Council calls for public art submissions from community

After being on a forced hiatus while the Bundaberg council developed its public art strategy, local artists say they are excited to see progress with the first call for community proposals.

After being on a forced hiatus while Council developed its public art strategy, local artist Paul Perry (right) said he is 'excited' to see progress with the first call for community proposals for the Public Art Masterplan announced by Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Councillor John Learmonth (left).

Bundaberg Regional Council has invited members of the public to submit public art proposals in the first stage of the implementation of the Public Art Masterplan.

Formally adopted in the July 2023 council meeting, the Public Art Masterplan aims to provide a framework for strategically growing the public art collection installed in spaces managed by the council throughout the region.

Public art proposals can be submitted through an online portal which opened on Monday, September 11 through to October 20.

Submissions will be assessed according to criteria including artistic merit, local relevance, maintenance and conservation requirements and viability.

Paul Perry is a prominent Bargara-based artist whose work can be seen on the Bargara and Innes Park foreshore, most notably the Milbi Magic Mosaic project, a marine-themed mosaic wrapping around a toilet block at Archie’s Beach which he said draws “busloads of people” from around Queensland to view the art installation.

Paul Perry said his Milbi Magic Mosaic draws “busloads of people” from around Queensland to view the art installation wrapped around a toilet block on Archie's Beach.

Mr Perry said following the success of the first toilet block installation in 2020, he submitted a proposal to council for installations on five other toilet blocks along the foreshore to create a Bargara art trial.

“The person at council I was talking to was quite excited about it, but said that there wasn’t a context in which to assess the proposal,” Mr Perry said.

“So that actually triggered off this whole process that’s now resulted in this public art strategy.”

After “patiently waiting” for two-and-a-half years, Mr Perry said he was excited to see progress in the implementation of the plan that he hopes will give official endorsement to work already installed and allow him to proceed with other projects he has planned for the Bargara Headlands Estate.

Paul Perry's sculpture Whale Rock was installed on the Bargara Headlands Estate in 2021, and includes fins fabricated by famed Australian artist John Olsen.

“I’ve really been on a hiatus now for the last two and a half years,” Mr Perry said.

“I’m excited by the people who will go down and see Whale Rock and all the Yarning Circle artworks … My main frustration is how long it’s taken.”

While acknowledging that the development of the Masterplan “has been a long process”, Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson John Learmonth said the council “has to do it right”.

“People don’t understand what’s involved, because when public art is put in, it’s got to be maintained and it falls back on the council then,” Mr Learmonth said.

Council Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson John Learmonth said the Public Art Masterplan was the first step towards realising a “great public art program” for Bundaberg.

“The Public Art Masterplan means council can now proactively call for artwork proposals to be considered and the arts community has clear guidelines under which to make those submissions,” Mr Learmonth said.

“It is a very strong artistic community and so the public art just helps lock in everything, it’s just great for people to see it,” Mr Learmonth said.