Commissioning of a sculpture by an organisation

An organisation client will consider commissioning a sculpture when they reach a point where the creation of a tangible object becomes a meaningful way of expressing the intangible values that the group holds central to their way or reason of existing.  It has been a form of community expression since the beginning of art totems or icons. In modern times it can be called branding. Ultimately it is about giving symbolic expression to the ethos of an organisation.

It may be finding a sculpture to place in an appropriate position in the organisation’s facilities. Making something specific for a place still requires discussion between the client and the sculptor

This client is more likely to be a private or semi-private organisation: businesses, religious organisations, educational organisations.

Organisational clients may work with a sculptor or a number of sculptors based on the sculptor’s portfolio or they may set up a competitive process.  The method is usually affected by the size of the budget for the commission and the required degree of involvement of the wider organisational community who have an ownership of the community values being explored eg religious communities, cooperatives.