ROBINVALE’S riverfront and two of the town’s key thoroughfares have been identified as offering significant opportunities for public art developments.
Swan Hill Rural City Council wants to further enhance the region’s growing public art reputation and has nominated 14 potential locations for “installations and activations”.
The council said the riverfront at Robinvale as well as the town’s main shopping strip, Perrin St, and Robin St, could support “transformative developments”.
Council’s community and cultural services director Bruce Myers told this week’s monthly meeting that the council had the opportunity to encourage the incorporation of public art during the development of major infrastructure projects.
“Public art has been acknowledged as important to community health and wellbeing, stimulating comment and interpretation among community members,” Mr Myers said.
“Public art is also increasingly designed with a practical purpose such as seating, shade and lighting, or into streetscape redevelopments.”
“The development of capital works or programs of significant cost could also incorporate public art in design with cross-departmental consultation.
“Central also to the plan is the need for artistic excellence, consideration of placement, financial opportunities and conservation needs.”
Councillors were told that beyond free-standing artworks, there were opportunities to consider the potential to commission a public artist when council was building or refurbishing infrastructure such as shade structures, picnic shelters, street seating, signage, power poles and bollards that would bring Swan Hill, Robinvale and other small towns into the networks of existing public art trails in Victoria and beyond.
“While indicative contribution figures may be provided as a guideline for consideration in major projects, it is anticipated that procurement and installation costs associated with public art are included where possible in project scoping, and that ongoing maintenance costs are budgeted and planned for appropriately,” Mr Myers said.
“The design and installation of public art can assist local artists in showcasing their skills, providing opportunities for positive economic outcomes,” he said.
“Recent examples have also shown the increase in skills developed by local tradespeople in the construction and installation.”
Mr Myers said the value of public art to community health and wellbeing had been well documented and large and complex master plans were likely to create opportunities for elements of public art in their design.
