Organizer Information:
Maroondah City Council. Maroondah Federation Estate is a prominent cultural and arts facility situated on the site of the original 1921 Ringwood State School. The venue houses galleries, artist studios, workshops, and function rooms, and receives more than 200,000 visitors annually.
Title & Description:
Applications are open for the Artist Commission – Expression of Interest (Maroondah Federation Estate).
The Council is seeking expressions of interest from suitably experienced contemporary artists to develop and install applied works for one or more walls in the courtyard area and/or the street-facing back wall of the courtyard. The artwork/s could take a variety of forms, including murals, sculptural relief, tiling/mosaics, perforated steel, adhesive vinyl, weather-appropriate textiles, or light-based artworks. Artists are encouraged to consider the presence of the work during both night and daytime.
Category:
Public Art / Craft/Traditional Arts, New Media, Mixed-Media/Multi-Discipline, Sculpture.
Eligibility:
- Who: Suitably experienced contemporary artists (national representation). Collaborative teams are also welcome.
- Insurance: Applicants must hold an ABN and Public Liability Insurance of a minimum of $20 million.
- Site Visit: Attendance at a site visit is compulsory prior to submitting an Expression of Interest.
- Longevity Requirement: Applicants must demonstrate experience completing public art projects with a lifecycle of 10+ years and provide a maintenance manual using sustainable materials.
Program Benefits & Awards:
- Commission Budget: Between $20,000 to $100,000 (excluding GST) is available for the final commission, depending on scope, scale, and complexity.
- Shortlist Fee: Shortlisted artists will be paid a $1,000 fee to develop a Concept Proposal and detailed budget.
Application Requirements:
For the initial Expression of Interest phase, applicants must submit:
- CV demonstrating appropriate experience and skills.
- Contact details for two referees.
- A one-page letter addressing the Selection Criteria (including proposed targeted wall/s).
- Up to 5 images of relevant previous work (with total project budgets, emphasizing public space works).
- Confirmation of attendance at the site visit.
How to Apply?
Submit your Expression of Interest via email to Jane O’Neill (Public Art Lead) at publicart@maroondah.vic.gov.au.
Key Dates:
- Compulsory Site Visits: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 (2pm – 2:45pm) OR Saturday, March 28, 2026 (10am – 10:45pm). (Other times by appointment).
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
- Shortlisted Artists Confirmed: Thursday, April 30, 2026.
- Concept Proposals Due: Thursday, May 28, 2026.
- Installation: August 4 – August 25, 2026.
Location:
Maroondah Federation Estate, 32 Greenwood Ave, Ringwood VIC 3134, Australia.
Contact Information:
Email: publicart@maroondah.vic.gov.au