Through Moreton Says surveys and the Creative Communities Engagement program, you have told us:

• The beautiful outdoor places and spaces across the city are one of the main reasons you live here.
• Arts and culture are important for building social connection and understanding across our city.
• ‘Art Outdoors’ is strongly desired.

Our Cultural Services team have been listening and are planning a new art outdoors initiative at up to six busy locations across the city.

Comprised of billboards, light boxes, digital screens and projection, the Outdoor Gallery will display two-dimensional artworks at up to six high-profile outdoor spaces across the city.

City of Moreton Bay is a rapidly evolving city with around 240 people moving here every week. Just as communities across the city continue to change, so too will the artwork exhibited in the City of Moreton Bay Outdoor Gallery. Each year, there will be a new exhibition of artworks displayed in the City of Moreton Bay Outdoor Gallery.

The inaugural 12-month exhibition, expected to open in November 2026, will be themed ‘Half a Million Imaginations’.

Artists will be invited to submit an Expression of Interest via Council’s website for the inaugural exhibition.

As part of their Expression of Interest, artists will need to submit:

• Artist CV
• Artist biography
• Up to 7 examples of relevant artworks they’ve already created
• An initial response to the exhibition’s curatorial rationale, which explains how their creative practice aligns with the project, and their experience in facilitating workshops with the community.

The Expression of Interest will open in early September 2025 and close in mid-October 2025.

City of Moreton Bay based artists are encouraged to apply. Council also encourages Expressions of Interest from Australian artists who have a connection to our city or have an interest in producing an artwork that reflects aspects of the city and local communities.

To deliver artworks that are inspired by and reflective of the imaginations of the half a million people that reside in City of Moreton Bay, commissioned artists will hold workshops with local community members as part of the concept design process for their artwork.

The Expressions of Interest submitted by artists will be assessed by a panel of internal officers and qualified external public art consultants.

Yes. However, if you do not have experience with public art, or designing art at scale, you will need to address this in your Expression of Interest. You will also need to demonstrate your experience in engaging with community as part of your creative practice.

If you are an artist with little exhibition or public art experience, you might consider applying for other opportunities offered by Council, such as attending skills workshops through Cultivate the Arts or putting in an Expression of Interest for the Outdoor Art Prize or the Art At Large program.

Public art is an investment in our community's quality of life. It enriches our physical environments, making streetscapes, buildings and public spaces more vibrant and inviting.

Seeing art in everyday outdoor spaces enhances our daily experience. It can also foster a sense of wonder, curiosity or community pride, and stimulate our imaginations and memories.

Public art projects provide income for the artists who are commissioned to make artwork. They also often involve local businesses for materials and labour, creating job opportunities and stimulating economic activity.

Public art can attract tourists, benefiting restaurants, hotels, and shops. By making our city more attractive and vibrant, public art contributes to economic growth and development.

Over its 10-year minimum lifespan, it’s anticipated that the City of Moreton Bay Outdoor Gallery will provide opportunities for over 140 artists to exhibit their work. At least 3 million people will encounter the artworks and/or participate in the associated creative programming.

The SEQ City Deal Public Art Initiatives is an allocative grant program funded by the Australian government. It aims to promote liveability through public art projects that activate places and improve the built environment.

The total funding pool available is $10 million. All eleven SEQ councils (excluding City of Gold Coast) will receive a baseline allocation of $350,000, plus a proportional allocation based on population data. For City of Moreton Bay, this is expected to be around $1.28 million. City of Moreton Bay’s allocation is expected to be confirmed in August 2025.

No, there are no painted mural sites in the City of Moreton Bay Outdoor Gallery.

City of Moreton Bay commissions artists for mural opportunities on Council-owned infrastructure through the Art At Large program.