{"id":67309,"date":"2026-03-02T17:05:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T17:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/?page_id=67309"},"modified":"2026-03-04T17:57:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:57:16","slug":"commissions-platform","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zealous.co\/about\/commissions-platform\/","title":{"rendered":"Art Commissions Platform – Open Calls That Stand Up to Scrutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Platform<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commissions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An art commissions platform that makes every selection defensible<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capterra (52 reviews)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of proposals arriving as email attachments. Selection panels chasing WeTransfer links at midnight. No audit trail when the council asks how you chose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zealous gives your commissioning programme a single home. Artists submit proposals with 3D models, site plans, budgets, and video. Your selection panel evaluates everything against clear criteria, across multiple rounds. You get a defensible process and your weekends back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Get Started<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Quick Tour<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

20 entries free. No credit card required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Trusted by commissioning bodies and cultural organisations worldwide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"British<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Design<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Swiss<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Warwick<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Environment<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"T.S.<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Bulk<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Proposals with 3D models, site plans, and video in one place<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Commission proposals aren\u2018t tidy PDFs. They include architectural drawings, maquette renders, embedded 3D models, video walkthroughs, and detailed budgets. Zealous handles all of it. Artists upload images, video up to 4GB and documents with no storage limits (3D object via Sketchfab). Lossless image compression means your panel sees every detail of a technical drawing exactly as submitted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Multi-stage selection from EOI to interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most commissions don\u2018t pick an artist in one round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zealous supports the full flow: expression of interest, full proposal, then interview or presentation. Each round can have different panel members, different criteria, and different score ranges. Move artists forward or stop them at any stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more on how to structure your selection rounds<\/a> for commissioning programmes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Akua<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Zealous offers a convenient and fair process for managing the applications, but also a way to expose the artists to a range of organisations via judging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Akua Obeng-Frimpong, Arts Development Officer<\/strong>
Cambridge City Council<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Anonymous first-round review to reduce bias<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When public funding is involved, fairness isn\u2018t optional. It\u2018s a requirement you\u2018ll need to evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn on anonymous mode and personal details are hidden automatically from the selection panel. Proposals are evaluated on artistic merit, site response, and feasibility alone. Names and backgrounds only become visible in later rounds when you choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a broader look at programme planning, see our lifecycle planning guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Sukhy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

I found Zealous exceptionally intuitive, responsive and stable. Food for thought for other projects and conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sukhy Johal MBE, Chair, Midlands Area<\/strong>
Arts Council<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Built for panels with arts professionals and community voices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your selection panel might include a curator, an engineer, a councillor, and a community representative. They don\u2018t all need the same briefing, and they won\u2018t all be comfortable with complex software. Zealous works on any device, with a clear interface that doesn\u2018t require training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assign panel members by round or expertise. Track who\u2018s completed their evaluations in real time and send automated reminders to anyone falling behind. Judges can skip entries where they have a conflict, and you can unassign reviewers from specific applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running multiple programmes at once? Learn about automating without losing the human touch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Selective focus shot of senior and young people visiting black and white photography exhibition in modern art gallery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Employee gives presentation and explains business strategy to group of board of directors. Young man in office speaks in front of business men and women sitting in row at table. Business concept.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Complete record of scores for publicly funded work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a council, trust, or developer asks why you selected a particular artist, you need more than a panel member\u2018s memory. Zealous records every score, comment, and decision across every round. Export full evaluation data for board reports, FOI requests, or Section 106 compliance documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When public money funds the commission, the selection process has to survive scrutiny. Anonymous first-round review removes identifying details so proposals are assessed on merit. Full scoring records give you a documented trail that satisfies trustees, auditors, and FOI officers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data is stored securely with full access controls. See our security overview<\/a> for details.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Jane<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

We were able to deal efficiently with a much higher number of submissions than anticipated. We will use Zealous again and would certainly recommend them to other organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jane Hackett, Project Director<\/strong>
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Evaluation modes built for how commissioning panels actually work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choose how your selection panel reviews proposals at each stage of your programme.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criteria-Based Evaluation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Set distinct criteria like artistic merit, site response, feasibility, and budget. Configure score ranges per criterion, so site response might be scored out of 20 while budget realism is out of 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every decision is backed by structured, defensible scores.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Selection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the EOI stage, your panel might not need full scoring rubrics. Admins can quickly select or reject proposals to build a shortlist before detailed evaluation begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Move through hundreds of expressions of interest without bottlenecks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anonymous Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hide artist names, CVs, and personal details from the panel automatically. Proposals are assessed purely on the work and the response to the brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduce unconscious bias, especially in publicly funded open calls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Consultation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some commissions benefit from public input alongside expert evaluation. Open a community consultation stage where local residents can view shortlisted proposals and share their preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public results and panel scores are shown separately, so each informs without overriding the other.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple Rounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Run EOI screening, full proposal review, and interview stages as separate rounds. Each round can have its own panel members, criteria, and score ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mirror the commissioning process you already follow, without the admin overhead.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Anna<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n

Zealous saved us plenty of time, which was a godsend as we were short-staffed due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anna Carolina Costa, Project Manager<\/strong>
Embassy of Brazil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Focus on the art<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You got into commissioning because you care about public art, not because you enjoy wrestling with spreadsheets and chasing panel members. Here\u2018s how Zealous handles the admin so you can focus on the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
Launch your open call in under an hour<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Start from a commissioning programme template or build your own. Add your brief, upload site documentation, set your criteria, and configure your submission form with the fields you need. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your branded programme page is live and ready to share. No developer required, no weeks of setup. Clone it next year and update only what\u2018s changed. <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
See every proposal presented properly<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Each proposal gets a clean, consistent layout. Images display at full quality. 3D models, video, documents, and budget breakdowns sit alongside the artist\u2018s written response. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No more downloading ZIP files or squinting at compressed thumbnails. Panel members can open proposals in separate tabs to compare work side by side.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Give your panel a clear evaluation workflow<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Panel members log in, see their assigned proposals, and score against your criteria. Auto-resume means they pick up exactly where they left off. Comments stay attached to each proposal for discussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You see real-time progress on who\u2018s completed their evaluations. Automated reminders go to anyone who hasn\u2018t. No more chasing emails.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Pull up the numbers when the board asks<\/strong><\/summary>\n

Your dashboard shows submission volumes, evaluation progress, and ranked results in real time. Bespoke trackable links let you measure which channels drove the most proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Export everything for reports, funding applications, or compliance documentation. Historical data accumulates across editions, building an evidence base for your programme\u2018s reach and impact.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Zealous<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n