Strong response to public art call across Colac Otway
Published on 27 May 2026
Colac Otway Shire Council has received a strong response to its recent call for public art, attracting strong interest from artists, community groups and organisations across the region and beyond.
At Tuesday’s May Council Meeting Councillors endorsed a public art project following a competitive Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
The EOI process ran for 12 weeks and invited ideas and proposals for projects across the Shire. The approach was deliberately open and not tied to specific sites, which allowed Council to test market interest, understand what the possibility may be and identify community and sector priorities.
A total of 20 submissions were received, showcasing a diverse range of creative ideas. Proposals included murals, sculpture and community-led concepts designed to enhance public spaces, share local stories and contribute to the visitor experience.
The submissions were independently assessed against Council’s weighted criteria, including artistic quality, place-based relevance, delivery readiness, and value for money.
The process confirmed strong demand for public art in Colac Otway Shire and highlighted the value of community-led and placemaking-focused projects. It also identified the opportunity to move toward more targeted, site-specific projects in the future.
Following evaluation, Council has identified a preferred artist for this initial project. The selection reflects the strength of the proposal, the artist’s proven delivery experience and their ability to deliver a high-quality outcome within the available budget.
Council will now progress to the next stage of project development, with the selected artist refining their proposed concept into a detailed design. This will include consultation with Council to ensure the artwork responds well to the site and progressing the approvals needed. The project is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.,
Council will provide regular updates, including more details on the artist and what will be happening, as the project progresses.