Horsham Rural City Council together with the National Broadband Network (NBN) is set to launch 16 new public artworks on node boxes over the coming months.
The artworks were chosen from Council's Public Art Advisory Committee's Expression of Interest process in mid-2020 and feature the work of 17 local artists, two schools and two arts collectives.
The art has been graphically designed to envelop each box located throughout Horsham's central activity district and immediate surrounds.
The work has been delivered with the financial support of NBN that went towards four artworks created by local Aboriginal artists.
Emily Peel, head of NBN Local for Victoria said that NBN was excited to be working with community on this project.
"We are so happy to be partnering with Council on this fantastic community arts initiative that takes NBN node boxes and transforms them into artwork for the wider community to enjoy. We're also pleased that we could offer our support to local Aboriginal artists and see their incredible artwork come to life," she said.
The first stage of the roll out between this month and January will feature art work by Christine Umbers and artists associated with Goolum Goolum including Amarah's InDigital Art, Imigo Dawn, Tanisha Lovett, Kelanee Lovett, Jaala Marks-Lovett, and Kira Marks-Lovett, as well as collective boxes by the KOOKAS and the Celebrating Sistas art clubs facilitated by Goolum Goolum.
The second stage, starting in February, will feature independent local artists, Amabile Dalfarra-Smith, Hannah French and Mark Radford, emerging young artists, Lincoln Fischer, Lani Jones and Freya Jones as well as Dimboola Primary School and Horsham College Digital Art students, Amy Schmidt, Lani Jones, Ali Murray and Beth Riddington.
It is anticipated that the NBN Art Box project will be launched in May 2022 and will be collectively represented as a downloadable location map available online. The Art Box Launch will also be accompanied by a public exhibition of all 16 selected proposals including schematic designs and artists concepts at the Horsham Town Hall and Regional Art Gallery.
In hosting the launch of the art box project and display, Horsham's new Regional Art Gallery Director Jane Scott said that "public art is a vital and exciting way for the wider community to engage with art. Understanding the process and artist perspective allows us to better appreciate their vision and story-telling."
Council acknowledges NBN Local for enabling access to its infrastructure for the project as well as financial support of four of the boxes.
