Sorry, was really a serious question
The only thing not free about it is that the governement often mandates these things - x% of the cost of a new building in Philadelphia has to go towards public art. Hence the colossal Clothespin, oversized games pieces and a couple of really nice works too. (The most surreal of all is a larger than life statue of Frank Rizzo hailing a cab).
But government waste wasn't my point. If government mandates, or government commissions, is there a real difference between that and a private party commissioning it?
(Other than the market may not exist if govt didn't manadate it....)
Cheers,
Tony