Public art

Public art refers to works of art specifically planned and executed to be sited or staged in an area where they are accessible to members of the public. Public art can include sculpture, murals, and mosaics.

If you have an idea for a piece of public art, please read over this information to find out what's involved in preparing a new piece of public art. Then, once you've gathered the information you need, please complete the public art submission form to tell us about your idea.

Council is responsible for ensuring artworks in public spaces are of the highest quality, structurally and aesthetically.

Council’s duty of care is to ensure artworks pose no risk to public safety and have reasonable ongoing management and maintenance costs. It is also Council’s role to plan for the development of public art and determine appropriate sites for this development.

Council also oversees and manages the process for decommissioning public artworks.

The Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) is a committee of Council that helps Council understand the potential benefits and risks associated with public artworks. It is made up of community representatives, Councillors and Council officers with specialist knowledge or an interest in public art.

The PAAC assesses all public art projects on Council owned or managed land against the criteria set out in Council’s public art policy. The PAAC then makes a recommendation to Council based on this assessment.

If the site you have chosen is on private land, you do not need to submit your project to the PAAC for assessment. However, depending on the nature of the artwork you may need to submit a Development Application to Council.

Find out if your project needs a Development Application by contacting Council’s Development Help Desk:

Sites on Council owned or managed land require PAAC assessment. To find out if Council owns or manages the site phone us on 4474 1000.

The PAAC meets every quarter to discuss submissions and other related matters. You can make a submission by filling out the public art submission form on this page and contacting Council’s Creative Arts Services to schedule a time at the next PAAC meeting.

Forms should be submitted at least a week before the scheduled meeting.

Contact Creative Arts services on:

Enjoyment of art is subjective and it’s important to gain community feedback during the submission process.

Use public noticeboards, surveys and emails to community groups to contact site stakeholders. Community support assists in your submission to the Public Art Advisory Committee.

In addition to the information provided on the public art submission form, you should bring along any other material that supports your proposal. This could be photographs, examples of similar works, statistical data or ideas for future development of the site relating to your submission.

Council’s Creative Arts Services are happy to help with any aspect of your submission. Contact us on:

The Public Art Advisory Committee will assess your submission and make a recommendation to Council.

Councillors make the final decision on the suitability of your project for the public space.

Public artworks considered for acquisition will be assessed using the following criteria:

  • Excellence – does the artwork display quality of design, execution, articulation of concept and innovation?
  • Originality – are the ideas within the artwork unique or does the artist bring a fresh approach to established themes?
  • Inclusiveness – is the artwork inclusive and represent the diversity of community members?
  • Appeal – does the artwork respect our Shire’s cultural and social sensibilities?
  • Provenance – Is the artwork an important piece by an artist of prominence?
  • Value – is the artwork affordable and does it represent value for investment?
  • Longevity – what are the display or maintenance requirements?
  • Safety – does the artwork fall within the accepted Council safety standard?
  • Location – Will the artwork be appropriately located?
  • Condition – Is the artwork display ready or will it require a level of management or restoration?

  • Public liability insurance (up to $20 million) is required for installations on public land. You will need a certificate of currency to begin the project.
  • Insurance may also be required after installation for the life of the artwork.
  • The Public Art Advisory Committee can advise you on post-installation requirements.
  • Artwork submissions for Council managed land may be affected by a Native Title claim. In this instance a Native Title assessment must be undertaken.This will affect the processing time of your submission.
  • Public art projects often have hidden costs and it is important you consider these in your budget. Hidden costs may include, installation materials and equipment, traffic or pedestrian management during install, engineer reports and ongoing maintenance.

Other things to consider

  • Who will own the artwork once it is completed?
  • Have you considered what will happen in the event of vandalism, weather damage or other deterioration?
  • Council has the right to relocate or decommission public artworks under certain circumstances such as risk to public safety, excessive maintenance or future development of the site.

Submitting your proposal

Before proceeding to the submission form please ensure you have this information ready:

  • contact details of the project manager
  • a clear description of the project
  • details of the site location and how the project relates to the site
  • artist and other Personal involved in the project
  • images to support the project.
  • project timeline
  • installation requirements
  • maintenance requirements
  • details of any community consultation undertaken.
  • budget breakdown, including artist fees, installation costs, lighting requirements etc.
  • public liability insurance
  • details of ownership of the work once completed.

If you have the information you need and are ready to tell us about your public art idea, please complete our public art submission form.