Artists welcome four-year public art plan for Wagga

The region’s artists have welcome Wagga City Council’s Public Art Plan for 2022 to 2026, which aims to engage the community and open up conversations around art. Find out more.

A new four-year public arts plan aims to make Wagga “a home for the arts”.

The plan for 2022 to 2026, developed by Wagga City Council’s arts and cultural advisory committee, will work to enhance public spaces while supporting the local arts community and providing the public “opportunities to connect with others” according to the draft report.

It contains four focus areas, which include celebrating Wiradjuri Heritage and Culture through site specific installations of Wiradjuri significance and the inclusion of temporary works at council events.

It will also see the implementation of creative workshops in identified socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and will support the commissioning of public artworks throughout the local government area.

As well, creative lighting and digital works will take pride of place in strategic locations across the city to improve public safety and amenity, and an audio art trail will be developed.

At its last meeting, Wagga Council resolved to put the draft plan on public exhibition until July 12, and is now seeking public feedback.

Wagga artist Craig Couzens has welcomed the draft public arts plan that will see more public artworks. Picture: Supplied

Wagga City Council cultural officer Lauren Reynolds said the plan - which council will put $50,000 towards each financial year - was well considered.

“We are wanting to create more neighbourhood projects and continue to provide people with more community engagement with relevant developments in the art space,” she said.

“(The) total project budget goes up and down with the public arts policy so it can hold onto money for future projects that need a larger budget.

“It is a great plan by the council, we as a council really want to take on board the arts and make Wagga a home for the arts.

“This gives a perfect opportunity to local artists and provides more activations to the precincts around Wagga.”

Artists have also welcomed the plan, with Wagga print artist Craig Couzens saying it was a “much-needed plan” that would give local artists more of an opportunity to create art that the public could engage in.

“If you create more engagement with the community and create conversation over a piece of art it will make more activation for the precincts that are on offer in town,” Mr Couzens said.

One of many of Craig Couzens’ prints. Picture: Supplied

More sculptures will be installed in the main street. Picture: Supplied

Eastern Riverina Arts executive director Tim Kurylowicz said it was a great plan that would see more public art in and around Wagga.

“We fully support the plan to encourage art to the local area and will continue to work with Wagga City Council to give our support to further art projects in the future,” he said.

Mr Kurylowicz was pleased the plan had a framework in place, with the idea of using art to also act as a safety mechanism.

“If anyone has seen the fairy lights installations at Fitzmaurice St, it is really great because it gives the people an idea of art helping the community especially at night, but with extra safety will create a better environment for Wagga and can be an economic boost for the town,” he said.