Art in Public Spaces Overview

Art in Public Spaces provides a holistic platform through which Gallery Services can foster, develop and realise Townsville City Council’s commitment to public art and endorsement of permanent and temporary art projects within the community environment of the Townsville region.

The aim of Art in Public Spaces is to promote socio-cultural development through the provision of a vibrant Townsville arts industry; considered and relevant frameworks that realise successful activation and integration of public art; and ensuring future development projects are intrinsically linked to a broader vision of the Townsville region through the establishment of partnerships and collaborations.

Significant strategic development has occurred in this area through the collaborative relationship developed between Gallery Services and Stockland, specifically through the current North Shore development.

Gallery Services has acted as an advisor in the development of Stockland’s public art commissioning practices, with a key milestone of this relationship being the recent commissioning of a large sculpture to be permanently installed within the development. Further, and quite significant to the economic sustainability of the visual arts sector locally, a Public Art Master Plan for the procurement of artworks by North Shore development has also been adopted, which will see public art opportunities made available at all stages of the development. Importantly, these opportunities will also involve participation from the immediate community to encourage engagement with art, allow input and ownership of the works, and facilitate interaction with the selected artists.

A number of public artworks within Townsville have also received remedial conservation, as in the case of Gavin Ryan’s Lyin’ Fish, or new homes so they can be best viewed and enjoyed by the community.

A new public artwork has also been commissioned in this period to be permanently situated on The Strand, and unveiled during the 2013 Strand Ephemera. The work, entitled Flex, will be created by Amanda Feher, and situated near the Rock Pool, where a wind turbine had formerly stood.

The sculpture was commissioned in recognition of the resilience shown by the Townsville community during and after Cyclone Yasi (February 2, 2011), and has been made possible through funding provided under the Community Development and Recovery Package, which is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.

The artist states of the work;

“The sculpture is comprised of three main elements, which both together and independently, symbolise the natural regeneration and re-building after a disaster occurs.“

“The Olive Backed Sunbird is native to the north and Townsville area. If the Olive Backed Sunbird’s nest is damaged by weather, they will often return to repair and inhabit the same nest again or rebuild close by.”

“Originally a mangrove dwelling species, the highly adaptable Sunbird has successfully inhabited and bred in Cultivated and Urban landscapes. The Sunbird with all its traits, lends itself as the perfect symbol of resilience.”

“The Grass Blade type form represents the tumultuous local environment, with its flexibility when long, and its ability to regrow after being cut down. This is also true of many of the people who rebuild after their homes are damaged in Natural Disaster Events.”

“Below the sculpture, the landscaping forms Isobaric Ring configuration and references Storm Radar Map colour schemes we are familiar with seeing on weather maps during extreme weather events.”

Gallery Services staff were also participants in a Memorial Street Art Prize Working Group, which developed a feasibility study into the development of legalised street art activities and programs that could be implemented in Townsville. The Report identified and assessed numerous programs that have engaged Street Art activity in Australia, such as by the City of Melbourne and Adelaide City Council, and explored the developmental, policy, successes and failures, opportunities and outcomes derivative of each initiative.