The Great ARTdoors – Big Announcements!

Published on 24 June 2022

We have great news – eight artists have been appointed to create art installations along the Great Victorian Rail Trail and art location sites have been selected.

We are excited to announce that the artists selected to create the seven larger art installations are Donna Marcus, Yu-Fang Chi, Christabel Wigley (Wigley World), Louise Paramor, Tai Snaith, Cara Johnson and Robbie Rowlands. Mick Harding (Ngarga Warendj) has been selected to create the Trail Long series of works.

You can find biographies of the selected artists and a map of the art installation locations at our online engagement platform, The Loop, at theloop.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/GVRT-art-project

The next phase of the Project will see the detailed design for each of the sites finalised in preparation for work on the installations to begin. The works are expected to be installed before the end of April 2023.

As the project progresses, we will be providing updates to the community via The Loop and on social media, which will include some sneak peeks of the works as they develop.

The $1.2 million Great ARTdoors Project is a partnership between Murrindindi, Mansfield and Mitchell Shire Councils, funded through the Victorian Government Regional Tourism Investment Fund Stimulus Round, as part of the COVID-19 tourism stimulus package through Regional Development Victoria.

Quotes Attributable to Murrindindi Shire Mayor Councillor Sue Carpenter

Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Councillor Sue Carpenter said the Project is aimed at attracting more visitors to the Rail Trail to support communities along the Trail by building its reputation as a premier tourist attraction.

The Rail Trail is an important part of the tourism offering across the three shires and it is exciting to see the Project reach this key milestone.

We worked with the community on the scope of the Project late last year, and the three Councils have since been working together, along with arts professionals with experience in delivering major public art projects, to get the right artists involved in the creation and delivery of the art installations.

Quotes Attributable to Mitchell Shire Mayor Councillor Bill Chisholm

Mitchell Shire Council Mayor Councillor Bill Chisholm said it has been wonderful to see so much interest in the project from artists, the community and the partner councils.

This project will help give people another reason to visit the region and follow the trail to see the seven pieces and learn more about the area along the way.

Quotes Attributable to Mansfield Shire Mayor Councillor James Tehan

Mansfield Shire Council Mayor Councillor James Tehan said he was pleased with the community consultation process.

The seven locations have been selected from over 50 suggested sites identified during the community consultation phase. These are strategically spaced along the Rail Trail to encourage visitors to come and explore one section or all of the Trail.

I would like to extend a big thanks to the Community Reference Group that has helped us find the locations for the larger art installations.