THE future direction of public art projects in the Kingston municipality is under consideration.
Consultation on Kingston Council’s public art program closes this week. Council is seeking opinions from the community so it can decide which public art projects it will prioritise in the future.
The mayor Hadi Saab said he hopes that a focus on public art will help creatives bounce back after the pandemic. “Public art can play a positive role in our community by enhancing buildings, infrastructure and natural areas. It can boost civic pride in our neighbourhoods, mark our history and celebrate our shared values, and can even play a role in graffiti prevention,” he said. “Our creative community was badly impacted by the pandemic, and we continue to work with the other levels of government and the private sector to facilitate opportunities for these industries across Kingston.
“Community feedback will identify key projects and locations [and] guide funding decisions. In addition to advice from our experienced Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee volunteers, we also want to hear from the general community.
“Some artworks speak to someone more than others, and everyone will have a piece of art that is particularly important or special to them. That’s why we want to hear from as many voices as possible to help shape Kingston’s public art moving forward.”
In its 2022/2023 budget, Kingston Council set aside $200,000 in ratepayer funding for an art trail along Patterson River.
Consultation will close on 24 March. Visit yourkingstonyoursay.com.au/public-art to take the survey.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 22 March 2023