---
title: "Commission"
description: "An agreement to create a new artwork for a specific place, budget, and purpose. Most public art enters the world this way."
glossary: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary"
source: "https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/commission"
---

# Commission

> An agreement to create a new artwork for a specific place, budget, and purpose. Most public art enters the world this way.

Glossary: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary  
Source: https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/commission

A public commission typically moves through six stages: the call, artist
selection, concept and design development, fabrication, installation, and
dedication. Each stage has its own approvals and payments, which is why
commissions are measured in years, not months.

The contract is where good programs distinguish themselves. Beyond scope,
schedule, and payment milestones, it should settle the questions that only
become urgent later: who owns copyright, how moral rights are handled, what
maintenance the artist expects, and what happens if the site changes or the
work must someday move.

Related terms: [Call for artists](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/call-for-artists), [Site-specific art](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/site-specific-art), [Fabrication](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/fabrication), [Percent for art](https://www.civiccollection.com/glossary/percent-for-art)

## Mentioned in

- [Ten Ideas for Your Next Public Art Tour](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/ten-ideas-for-your-next-public-art-tour)
- [How to Inventory a Public Art Collection](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/how-to-inventory-a-public-art-collection)
- [Why the Map Comes First](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/why-a-map-first-guide)
- [Introducing Civic Collection](https://www.civiccollection.com/blog/introducing-civic-collection)
- [Public art inventory field checklist](https://www.civiccollection.com/toolkit/public-art-inventory-field-checklist)