Public art opportunity at Belgrave Library

Background

Belgrave Library is currently undergoing a refurbishment including an update to the entrance area, the service desk and multipurpose room at the front of the library.

The refurbishment will include a more flexible layout to accommodate the changing role of libraries in the community.

Our Community

Belgrave is an active and engaged community, who are responsible for hosting events such as the annual Belgrave Survival Day and the Belgrave Lantern Parade.

Children and young people in the middle years (8-14 years) make up 9 per cent of the total Yarra Ranges population. This includes children and young people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (1.7 per cent of 5 – 14 year olds), live with a disability (4 per cent of 5 – 14 year olds) and/or speak more than one language at home (3 per cent of 0 – 14 year olds).

One of Council’s strategic priorities for this demographic is to ‘promote the voice and opinions of middle years young people.’ During community consultation for the Middle Years Strategic Action Plan 2017 – 2021, middle years children and young people identified needing spaces, programs and social opportunities outside of school.

The broad vision and goals that Council, its partners and the community have for Yarra Ranges children, young people and their families are outlined in the Child and Youth Strategy 2014-2024, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2017-2021 and Council Plan 2017-2021.

Our Environment

Council’s Early Years Strategic Action Plan 2019-2021 identifies the importance of the natural environment and place for children.

Yarra Ranges covers an area of almost 2,500 square kilometres and encompasses the lands and waterways of three Traditional Owner groups including the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Boon Wurrung Foundation.

Belgrave is surrounded by Sherboorke Forest and visitors are drawn to the area’s breathtaking landscape.

Many tourists travel to the area to visit Burrinja Cultural Centre, for a ride on Puffing Billy and a walk or picnic in the local Sherbrooke Forest.

Our History

Yarra Ranges is a place that values creativity and culture. The Yarra Ranges community understands the profound and powerful influence our history, art and creativity have in shaping our lives. We want to extend and build on this understanding. For details see Council’s Creative Communities Strategy.

For millennia the Yarra Ranges environment has been cared for and inhabited continuously by Aboriginal people who have maintained a cultural connection to this unique place.

In 1954 Wiradjuri / Yorta Yorta man Bill Onus established Aboriginal Enterprises in Belgrave, a cultural hub throughout the 1950s and 1960s that attracted celebrity visitors including The Beatles. In 1971, Bill Onus’ son Lin led a sit-in as a show of support for the nation-wide movement for land rights. It lasted three months and attracted dozens of Indigenous and non-Indigenous supporters.

For more information about the local cultural heritage see the RidgeWalk Cultural Report.

Project Scope

The scope of the project is to design, fabricate and install public artwork(s) for Belgrave Library.

Design Objectives

While the artwork(s) must have a minimum lifespan of 10 years and require low maintenance and technical support, proposals of all media will be considered.

The artwork should:

• Reflect the role of libraries in the community.
• Capture the attention of children in the middle years (aged 8-14).
• Respond to the site as a place for community gathering and storytelling.
• Involve the local Belgrave community meaningfully in the project. Considerations should also be made to the following:
• How the artwork(s) will resonate with diverse audiences over time.
• How people of all abilities, gender identities, cultural and linguistic backgrounds will experience the artwork(s).
• Build pride in the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage of the region for all residents.
• Use of lighting to enhance the artwork(s), if relevant.
• Risk management and relevant Australian standards.

Media and Materials

There is no defined media, although the form should suit purpose and function.

Artists and creative teams are required to be mindful of future maintenance of the artwork. Materials and design must be safe, durable and easily maintained, accounting for wear and tear, exposure to elements and the potential for vandalism. Artwork(s) should present minimal opportunity for deterioration, vandalism or defacement.

A maintenance manual is required at completion of the work(s). The manual should guide the process for cleaning, material replacement and graffiti removal as well as specifying the end of life process including options for recycling and renewal.

Site

The site for the artwork(s) is at the entrance or courtyard of Belgrave Library. Some sites have already been identified as possible locations for artwork(s). See Appendix for details.

The selected artist or creative team will engage with the Belgrave Library Project Manager and Architect.

Documenting the Project

To enable a dynamic and ongoing engagement with the project, it is expected that documentation and presentation of the project will be part of the overall outcome.

Council may request participation from the artist or creative team in the documentation process to sustain engagement with the artwork(s) over time.

Staging

The project has two stages:

Stage One: Brief Concept Design. Open to all eligible artists or creative teams.

Stage Two: Detailed Concept Design & Installation. One artist or creative team will develop a detailed design concept for the project and undertake fabrication and installation of the work.

Timing

Budget & Schedule

Project Management

Contractual agreement

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, Copyright and Protocols

Yarra Ranges Council respects Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property rights, including Indigenous people’s rights to their heritage and culture. This includes the principles of respect, self-determination, consent and consultation, interpretation, cultural integrity, secrecy and privacy, attribution, benefit-sharing, maintaining Indigenous culture, recognition and protection.

Further information about protecting Indigenous knowledge can be found on the IP Australia website.

The ownership of copyright in the works produced on this project will be retained by the artists and creative teams. The artists and creative teams will be required to grant Council a permanent and irrevocable royalty-free non-exclusive licence (including the right of sub-licence) to use the material produced on the project for marketing, publicity and promotional purposes. In the event that the work is required to be relocated or altered, Yarra Ranges Council will consult with the artist and creative teams or their agent prior to any significant action being taken.

Promotion 

Yarra Ranges Council will promote the project as appropriate, including, but not limited to, presence on Council’s website and other promotional materials.

Insurance 

Before any work is performed on Stage 2 of the project, the successful artist(s) or creative team must have Public Liability Insurance coverage of at least $10,000,000 and must forward a current Certificate of Currency to Council at the signing of the Agreement.

If relevant to the successful artist(s)’ or creative team’s organisation, the successful artist(s) or creative team must obtain and keep in force a WorkCover insurance policy with the Victoria WorkCover Authority as required by the Accident Compensation (WorkCover Insurance) Act 1993, and must forward a current Certificate of Currency to Council. Where WorkCover is not required by the artist(s)

or creative team, Personal Accident Insurance must be obtained and kept in force for the duration of Stage 3. A Certificate of Currency will be required by Council.

Occupational Health and Safety

Stage 3 of this project will require the successful artist(s) or creative team to adhere to any OH&S requirements set by Council’s Health and Safety representative. Such requirements would include as a minimum the completion of a detailed Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and the engagement of suitably qualified and ticketed installation contractors.

Selection Criteria

Each artist and creative team will be assessed against the following selection criteria:

Yarra Ranges Council is a Child Safe Organisation and is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people in our community. All artists and creative teams will be required to adhered to Council’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy and provide evidence of an up to date Working with Children Check prior to commencing Stage 2: Detailed Concept Design.

Submission Requirements

Lodgement of Brief Concept Design is due 14 February 2021.

To lodge a submission, email one electronic copy to Lucy Davies, Community Heritage Officer, l.davies@yarraranges.vic.gov.au no later than 11.59pm, 14 February 2021. Applicatns are encouraged to contact us via email or phone (0419 925 575) prior to submitting a brief concept design.

Include the following materials in your submission:

1. A current CV
   
   
2. A brief concept design
   
   
3. A short, written or verbal (video or audio) response to the Artist Brief. This should be no more than 200 words and outline the process the artist or creative team would undertake to develop the work. It may also relate the artist’s or creative team’s experience to their intended approach to the project
   
   
4. Details of the legal structure under which the artist or creative team is working (eg. sole trader, company, incorporated association etc.)
   
   
5. Examples of past works (up to 5)
   
   
6. An indication of the artist’s or creative team’s availability within the proposed timelines for the project and information about any existing or potential conflicts of interest

The total size of all file attachments should be no larger than 20MB. If you intend to send over more than 20MB worth of attachments, please use a file hosting service or provide links to websites where we can access your content

 Submissions should only include information relevant to this project. All submitted material will be retained by Yarra Ranges Council.