Following the close of the EOI period, the panel, comprising representatives of Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Council and MVCC, will shortlist three artists or artist collectives to progress to the second stage, which includes a fee for concept development. From this shortlist, one artist will be selected and formally commissioned to deliver the project.

The project is valued at $ 42,300 (excluding GST).

This project offers a unique opportunity for a First Nations Australian artist or collective to propose and create two significant, site-specific visual artworks, engaging themes of water as a connector between people, culture and place. As the works will be displayed in a prominent public-facing venue, both artworks must be framed prior to delivery to ensure their preservation, safety, and long-term value within the permanent collection.

The public art project celebrates the rich cultures, histories and ongoing contributions of First Nations peoples within our community. The new artworks will foster a sense of pride, belonging and shared identity.

Artists are encouraged to explore a range of mediums in developing their proposals. Please note, however, that the final artworks must be suitable for framing and designed as movable works for display within the Council Chambers and Civic Centre Foyer.

We invite proposals which:

• Champion the work of First Nations Australian artists at any career stage (emerging, mid-career or established).
• Reflect, celebrate, and welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in Moonee Valley.
• Pay respect to the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung First Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Moonee Valley.
• Engage in themes of water as a connector between people, culture and place.
• Demonstrate artistic merit, conceptual rigour, material suitability, and consideration of the site’s context.

First Nations Artist Examples

Proposals must focus on wall-based, framed outcomes rather than murals, integrated architectural works or freestanding sculpture.

Previous First Nations–curated exhibitions at Incinerator Gallery include These Arms Hold (2025) curated by Maya Hodge, a Lardil and Yangkaal woman based on the lands of the Kulin Nation. This exhibition forms part of the gallery’s annual First Nations Platform exhibition program. It powerfully centres Indigenous women’s strength, sovereignty, and storytelling, presenting newly commissioned works that honour cultural knowledge, resistance, and community connection.

False-Relationality, (2023), curated by Moorina Bonini and Tyson Campbell, examined Indigenous ways of knowing, place and relationality through diverse artistic practices. Featuring artists from Australia and Aotearoa, the exhibition engaged critically with land, culture and identity through painting, video, spoken word and installation, fostering dialogue around Indigenous onto-epistemologies and shared experience.

The City of Moonee Valley is located on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country and is the local government authority for a vibrant, diverse municipality in the north-western suburbs of Naarm/Melbourne. Located along the cultural and environmentally significant Maribyrnong River, the City of Moonee Valley has a population of 129,732 residents, making it a bustling and growing community just a few kilometres from Melbourne’s central business district.

Moonee Valley encompasses 15 suburbs, including Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale and Airport West and delivers around 200 distinct services including a rich and vibrant visual and public art program.

Council adopted the Igniting Creativity in Moonee Valley 23–27 strategy to guide arts and culture across the municipality, positioning public art as a key driver of vibrant, inclusive and connected places. The strategy prioritises creativity in public spaces through place-based projects and meaningful community engagement, shaping the delivery of current public art commissions.

About Incinerator Gallery

Established in 2011, Incinerator Gallery is a platform for unique cultural experiences that connects society through art and design. Located in Aberfeldie, the gallery is home to the last remaining incinerator in Victoria, designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin . It welcomes communities, art professionals, and people of all ages interested in art and design to champion new creative perspectives that strengthen communities.

Since 2014, Incinerator Gallery’s First Nations-led Platform exhibition series has supported over 80 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and curators, including Karla Dickens, Amala Groom, Jessica Clark, Michael Cook, and Tony Albert. This program foregrounds Indigenous voices in exhibitions, commissions, and public programs, reflecting Council’s commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as outlined in the Reconciliation Plan Bagarru Bagarru Djerring (Shoulder to Shoulder Together). The Playground Project’s New First Nations Playable Public Art Commission, appointed to Edwina Green in 2025 as Council's most ambitious public artwork to date, marks another important milestone in recognising First Nations arts, culture, connection to Country, and commitment to care.

Council adopted the Bagarru Bagarru Djerring Reconciliation Plan 2022–2025 to continue acknowledging the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People as the Traditional Custodians of the land and to strengthen our partnership with Wurundjeri People in celebrating and honouring their culture, heritage and history.

As part of Council’s commitment to reconciliation and to fostering culture, respect and trust, a First Nations artist or collective will be commissioned to design and deliver two unique artworks at the Civic Centre.

Applicants are advised that this commission involves engagement and collaboration with the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

The Moonee Valley Civic Centre was established in the early 1970s to serve as the administrative headquarters. The two artworks will be delivered in two distinct locations and will be accessioned into MVCC’s Public Art Collection and exhibited permanently at the Civic Centre.

Council Chambers – Artwork 1

The Civic Centre houses the Council Chambers, where elected councillors meet monthly to set local policy and make decisions on community matters. Artists are asked to respond to the below location and should note the work may be subject to live filming during Council sessions.

Artists are invited to explore both sides of the wall space—either by submitting one framed artwork or two separate framed works to be displayed on the available walls located to the left and right of the brown door, as pictured below. Existing artworks and table will be removed.

Specifications

• Dimensions of maximum artworks are:
  • Left wall – 1.5m (H) x 4 (W): Figure 4
  • Right wall – 1.5 (H) x 3 (W): Figure 5
• Framed two-dimensional artworks
• Suggested mediums include:
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Works on paper
  • Relief or carved panel
  • Mixed media
  • Textiles
  • Digital illustration or contemporary graphic work
  • Glass based framed work

Civic Centre Public Foyer – Artwork 2

Specifications

• Dimensions of maximum artworks are:
  • 1.5m (H) x 2m (W): Figure 6
• Framed two-dimensional artworks
• Suggested mediums include:
  • Acrylic or oil on canvas
  • Works on paper including ochre, ink, charcoal
  • Relief or carved panel
  • Photographic works, including archival pigment print
  • Mixed media on board
  • Textile based work
  • Digital illustration or contemporary graphic work
  • Printmaking
  • Glass based framed work

The project budget is $42,300 (excluding GST) and includes:

• Artist fee (exclusive of superannuation)
• Concept development and visuals (including publicity images)
• Production (material, labour, framing)
• Insurances and public liability insurances, including Public Liability $10M and Professional Indemnity $5M.

The payment schedule is as follows: 

• Artist’s fee - $21,150AUD plus GST (on signing of the contract)  

• Production costs - $21,150 AUD plus GST 

• • Instalment 1 on signing of the contract - $21,150
  • Instalment 2 on sign-off of completion of works at Civic Centre - $21,150
  • Total $42,300

Please submit the Expression of Interest, in PDF format, by email (or link to external drive e.g. Dropbox, GoogleDrive, WeTransfer,etc.) by 9am on Tuesday, 21 April, to:

Kaitlyn Weekes, MVCC Public Art Officer: publicart@mvcc.vic.gov.au

Further information on what to submit is detailed in the artist brief (download).

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest

Artists are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in response to this brief. Requirements:

Artists submitting an expression of interest via email should include the following:

• An outline of the response to the site and brief, including why the commission is of interest to you and how the work will be experienced (1 page maximum)
• A short artist biography and curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages), including details of experience in delivering projects of similar scale and budget with 2-3 supporting visuals.
• Please note concept design is not required at this stage, and no concept fee will be provided for reposing to this EOI.

  Assessment criteria for the EOI stage is listed below.

Stage 2 - Shortlisting of Artists

Following the close of the EOI period, a shortlist of three artists will be selected by an appointed panel. Shortlisted artists will be invited to a site visit with a Council representative before developing detailed concepts.

A fee of $1000 excl. GST will be paid to the three shortlisted artists for their concept proposals per artist.

Shortlisted artists will have two weeks to further develop their initial concept proposals to include detailed design, sketches, drawings and/or concept renders. Artists will be required to present their proposals to the appointed panel in person at Incinerator Gallery (180 Holmes Road, Aberfeldie 3040).

The concept design submissions should be submitted to the Public Art Officer three days prior to the scheduled presentation via (email, Dropbox etc.). Following the presentation, the submissions will be distributed and reviewed by the panel with the selected artist to be awarded the commission.

Stage 3 – Artist Commission

The commission for the project will be awarded to the chosen artist through a formal agreement.

Council will photograph and document the artwork, promote the outcomes of the commission and liaise with associated stakeholders where required.

Artistic Merit

This category evaluates the visual and aesthetic quality of the proposal and portfolio of past works, taking into consideration the use of form, colour, composition, and other elements of visual language. Does the artist demonstrate unique artistic rigour, progressive conceptual explorations, and openness to experimentation through their work? Does the artist critically engage with concepts and ideas signified through their visual art practice?

Technical Merit

This category evaluates your technical skills in executing the chosen medium. The submission will be judged on how well they have mastered their medium and materials, including the attention to detail and precision in execution. Does the work demonstrate potential to be translated into the existing or new materials during the development process?

Appropriateness

This category evaluates the appropriateness of the proposal to be site-specific visual artworks, engaging themes of water as a connector between people, culture and place. Does the artist's vision align with their resources, capacity, and/or experience? Is the proposal suitable for all audiences?

Connection to place

This category evaluates the connection of the proposal to Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country through the community. Does the artist show an existing connection to these places? Does the artist show potential to engage with Wurundjeri and other local communities to further develop and refine their proposal?

Relevance to artist's professional development

This category considers the timeliness of the proposal in relation to the artist’s career trajectory. Does this opportunity align with the artist’s current stage of practice, providing meaningful development, growth, or a new direction? Does the proposal offer the artist a chance to experiment, refine their practice, and/or engage with new audiences, collaborators, or mediums?