Public Art Information

The information provided in this page is useful for understanding setting up, directing and concluding the Percent for Art process.

The law and contracts

Percent for Art Act, Rules and Sample Contract (87 kb PDF*)

For Artists

The Maine Arts Commission publicizes public art opportunities in the Opportunities Directory. To receive public art information automatically you can create a MaineArts.com account, and join the Artist Opportunities listserv.

To apply for Percent for Art competitions you should obtain the prospectus which provides background information about the site, describes the potential locations for artwork, and gives instructions for applying.


	Situate by Aaron Stephan. Sculpture. 2007 Percent for Art project at Farwell Elementary School.

Each proposal requires a letter of interest from the artist indicating ideas, the direction of past work, budget considerations, and specifics about the images they submit to the committee. The purpose of the letter of intent is to help the committee understand the proposed artwork and explain how it will connect with the community – it should be brief and specific. When a proposal is selected, the artist will be asked to develop the idea in greater detail for a second round of evaluation. You can visit the Percent for Art Directory to see examples of completed percent for art work in Maine.

The following forms may be useful if your submission is selected.

Introduction to Percent for Art (90 kb PDF*)
Travel reimbursement/ Artist fee form
Final documentation/ maintenance form (40 kb RTF)

For Contracting Agencies

The Maine Arts Commission and the agency overseeing the project (such as a school administration) collaborate throughout the process, beginning with the appointment of an art selection committee. The contracting agency is responsible for contacting the architect and appointing two voting members for the committee. These people may be administrators, board members, clerks, staff, community members and so forth. The Maine Arts Commission is responsible for appointing two committee members as well. If you have suggestions regarding these persons, the Maine Arts Commission will consider whom you recommend. The Maine arts commission administers the committee’s search process. The committee presents its recommendations to the contracting agency at the end.


	The Nature of Maine by Nancy Forster-Holt Photograph. 1997 Percent for Art project.

The art selection committee's responsibilities are described in "Art Selection Committee Duties”(39 kb PDF*)

The contracting agency should print a copy of the budget report form. It will be needed at the conclusion of the process.

Introduction to Percent for Art (90kb PDF*)
Art Selection Committee Duties (39 kb PDF*)
Model Forms (70 kb PDF*)
Percent for Art Budget Report Form (38 kb PDF*)
Percent for Art Budget Report Instructions (46 kb PDF*)
Percent for Art Evaluation Form (43 kb PDF*)

* PDF documents require the free Abode Acrobat Reader.

For more information contact Kerstin Gilg, public art associate at 207/287-6719 or kerstin.gilg@maine.gov.