Overview
STAGE ONE: EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The City of Parramatta invites emerging First Nations artists with a connection to Greater Western Sydney to submit an EOI for the Duck River Public Art Project. Please see attached the Artist Brief for full details on project scope, deliverables and requirements. All submissions are assessed against the EOI mandatory and qualitative Selection Criteria. A short list of up to three (3) suitably qualified artists will be selected.
STAGE TWO: CONCEPT DESIGN
Up to three (3) artists will be shortlisted and invited to develop a concept design in response to the Stage Two Concept Design Criteria. An Artist Selection Panel will assess each concept design against the qualitative selection criteria and recommend the preferred artist for the commission. Each shortlisted artist will receive a $2,000 ex GST honorarium for preparing their concept design proposal.
Project Context
The Duck River Nature Trail will deliver a 4 km shared walking and cycling corridor connecting Duck River to Parramatta River, improving public access, active transport, recreation and environmental conditions.
Stage 3 will extend access along both banks of Duck River through new paths, boardwalks, bridges, ecological planting and rest areas, while minimising impacts on the river’s ecology and topography. Council is working with Traditional Custodians to guide the public art process, ensuring it respects Dharug Country and foregrounds First Nations cultural expression.
Public Artwork Commission
City of Parramatta is seeking an emerging First Nations Artist to create a 2D artwork for application to selected balustrade infrastructure along the 4 km Duck River Nature Trail. This supported commission offers an emerging artist the opportunity to realise a significant public artwork. The Duck River Nature Trail will link Duck River and Parramatta River to create a walking and cycling corridor, improving access, recreation, active transport and environmental conditions.
Stage 3 will add paths, boardwalks, bridges, ecological planting and rest areas along the Eastern and Western riverbanks, while minimising ecological impacts. Council is working with Traditional Custodians to guide the public art process, ensuring it respects Dharug Country and foregrounds First Nations cultural expression.
Responding to the Curatorial Vision, “What does Country want to tell us?”, Council seeks an emerging First Nations artist to develop designs for the Eastern and Western Riverbank projects. The Eastern Riverbank will be delivered first, with the Western Riverbank project subject to future funding; see page 6. The artist will supply vector files and advise the Principal Contractor during fabrication and installation in 2027–2028.
Artist Brief
The public art opportunity is to integrate 2D artwork into selected sections of the new nature trail balustrades, particularly where barriers are required near the waterline or other fall-risk areas.
The boardwalk balustrades feature 1200mm H x ~1800mm W mesh panels between posts. These panels will form the primary canvas for the artwork, with potential treatments including laser-cut or perforated panels and contour-cut elements attached to the mesh. Based on current cost estimates Council anticipates that the public art will be incorporated intermittently across the following lengths of boardwalk:
- Stage 1 – East River: 1,400 linear metres of balustrade, inclusive of both left-hand and right-hand sides
- Stage 2 – West River: 489 linear metres of boardwalk inclusive of both left-hand and right-hand sides
Artist Deliverables and Responsibilities
- The Artist will develop 2D artwork designs for both the Eastern and Western Riverbank packages.
- The Artist will provide final scaled Adobe Illustrator vector files to Council to include in the project's detailed design documentation.
- Council will work collaboratively with the Artist to develop a template that supports the required technical output.
- Council will work with the Artist to adapt the artwork for each package, with the Principal Construction Contractor responsible for the development of shop drawings, fabrication and installation.
- The Artist will act in an advisory capacity throughout the fabrication and installation stages to ensure the integrity of the artistic concept (between 2027–2028).
- Construction of the Eastern Riverbank Package, including the artwork, is projected to commence in 2027, with the Western Riverbank Package and associated artwork treatments to be delivered at a later stage, subject to funding.
Budget
The budget for this commission is $60,000 ex GST inclusive of all costs. This fee is inclusive of the following:
- All artist fees
- Delivery of Adobe Illustrator vector files for integration into the project’s detailed design documentation
- Fabrication and installation advisory services
- Consultation with Traditional Custodians facilitated by Council
- All equipment, insurance and materials
Download Guidelines
Visit the City of Parramatta’s Public Art Expression of Interest page for details and Download the project guidelines which contain the Artist Brief and Sample contract: INSERT LINK ONCE YOU HAVE
Fill
Out
