Commission
How to commission a public monument
A statue for your town square, campus or park: who has to say yes, what it costs, how to fund it and how we build it.
Who has to say yes
- IThe site’s ownerA city park needs the city. A campus needs the school. Private land needs its owner, and maybe a zoning check.
- IIPublic art reviewMost cities send a gift of art to an arts commission or public art program, which weighs the site, safety, upkeep and cost.
- IIIFinal approvalOften the city council or a city manager, depending on the gift’s value.
- IVPermitsA large outdoor statue usually needs a building permit and an engineered foundation.
Ask for the city’s gift or donation policy before anything is designed. It names who reviews, what they want to see and who pays for upkeep.
San Francisco’s, for one: a written proposal, a staff review, a committee review, then a vote of the Arts Commission. The donor bears every cost, from design and permits to installation, insurance and upkeep, and outdoor works need an endowment for their care.
What it costs
- Life-sizeBusts and figures at human scale.
- $10,000–$199,999
- Large-scalePublic monuments for a town, campus or park.
- $200,000–$999,999
The statue itself, in US dollars. Plan separately for the base, foundation, installation, permits and upkeep. What sets the price
How towns pay for it
- A lead donorA family, business or foundation that gives the first and largest share.
- Civic groupsRotary, veterans’ posts, alumni associations, historical societies.
- Named giftsEngraved bricks or plaques at the base, one name per gift.
- EventsA dedication date gives a campaign a deadline.
Engraved bricks from our shop, built into it, help fund our own 50-foot Washington. How a group brick fundraiser works
Tax-deductible gifts, through us
We’re a 501(c)(3), and we can be your monument’s fiscal sponsor: your donors give to More Monuments for your project and can deduct their gifts as the law allows. We do it for the Colossus of Landi.
How we make it
- ICallWhere it will stand, your references, material and budget.
- IISketchWe draw it up.
- IIIModelA clay or resin model you can hold, or approve from photos.
- IVMakeWe scale it up and cast, fabricate or sculpt it, whatever suits the piece.
We dedicated the 54-foot Wellspring of Progress in 2024, and our 50-foot George Washington is underway near Austin.
Questions
Who approves a statue in a public park?
The city that owns the park. Most route a donated artwork through an arts commission or public art program first, then the city council or city manager gives final approval.
Can you donate a statue to a city?
Yes, if the city accepts it. Ask for its gift or donation policy first. San Francisco’s, for example, asks for a written proposal, a staff review, a committee review and a vote of the Arts Commission.
How much does a public monument cost?
Life-size figures run $10,000–$199,999 and monuments $200,000–$999,999, before site work. We quote each piece after a call. What a statue costs
Can gifts to our monument be tax-deductible?
Yes, through us. More Monuments is a 501(c)(3) and can be your monument’s fiscal sponsor: donors give to us for your project and can deduct their gifts as the law allows. We do it for the Colossus of Landi.
Who pays to maintain it?
It depends on the city. Some take it on; others ask the donor to fund upkeep. San Francisco requires an endowment for outdoor works.
Do you work outside Texas?
Yes. We work with clients anywhere, ideally in America.
Tell us where it will stand.
Who it honors, where it goes and who’s behind it. A call is the quickest way to a plan and a quote.