Landmark Public Art Commission for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, Collective or Design…

31 January 2020

The City of Greater Dandenong is looking for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist, art collective, designer, landscape architect or architect to deliver an artwork that incorporates a firepit in the heart of the new Springvale Community precinct.

Council is seeking a culturally sensitive artist or team to consider and be informed by local knowledge and culture to create a space that is complimentary to the local Springvale precinct environment.

The site sits within the new Springvale Community Precinct, surrounded by the new Springvale Library, community centre, City Hall, war memorial, landscaped gardens and local indigenous species (including those traditional for use in smoking ceremonies). The successful concept will be one that best addresses the selection criteria to deliver a sculpture that is well placed within this diverse environment.

The selected professional will be required to work closely with the Bunurong and Wurundjeri Land Councils to help translate local knowledge into a sculpture that incorporates a fire pit and space for smoking ceremony. It will involve considering local narratives and important symbols. The work may incorporate audio/visual elements. It may also incorporate planting, lighting, seating, or other design elements that support or accentuate the space as a place for ceremony. Traditional sculptural concepts are invited, and creative and innovative design approaches and use of space are also encouraged. The sculptural outcome will need to be durable enough to last 15-25 years.

Professionals with limited experience fabricating on a larger scale may collaborate with artists, designers of other professionals of non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background. However, the professional developing and leading the artistic concept must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. While the successful applicant is expected to manage design and fabrication, they may choose to outsource elements of the project to appropriate skilled suppliers or craftspeople.

Important information: Applicants will be able to attend a site visit of the location on Thursday 20 February at 3.30pm. Please ensure you wear enclosed shoes, steel caps if possible as the location is set within an active construction site.

Council will shortlist suitable applicants and provide them with $2,500 to develop a concept and detailed documentation.

Please review the artist’s package before you submit an Expression of Interest, to ensure you provide the required documents.

Download the Expression of Interest Artists' Brief

Applications close on Saturday 29 February 2020.

For more information or questions, please email [email protected].

Submit all Expressions of Interest to [email protected].