight to a tool or directory.
Build your brief
- Commissioning brief
Start or continue your saved project with a guided site, audience, budget and delivery brief.
- Your shortlist
Review the artists and artworks you saved, then choose to carry them into your commissioning brief.
- Full planning workspace
Continue the same saved project with detailed cost assumptions, site planning and next decisions.
- Project worksheet
Use a short scoping worksheet to prepare for a first conversation.
Find a direction
- Explore art
Browse artists and documented artworks by experience and setting.
- Find art for a site
Narrow a selection of comparable works by setting, art experience and project needs.
- Compare works
Review documented works alongside their installation considerations.
- Commission briefs
Study specific public art projects, their stages and published requirements.
- Types of projects
Explore different settings and approaches to a public art project.
- Example briefs
See how an idea can become a brief with questions to resolve.
Plan the delivery
- Budget references
Compare published figures with their scope, date and source; distinguish fees from complete project costs.
- Planning guides
Work through budgets, site planning, artist selection and long-term care.
- Regional guides
Understand commissioning routes and local planning context.
- Production specialists
Research fabrication, engineering, transport and installation capabilities.
- Tucumcari production base
Explore our New Mexico studio space and the questions that define a production scope.
Work with Big Art Partners
- Our services
Explore help with curation, production planning and art placement.
- How we work
Understand how an initial conversation develops into an agreed scope.
- Discuss your project
Share your idea, site or working brief with Big Art Partners.
Explore the research
- Artists and studios
Research artistic practices and their documented projects.
- Artwork references
Look closely at individual works and the sources behind each record.
- Artist opportunities
Find calls, grants and residencies with source links and deadline information.
- Commissioning organizations
Learn about public art buyers, their projects and selection routes.
- Public art programs
Explore commissioning, exhibition and artist-support programs.
- Suggest a profile update
Send a correction or an availability or image-permission statement for review.
- Research and sources
Understand the directory and access its public research index.