Getting the Right Insurance for the Job (Why It Matters More Than You Think)

When you’re planning a mural, public artwork, or large-scale creative installation, most of the focus goes into the design, the brief, and the final visual outcome.

But there’s one part of the process that often gets overlooked — insurance.

And the reality is, getting the right insurance in place isn’t just a box to tick. It can be the difference between a smooth project and a costly problem.

Why Insurance Matters in Creative Projects

Creative work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Whether it’s a mural on a construction hoarding, a council-funded artwork, or a live painting activation, there are always moving parts:

Working at heights
Public interaction and foot traffic
Equipment and materials on-site
Coordination with builders, councils, or property owners

Each of these introduces risk — and that risk needs to be properly managed.

Most clients (especially councils, developers, and commercial sites) will require proof of insurance before work even begins.

The Most Common Types of Insurance You’ll Need

Depending on the project, creatives and contractors typically require:

1. Public Liability Insurance

This is the big one. It covers you if your work causes injury to a person or damage to property.

Example:
A passerby trips over your equipment or paint damages surrounding surfaces.

2. Contract Works / Construction Insurance

If you’re working alongside builders or as part of a construction project, this can cover damage to the works in progress.

3. Professional Indemnity (Sometimes Required)

If your design or advice is part of the contract, this protects you if something goes wrong due to an error or omission.

4. Equipment & Tools Cover

Cameras, scaffolding, lifts, spray equipment — if it’s essential to your work, it should be protected.

Where Projects Can Go Wrong

We’ve seen situations where:

Artists weren’t covered for working at heights
Subcontractors weren’t included under a policy
Insurance limits didn’t meet council or builder requirements
Policies excluded certain types of work (e.g. construction sites)

These gaps can delay projects, breach contracts, or leave you exposed financially.

Not All Insurance Is the Same

A common mistake is grabbing a generic policy online and assuming it covers everything.

But creative and public art projects often sit in a grey area between:

Construction
Events
Design services

That’s why off-the-shelf insurance can miss critical details.

The Smarter Approach

The best approach is to:

Understand the specific risks of your project
Ensure your policy aligns with client requirements
Make sure all parties (including subcontractors) are covered
Confirm limits (often $10M–$20M public liability for larger jobs)

This is where working with someone who understands both creative projects and commercial risk becomes important.

Why It Pays to Speak to the Right Broker

As projects get bigger — especially when working with councils, developers, or construction companies — insurance requirements become more complex.

A specialist broker can:

Structure cover specific to your project
Ensure compliance with contracts and tender requirements
Help avoid gaps that could delay or derail a job
Scale your cover as your projects grow

Final Thought

At Chulo Creative, we’re focused on delivering high-quality public art and creative outcomes — but we also understand that behind every great project is a solid foundation of planning and risk management.

Getting the right insurance in place isn’t just protection — it’s what allows great creative work to happen confidently, professionally, and at scale.

Rather than getting an off the shelf insurance product. Speaking to a insurance broker could really be the difference between being covered or not.