Public Art - Overview

'Capital Prow' sculpture - Civic Square

Wellington has a diverse range of art in public places by local, national and international artists and designers. These are an integral part of the city's built environment and include sculptures, statues, memorials, urban and landscape design, fountains, mosaics and murals.

The establishment of much of Wellington's public art is due to a long-standing partnership between the Council and the Wellington Sculpture Trust.

In recent years this relationship has increased the number of public art works in Wellington.

• Art in Public Places Guidelines (60Kb PDF)
• Gifting a Public Art Work (56Kb PDF)

Public Art Policy

Wellington's public art works are governed by the Council's Public Art Policy (2003), which aims to ensure that art in public continues to make the city's urban environment visually dynamic.

The policy does this by:

• increasing the amount, quality and diversity of art in Wellington city
• raising awareness of art in public places
• promoting innovative ideas relating to art in public places
• reinforcing Wellington's identity as New Zealand's creative and cultural capital.

Public Art Panel

A panel of contemporary arts advocates including Mark Amery, Alison Bartley, Tina Barton, Heather Galbraith, Rob Garrett and Karen Wallace come together as curators for the city. The panel ensure that the aims of the Public Art Policy are realised, and support the production and presentation of art in public places.

The panel is responsible for:

• overseeing the development of an art in public places programme
• integrating art into the Council's capital works projects
• developing temporary projects for art in public places
• selecting proposals to be funded from the public art fund
• reviewing and responding to offers of public art gifts
• liaising with the Wellington Sculpture Trust over annual grants and planning matters.

The Council provides the Public Art Panel with an annual grant of $300,000 (Public Art Fund) to fulfil these responsibilities.

Proposals

The Public Art Panel seeks submissions of interest from artists and organisations. It encourages applications for projects that:

• use exterior sites and engage with the history and social meaning of public space
• are temporary and/or explore and present new artistic practices
• engage with specific cultures and communities
• are collaborative and engage with a variety of organisations or industries
• consider possibilities for lectures, conferences, symposia and forums that generate debate about art in the built environment
• bring international art practitioners to Wellington.

Proposal Application Form (67Kb PDF)

More Information

Administrator for the Public Art Panel

Related Links

• Art & Design - Wellington Sculpture Trust
• Grants
• Public Art Policy (2003)
• Toi Pōneke, Wellington Arts Centre

Department Details:
City Services & Events