Public art planning
Council is actively supporting and developing opportunities for public art in our Shire.
Advice on your project
We provide expert advice and guidance on community-driven public art projects. For an initial assessment of your public art proposal please contact our Creative Industries Officer by email m.mcclelland@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or phone 03 5471 1812.
Council's Public Art Program
We develop opportunities for public art through:
- Direct council commissions (via developer contributions)
- Incorporation of public art in building and streetscape developments
- Partnership with arts organisations, businesses and grant funding bodies
All Council public art commissions are scoped and reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Panel.
Public Art Advisory Panel
This expert panel is made up of six community members and a Councillor, who together help shape the future of public art in the Shire. Members of the panel represent the aspirations and needs of the community, and support Council to ensure integrity and quality of permanent public art proposals.
The six appointed community members are as follows:
Dan Mitchell
Dan Mitchell is an artist working across major festivals, circus, theatre, music and public art, and has had a 30-year career as a creative producer. A person with Whadjuk Noongar and European heritage, he is drawn to the tension, dysfunction and contradiction inherent in Australian culture. Dan was the Senior Producer of the Indigenous Cultural Program at Footscray Community Arts Centre, and is now Creative Producer Arts Strategy at Dumawul for the Djaara Corporation.
Lisa Merkesteyn
Lisa is a registered architect with over 15 years’ experience in built environment projects with a focus on architecture, heritage, urban design, and strategic planning. She has designed and delivered buildings across Sydney and London (2006-2018) and has developed skills to analyse opportunities and constraints for the built environment. Lisa lives in Castlemaine and is passionate about making streets inclusive places.
Gretchen Hillhouse
Gretchen Hillhouse brings over 30 years of creative professional practice to her role as director of Artly Architectural – a public arts practice working with developers and councils to create art works and infrastructure design that brings spaces to life. She is committed to amplifying the voice of First Nation artists, providing a culturally aware and culturally safe commissioning experience and positive outcomes for clients and artists.
Forest Keegel
Forest is a local resident with experience creating public art as a solo practitioner and with communities she contributed to the publication ‘Arts Ripple Effect- Making Art with Communities’ by Creative Victoria, and has developed projects such as public art for Harmony Park in the City of Moreland, the Makarrata Garden at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre and Living Sculptures in Linton, for Golden Plains Shire.
Nathan Edwards
Nathan, a local resident, has more than 25 years professional experience working within the built environment including with local government. With an engineering, technology and project management background, and recent postgraduate qualifications in public art, Nathan has a strong understanding and interest in creative design and delivering projects in public spaces.
Laura Jade
Laura specialises in immersive public art at the intersection of art, biology, lighting, and technology. Her large-scale installations have been shown at festivals and esteemed institutions globally. Passionate about unveiling hidden biological phenomena through art and light, Laura enjoys engaging the public with unique interactive experiences that inspire curiosity and wonder.