Your vote will bring new public artwork to life
Published on 21 November 2024
Mount Alexander Shire Council is excited to announce it has been shortlisted for funding to bring a new public artwork to life – but it needs your help to secure the grant!
Council has been shortlisted in the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program, which will fund six new public artworks across the state to honour women’s contributions to Victoria.
Public voting plays a key role in deciding which projects receive funding, and your support could make all the difference.
The proposed public artwork will celebrate the lives of seven trailblazing local women who stood in solidary for better representation of women in art.
Known as the first women of Castlemaine Art Museum, the group comprised of Mary Leviny, Lilian Sheridan, Alice Waterhouse, Winifred Brotherton, Elsie Barlow, Mary Brough Woolley and Mrs. Cox, established the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum in 1913 (now known as the Castlemaine Art Museum).
Council’s Manager of Economy and Culture, Merryn Tinkler said she was thrilled that the project had been shortlisted for funding.
“Being shortlisted is an honour, but now it’s up to all of us to make this project happen,” said Ms Tinkler.
“For too long, women have been erased from the history books and together we can change that.
“Voting for this project can help us acknowledge their important place in history, forever,” said Ms Tinkler.
How to vote
Show your support and vote!
- Visit the Engage Victoria website at https://engage.vic.gov.au/womens-public-art-program
- Click the ‘Participate’ button
- Click the ‘Start survey’ button
- Scroll to the heading, Tell us which of these 13 Victorian women’s stories you would like to see celebrated in a public artwork
- Tick the box for the first women of Castlemaine Art Museum.
- Click the submit button.
- You’re done!
Voting is open until Sunday 8 December.
The Victorian Minister for Women, Natalie Hutchins will announce the six projects to be funded through the program in early 2025.
If the vote and selection process is successful, Council will receive a grant to create the artwork. This will be combined with existing budgeted contributions from Council’s 2024/2025 Budget.
Council will then work closely with key partners Castlemaine Art Museum and Buda Historic House and Garden to engage local community, artists, suppliers and stakeholders to bring the project to fruition.
“Funding will not only help us bring the stories of these important women to life, but enable us to employ a talented team of local women as part of the process,” said Ms Tinkler.
“The project is about local women, and as far as possible, will be created by women. We will encourage proposals from local artists to collaborate with a consortium of women in related fields, including landscape and urban design specialists, engineers, and where possible, fabricators and suppliers, to deliver this significant artwork.”
“Our aim is to create a reflective installation and garden space which will celebrate the contributions of this group of women,” said Ms Tinkler.
Council is currently scoping locations for the proposed public artwork, working in partnership with its Public Art Advisory Panel and project partners, Castlemaine Art Museum and Buda Historic House.
“Following a recent mural and waste-truck commission, Council has a number of exciting public art initiatives on the horizon for emerging and established artists, which we’re looking forward to delivering over the coming years,” said Ms Tinkler.
“We know our community value creativity, so we’re thrilled to be responding with new initiatives to grow our public art program.
“Public art is good for the health of a community in so many ways. It can improve the safety of an area, boost tourism and local employment, create conversations, bring people together and spark the imagination.
“We’re looking forward to giving voice to important stories and issues through our public art program – the first women of Castlemaine Art Museum is just the beginning!”, said Ms Tinkler.
The 2024 Victorian Women’s Public Art Program is funded by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund and run in partnership with McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery.
Background information on the first women of Castlemaine Art Museum
- The first women of Castlemaine Art Museum are Mary Leviny, Lilian Sheridan, Alice Waterhouse, Winifred Brotherton, Elsie Barlow, Mary Brough Woolley and Mrs. Cox.
- The group established the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum in 1913 (now known as the Castlemaine Art Museum).
- They stood in solidarity for better representation of women in art, and highlighted the importance of collecting contemporary Australian art.
- Their individual achievements included sitting on the board of Castlemaine Woollen Mills, owning one of Australia’s first specialist schools for children with disability, contributing to Von Mueller’s catalogue of indigenous Victorian plants, creating Kaweka Wildflower Sanctuary, serving as a Red Cross volunteer in London in World War I and preserving the heritage of key buildings in Castlemaine.
- Their story was erased from history, and credit for their achievements handed to male politicians and wealthy businessmen.
- An exhibition display exploring their legacy, Wildflowers – The First Ladies of Castlemaine Art Museum is currently on show at Castlemaine Art Museum.
Image: Elsie Barlow at her solo show at the Castlemaine Mechanics Institute Library in 1912. Image credit: Adolphus Verey care of the Adolphus Verey Photographic Collection.