The City of Marion draft Public Art Strategy 2025–2030 outlines a comprehensive framework for enhancing public spaces through innovative and impactful public art projects. Aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan 2024-2034 of “A Liveable, Sustainable Community”, this Strategy aims to foster a sense of belonging, celebrate cultural diversity, and support environmental sustainability while engaging the community and promoting economic growth.
We invite you to review the draft plan and provide your feedback to help us deliver an effective strategy. Have we got this right, what could be improved?
Public art is artwork located in public spaces and buildings other than galleries and museums. It is created by practitioners for outdoor spaces such as parks, foreshores, beaches, city squares, streets, courtyards and forecourts, or indoor spaces in publicly or privately-owned buildings such as schools, hospitals, churches, shopping centres, recreation centres, local government administration centres, office buildings, hotels, etc.
Public art can take many forms in many different materials. It can be free-standing work or integrated into the fabric of buildings or outdoor spaces, such as a sculpture or mural - National Association of Visual Arts (NAVA).
Storytelling is a central element of public art development in the City of Marion providing relevance and opportunities for interpretation. By celebrating our diverse heritage and culture, like the “A Place with a History and Future” textile artwork, and sharing stories of our people and place, public art can help the community connect, acknowledges our culture and identity, and contributes to shaping a Liveable, Sustainable Community.
The natural environment, including the flora and fauna within the City of Marion, is highly valued by our community. “Reclaiming Sturt River”, an arts and environment public art project, explores the Sturt River, its surrounding spaces, and the social, cultural and biodiversity stories it holds. Public art projects can acknowledge climate change, regeneration, and human connections with nature through both form and materials, as well as their location.
Public art development encourages civic engagement, offering opportunities for our community to share ideas, meanings and participate in the creation of the artwork. It helps individuals connect with the collective essence of the community, inviting reflection on shared experiences, identities, and the power of community.
Collaborative public art fosters community pride, increases ownership, and encourages reflection, challenging norms and inspiring creative adaptation to the environment.
This theme highlights the power of creative and cultural experimentation to inspire wonder, ignite dialogue, shift perspectives, and craft compelling public art.
An example of this theme is the ‘Dig and Delve’ sculpture at Hendrie Street Reserve Playground. An oversized spade, symbolising local agriculture, river life and village settlement. The blade serves as a canvas for images and tactile, visual play, including integrated gongs and keys for playing tunes.
Hallmark sites are prominent, high-visibility locations with significant pedestrian and/or vehicle traffic, making them ideal for large-scale public art. These sites deliver multi-layered outcomes such as urban renewal, tourism, placemaking and heritage preservation.
Connector sites link people to various areas or structures and are often part of precincts or specific locations like shopping centres, civic buildings, or recreational reserves. Artworks at these sites vary in scale and scope based on the site’s characteristics and specific objectives.
Neighbourhood sites are intimate locations within residential areas that connect directly with the local community and reflects the culture of the space. Found on street corners, in residential reserves, or smaller retail strips these sites are ideal for “human scale” artwork or pieces integrated into the site’s physical features. Art at neighbourhood sites fosters participation and engagement with local residents, workers, and the community.
The City of Marion operates within a limited overall budget, with an annual allocation of $25,000 dedicated to the creation of new public artworks and an additional $15,000 for the Art on Utility Boxes, Stobie Poles and other small-scale infrastructure projects. Funding and Resourcing for public art projects must be practical to ensure that the intended scope, purpose, and scale of the works align with the Public Art Strategy and council budgets. External funding, partnerships and collaborative relationships will be established to support the successful delivery of this Strategy.
Sair Bean and Creative Pavements installing ‘Unity in Diversity’, 2024, Warracowie Way, Oaklands Park
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | 08 8375 6600 |
|---|---|
| communityengagement@marion.sa.gov.au | |
| Website | www.marion.sa.gov.au |
| In writing | PO Box 21 Park Holme South Australia 5043 |
