First Nations Artist for John Street Public Artwork - Expression of Interest

The selected artist will be commissioned to develop, design and fabricate a public artwork within the pocket garden that responds to the curatorial theme, Connecting with Country. The artwork is not required to be a standalone object and may be integrated within the landscape, seating, paving, planting or other elements of the pocket garden.

In responding to Connecting with Country, artists may explore local ecology, waterways, cultural histories, language, seasonal knowledge, native planting, and opportunities for community connection and learning.

The artwork may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

• Sculptural artworks or landscape-integrated sculptural elements
• Storytelling, interpretive or cultural marker elements
• Mosaic, stone or mixed-media artworks
• Artworks integrated into the seating
• Other artist-led responses that connect with Country, culture and place

Artists are encouraged to consider how the artwork can:

• Create opportunities for gathering, reflection and connection,
• Respond meaningfully to the site and its native garden setting
• Celebrate local stories, culture and Country
• Enhance the pocket garden as a welcoming place for community connection, considering the proximity of the school entrance and the parents who wait in this area during school drop-off and pickup time.
• Demonstrate durability and suitability for a public environment.

A concept design is not required at the Expression of Interest stage.

Applicants must: 

• Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. 

• Apply as an individual artist or as part of an artist team

• Demonstrate experience in public art, cultural projects, sculpture, installation, design, community engagement or a related creative practice.

Please respond to the questions below to help the assessment panel understand your artistic practice, interest in the opportunity and proposed approach to developing a site-responsive artwork. Can include up to 5 examples of previous artwork.  A concept design is not required at the Expression of Interest stage.

Applications will be assessed on: 

• Artistic merit: demonstrated artistic merit and the quality, originality and relevance of previous work.
• Cultural integrity and connection: demonstrated cultural integrity, appropriate cultural authority and an understanding of Connecting with Country principles
• Response to the project: understanding of the project aims and ability to respond to the site, landscape and community context, including considerations of public safety, inclusion, accessibility and long-term suitability for a public environment.
• Collaboration and engagement: capacity to work collaboratively with Camden Council, project stakeholders, community participants and relevant cultural knowledge holders, including an approach to community engagement.
• Relevant experience or potential: experience delivering public art, community engaged or culturally significant projects, or a strong demonstrated capacity and interest in place-based or public art practice.

Concept proposals will be assessed by Camden Council and relevant project stakeholders. One artist or artist team may then be selected to undertake the commission, subject to written notification and compliance with Council’s requirements and conditions before the commission is awarded.