New art fund to animate public spaces across the state

Skate parks, hospitals, town centres, bikeways, fire stations and parklands around Queensland will boast new art works through the Bligh Government’s $12 million public art fund, art+place.

Arts Minister Rod Welford today announced more than $1.57 million would be allocated in the first funding round for 26 public art projects across the state.

“Fifty-seven applications were received in the first round of the art+place initiative, which will invest $12 million to public art projects over three years,” Mr Welford said.

“The Curatorial Panel, comprising experts in art, architecture, design and town planning, thoroughly reviewed all of the applications before making their final recommendations.

“In the first round funding will be going to 10 State Government projects, eight Local Government projects, six projects by arts and cultural organisations and two projects by private developers.

“Work is scheduled to get started on all projects this year. I am particularly pleased to see 42 per cent of the projects in this first round will benefit Queenslanders in regional centres.

“These include art works commemorating the history of rail at Townsville’s railway precinct; a temporary art work exploring drought and the environment to coincide with Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers; elevated ‘street art’ at a Gold Coast skate park; a Cassowary Discovery Trail in Mission Beach featuring contemporary sculptures celebrating the region’s icon; and a unique sculptural project in Longreach.”

Mr Welford said the art+place program had, for the first time, made state funding available for public art to local councils, not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations, arts and cultural festivals and private developers, as well as Queensland Government departments.

“This initiative has been widely embraced by Queensland communities, with first round applications coming in from every eligible group,” he said.

“Regional agencies were particularly supportive, making up more than half the applications.”

The members of the Curatorial Panel are – Gold Coast Art Gallery curator Virginia Rigney (Chair), Queensland Art Gallery Head of Australian Art Julie Ewington, award-winning architect Timothy Hill, Brisbane City Council’s city planning and urban design manager Michael Papageorgiou and landscape architect John Mongard.

The complete list of first round art+place projects can be found on the following page. art+place is receiving applications for art works to begin construction in 2009. Applications close 31 July. Visit www.arts.qld.gov.au/art+place for more details.

Media contact: Emma Clarey on 3237 1000 or 0417 791 336

ART+PLACE FIRST-ROUND PUBLIC ART PROJECT FUNDING