We want to know what you think about public art and contribute to a new strategy that is set to shape the future of public art in Greater Geelong.
Public art is essential for adding meaning to our city and making spaces attractive and interesting for both residents and visitors. It aims to enhance and activate public spaces by giving expression to our stories, our people and our unique place.
In our region we have some well-loved examples of public art that play an important role in our identity, renewal of our urban areas and in local storytelling such as our laneway murals, The Newsboy (Frank Costa) statue and the relocatable 'I AM' sculpture currently in our Geelong Botanic Gardens.
Our new Public Art Strategy will provide clear direction for the City's public art program and establish processes to drive a contemporary program and vision for the next decade.
We're holding interactive workshops for community members of all backgrounds to share their ideas and experiences on Thursday 3 April at Wurriki Nyal and at the Barwon Heads Arts Hub on Saturday 5 April.
Artists and creatives are invited to a lively discussion about the role public art can play in amplifying Geelong's status as a UNESCO Creative City of Design at Wurriki Nyal on Friday 4 April, featuring presentations from:
- Callum Morton - an internationally recognised artist who represented Australia at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and has exhibited nationally and internationally since 1990.
- Natasha Johns-Messenger - an Australian/American installation artist and filmmaker who has numerous awards including the inaugural Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture with Open Spatial Workshop.
- James Tapscott - an internationally recognised artist with recent works including Arc ZERO: Eclipse in Lake Tyrell and Diaphanous Bloom in China.
Our libraries in central Geelong, Corio, Lara, Armstrong Creek and Drysdale will host informal pop-up sessions across various dates to encourage casual conversations.
Community members can also fill out the survey and show us what existing public art you value on our interactive map; tell us what public art you love in Geelong or beyond and share great local stories that could be explored through public art.
Feedback closes on Sunday 27 April.
Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM
Public art is important to Greater Geelong's character and identity.Public art such as the Poppy Kettle statues near Cunningham Pier, The Secret playable structure at Boronggook Drysdale Library and central Geelong's Women's Street Art Commission Project spark interest in people of all ages and renew our urban areas.
We want to continue providing a public art program over the next 10 years that meets community and creative industry expectations, enriches our lives, celebrates who we are and attracts visitors to Greater Geelong.
Cr Eddy Kontelj
The City will engage with a range of stakeholders including industry experts to inform the new public art program.Council has supported public art for a long time, but a lot has changed within the sector, the community and in local government about representation, use of new technologies and updated approaches to public art.
For Council to continue activating public spaces with artwork and tell local stories, we need diverse ideas, voices and people to be part of developing a new Public Art Strategy.
