Public art can improve the connectivity of a precinct and its interrelationship with the rest of the area. Good public art can contribute to a sense of place, enhancing public spaces and celebrating cultural identity and community aspirations.
Recognising how public art plays a major role in our community’s aspiration for a ‘Sense Of Community’ and in response to the growing demand for artwork to be integrated into the City’s projects and private developments, the City of Melville has recently developed a new Public Art Strategy and Masterplan.
This document defines principles and priorities for public art in the City and will help to guide resources and funding towards relevant public art projects that will enhance the City’s built environment, distinctive natural assets, significant Indigenous sites, historic locations and key destinations.
The Public Art Strategy and Masterplan provides a curatorial and technical framework for all new commissions, ensuring that the City of Melville’s public art collection is cohesive, curated, and surpasses industry best practice standards. This approach will enable the City of Melville to respond to new ideas about art, storytelling, interpretation and cultural expression.
The City of Melville’s public art collection consists of over 80 artworks which have been acquired through artist commissions, exhibition purchases, donations, community arts projects and ongoing programs such as the Adopt-a-Stop Bus Shelter Program and PHAZE Urban Art Program.
Public Art is integrated into City playgrounds, park landscaping and building designs and the City also encourages public art in private developments through its percent for art policy, Provision for Public Art in Development Proposals.
Download a map showing locations of Public Artworks around the City or view a gallery of artworks in the collection here.
For more information, please email the Cultural Development Officer (Arts) or call 9364 0666.
Image to left: Rising Lotus by Tom Muller
Habibi by Ayad Alqaragholli
Procession by Leanne Bray
Wireless Hill War Memorial
Spider Web by Andrea Vinkovic
Swan River Jellyfish Swarm - Installation by Jill O'Meehan and local students
Freestyle by Tony Jones
Reflections by Steve Tepper and Mark Datodi
Pilgrim by Russell Sheridan. Image credit: Peter Zuvela.
5 Poles by Brian McKay - detail
Point Walter Entry Statement by Mark Cox and Applecross SHS students
Fragment by Kevin Draper
Past Community Art Projects
Enchanted Garden - Piney Lakes Sensory Play Park, Winthrop.
Artist: Jenny Dawson with the students from Corpus Christi College, Yidarra Catholic Primary School, and DADAA.
August 2016 to August 2017.
The project included people of all abilities who worked with the artist to create a series of tiled artworks that form and entrance to the Sensory Play Park.
Deepwater Point Jetty Art Seats, Mt Pleasant
Artist: Jon Denaro with the Waylen Bay Sea Scouts and Melville Woodturners.
December 2013 to December 2014, Artwork installed January 2015.
This cross-generational community arts project involved sculptor, Jon Denaro, working with the Waylen Bay Sea Scouts and Melville Woodturners. All materials were salvaged from the old Deep Water Point Jetty (removed from the river in December 2013). The Waylen Bay Sea Scouts created designs for the backrests and the talented Woodturners carved these designs into the timber.
Carawatha Park Community Arts Project, Willagee
Artist: Gila Cohen with Willagee residents
December 2014
Artist, Gila Cohen, worked with Willagee residents to create bushland inspired designs to decorate stepping stones in the new park on the grounds of the old Carawatha Primary School.
Mt Pleasant Park Stepping Stones
Artist: Carol Clitheroe with Year 6 students from Mount Pleasant Primary School, Year 4 students from St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School and local residents.
In November 2013, the City of Melville unveiled a new community artwork at the park on Ogilvie Road in Mount Pleasant.
Artist, Carol Clitheroe, worked with school students to create ceramic tiles, themed around the natural environment of the park, which were then incorporated into stepping stones and pathway features for the newly established park. Local residents who attended the park launch in June 2013 also had the opportunity to make tiles that have been included into the artworks.
View the finished artworks in the park.
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