Street art to celebrate women

GEELONG’S laneways will be the destination to celebrate International Women’s Day and the talents of local female artists next year.

The City of Greater Geelong has launched a new women-only Street Art commission project and is calling for expressions of interest from female artists working across a diverse range of wall-based media.

Artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, artists with disability and artists from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply to be part of the commission program.

The initiative aims to provide opportunities for women keen to create new works within the Geelong CBD, adding to city’s Street Art program within the city’s Outdoor Art & Heritage Collection.

The council has identified Geelong’s Little Malop Street laneway precinct, with its with coffee shops, artists and designers, restaurants and wine bars, as a potential site for the program with a range of possible street art locations.

Little Ryrie Street could also be considered for the project and after council staff negotiate wall space with building owners, selected artists will be matched with their preferred site.

The total value of the project is $100,000, which covers the commissioning of works across a range of potential media.

The Street Art Commission Project artworks will be launched during the week leading up to International Women’s Day.

Opportunities for commissioned artists to celebrate their work through community engagement such as artists talks, mentoring of emerging/young artists, school visits or public workshops could also be considered.

More information for interested artists is available on the city’s website and expressions of interest close at 9am on October 28.