Inside Queen’s Wharf’s $10m art splurge development

Queen’s Wharf developers will spend about $10m on commissioning artworks for seven locations within the $3.6bn precinct. HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Respected Brisbane art dealer Philip Bacon will head an advisory board to assist Queen’s Wharf Brisbane in choosing around $10 million worth of art for its burgeoning development. Mr Bacon, who runs Philip Bacon Galleries in Brisbane and is a board member of Opera Australia and on the National Gallery of Australia Foundation, said the ambitious procurement program for the $3.6 billion project would be a boon to the city.

“It will do as much for the local arts community as Expo 88 did,” Mr Bacon said when the project was announced Tuesday morning.

“Art is central to my life and its fantastic that it will be central to this precinct. It’s very exciting news.”

Respected Brisbane art dealer Philip Bacon will head a panel commissioning about $10 million worth of art for the new Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.

About $10 million is available and as well as visual art eventually the performing arts and other forms will also be supported in the joint venture by the Star Entertainment Group alongside its Hong Kong-based partners, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium.

DBC project director Simon Crooks says a robust selection process will ensure each of the areas within the 7.4ha of public space earmarked for installations (there are seven in total) will deliver memorable artworks.

“We are encouraging the Australian art community to get imaginative and think about how they can really put their stamp on Queensland’s largest urban development project by creating great destination pieces,” Mr Crooks said.

“More particularly we want to attract local contemporary and Indigenous artists. This is a multimillion-dollar commissioning process.

“It has the potential to provide a massive stimulus to the Queensland arts and cultural sector. Clear guidelines are in place to ensure a Queensland theme and flavour is also highlighted in the art works.”

Art will add texture to locales such as this at Queen’s Wharf Brisbane.

The Star’s CEO Matt Bekier said the commissioning of permanent installations for public areas within the project would be “just the start”.

“We want to embrace and foster Queensland’s arts industry long-term,” Mr Bekier said.

A selection panel will be supported by the Specialist Artistic Advisory group headed by Mr Bacon who said that when Queen’s Wharf Brisbane opened in late 2022 an estimated 1.4 million visitors per year who will come to see the art as well as the hotels, restaurants, shops and other attractions.

The first section of public space within the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct was opened in late 2019 with Waterline Park and the Mangrove Walk, both including unique art installations.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government had provided strong support for Queen’s Wharf to continue construction throughout the pandemic and that it’s artistic ambitions were admirable.

“The chance to work on the state’s largest ever tourism infrastructure project is a great opportunity for Queensland artists,” she said.

“I encourage all Queensland artists to get involved.”

When the project is completed in late 2022, it will transform Brisbane’s CBD with four new luxury hotels, more than 50 new bars and restaurants, 2000 residential apartments and more than 12 football fields of public space to be filled with art.

The expression of interest process for the public realm art is now open and closes May 17. Successful artists will be announced in November.