Public and corporate art sculptor

Municipalities and public art programs, property developers, businesses, hospitals, universities and private clients with larger budgets.

Commission fees paid in stages (design, fabrication, installation). Some work comes from competitive calls for artists, with grants sometimes helping fund projects.

• Designing at scale and making models or maquettes
• Writing proposals and budgets
• Working with metal, stone, concrete or fabricators
• Managing projects and deadlines

• Public commissions often require commercial general liability insurance, so check requirements before bidding
• Structural safety and engineering sign-off for large outdoor pieces: check who is responsible
• WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire helpers (rules vary by province)
• Long gaps between payments, so budget cash flow carefully
• Contracts should cover copyright, maintenance and installation, and may be worth a legal review

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your workshop, equipment and materials. Monthly revenue is estimated at roughly $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the commissions you win and how they are paid.

Check commercial general liability insurance requirements before bidding. Also check who is responsible for structural safety and engineering sign-off on large outdoor pieces, WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire helpers, and whether contracts covering copyright, maintenance and installation need legal review.

Estimates suggest at least around 30 hours a week. Useful skills include designing at scale, making maquettes, writing proposals and budgets, working with fabricators and metal, stone or concrete, and managing projects. Payments can have long gaps, so plan cash flow.