Purpose

The City has a significant Public Places Art Collection [the Collection] of artworks and monuments – one of the largest in Victoria – in its parks foreshores and streets and Council wishes to guide the ongoing maintenance of existing artwork and the strategic commissioning of new artwork.

Art can play a key role in creating quality public places telling local stories and expressing civic pride. Public art has a further role to play developing cohesive communities and enhancing cultural identity. The role of art in urban design place making and spatial activation is also widely recognised for community benefits of: increased public safety; an improved sense of community connection ownership and care for the civic environment; community confidence; and increased levels of use resulting in greater passive surveillance of public facilities. Public art benefits will contribute to Council's objectives established in its City Plan and the cultural vision for the City of Greater Geelong as stated in its Cultural Strategy Creativity:

'…to be a regional cultural centre of innovation and excellence.'

Background

The City of Greater Geelong is a large diverse municipality located one hour from Melbourne on the South Western side of Port Phillip Bay. Spanning from the You Yangs mountain range in the North to the Bellarine Peninsula in the South the City includes seaside rural urban and industrial environments and a correspondingly diverse range of communities with vastly different occupations and interests. The Municipality also caters for a large number of visitors all year round. Geelong is Victoria's largest regional city and is situated on beautiful Corio Bay and the Barwon River. Some years ago Geelong was the main port for processing and exporting primary produce from Victoria's Western District. It has a rich architectural maritime and industrial heritage and many of the impressive characteristics of a growing international city.

The Municipality however is in transition from a manufacturing base to a more service focussed economy. With a current population of approximately 218 000 the growth of new industries as well as new employment precincts and the construction of new community estates such as Armstrong Creek means the City is forecast to grow by at least another 66 000 in the next decade.

These rapid changes across the Geelong region along with a range of other socio - economic factors present opportunities and challenges for the Municipality's future community and cultural development and for its arts and cultural industries. For example the City's growing collection of public art the Collection in publicly accessible spaces across the Municipality provides vital points of focus for local community adding richness and cultural depth to community events tourism and economic development initiatives. However inclusion of public art projects in new developments is occurring unchecked and without consistent process or curatorial guidance. Growth and change has also brought the issues of environmental sustainability local identity and community connectedness to the fore.

The Municipality has a vibrant cultural life with a year - round calendar of public events. Several significant cultural institutions currently operate within Geelong including the National Wool Museum Geelong Gallery Geelong Library Geelong Heritage Centre Geelong Performing Arts Centre Old Courthouse Building and Costa Hall all of which contribute greatly to the cultural life of the City. Potential strategic connections with these institutions are vital considerations for the future direction of the City's public art programme particularly during re - development of the Cultural Precinct.

The Geelong Gallery is highly regarded across Australia for both its 18th