Call-out for artists for Future City CBD

Orange City Council’s Future City project is about encouraging visitors to the CBD with a range of methods, one of those being installing public art across the area.

Future City is Council’s plan to increase the number of people visiting the CBD, giving a boost to retailers, this plan includes upgrading infrastructure, making the area more pedestrian friendly, introducing more live music and events and digital business support.

Public art is a major component of Future City, and Council is on the lookout for artists wanting to be involved in shaping Orange’s Future City cultural direction.

Expressions of Interest for stage one of the Future City Public Art program is now open for all artists and includes public murals and installations.

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said Council was interested in site specific designs to enhance areas of the CBD such as McNamara Lane and Anson Street.

“We’re interested in unique, creative, thought-provoking art for multiple sites across the CBD,” Cr Kidd said.

“”This is a great opportunity for any artist, whether they be local or well-established Australian artists, to further their career, while also enhancing Orange’s reputation as a cultural destination.”

HEAR THE STORIES BEHIND THE NEWS IN ‘The Orange Podcast’

Is Orange ready for public art?

Orange City Council’s Employment and Economic Development Policy Committee Chair Cr Tony Mileto said the artwork would need to complement and enhance the city’s architectural sites of the CBD and take into consideration the social and cultural history of the region.

“We’d like the art to engage with the past, present and future of Orange’s identity,” Cr Mileto said.

“There are so many talented artists in our region, particularly Aboriginal artists and I think there’s great potential to incorporate more Indigenous art in our CBD.

“Public art is a good way to encourage people to come to the CBD, spend some more time there, it encourages community pride and it brightens and enhances the area.”

Expressions of interest close at 5pm Sunday 17 January 2021

/Public Release. View in full here.