Public Art Fund open for applicants
Published on 23 June 2023
Image: How Do I Relate With Nature by Ivan Vostinar for the Bason Botanic Gardens Trust, 2023
Calling all artists, the Public Art Fund is currently open for applicants! This annual fund seeks to promote the creation and delivery of contemporary and diverse public art that celebrates the distinctive environments, histories, and communities of Whanganui region.
The council’s creative community advisor, Anique Jayasinghe, says, “The fund is aimed at established and practicing artists who are looking for the opportunity and challenge of creating artworks in the public sphere. It supports the development of artistic practice in a variety of mediums, from sculpture, temporary installations, land art, digital art, to moving image, sound art or street art.”
The recent installation of a funded sculpture at Bason Botanic Gardens shows the value of this scheme, says Anique Jayasinghe.
“Ivan Vostinar’s larger-than-life artwork has really added to the incredible and accessible art we have around Whanganui. I hope this inspires other local artists to apply and bring their creative ideas into reality.”
This year, the fund has an additional $22,500 available, bringing the total available funds to $52,500.
The fund requires match-funding, which means additional matched support is a requirement of the fund. This can include in-kind or financial support from external sponsors to assist in the material, fabrication, or installation costs.
Anique Jayasinghe says there is a point of difference with this funding round, with the option of choosing an established site earmarked for a future public artwork.
“In previous years, the Public Art Fund has been an avenue for artists to produce their first public artwork. We hope presenting an established site for applicants cuts out some of the tricky preliminary work for emerging artists particularly and allow them to focus more on the artistic process.
“Any established sites included in the fund would be selected based on their visibility, ease of access, and clear fulfilment of a community need.
“Public art can be a costly but incredibly rewarding endeavour – artists have the opportunity to create works in collaboration with their communities and contribute to the placemaking and beautification of neighbourhoods. We’re really excited to see what applications we receive this year.”
One of the newly earmarked sites is at Virginia Lake. Terry Coxon, Virginia Lake Trust Chair, says, “We have worked with the Public Art Fund in previous years to support the creation of works such as the replacement of the Pura McGregor Waka Maumahara. We’re pleased to once again support the opportunity for a local artist to create a piece for visitors of the reserve to enjoy.”
Information sessions are available for those interested in pitching their application idea or asking questions about the process with the funding administrator, Anique Jayasinghe.
The 30-minute sessions are available to book between 12.30pm – 2.30pm on Friday 30 June, or Friday, 7 July. To book in a time, contact Anique Jayasinghe or call 06 349 3086.
The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 17 July. To apply, see past grant recipients, and more information on our website.
Alongside the Public Art Fund, the Chorus Cabinet Art project is opening on Saturday, 1 July. Emerging artists are encouraged to paint selected Chorus boxes, and the council will put the call out for applicants when submissions open.