Livingstone Shire street art recognised among Australia’s best!

Livingstone Shire street art recognised among Australia’s best!

Three of Livingstone Shire’s impressive public art projects have been named as finalists in the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards, making the Livingstone region the recipient of more nominations than anywhere else in the country over the history of the Awards program.

‘A Place to Gather’ by local artist Brandon Butler has been shortlisted for the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards’ Best External Mural award. Brightening the amenities block on the Northern side of Causeway Lake, this is the first Indigenous mural on the Capricorn Coast and tells the story of the Darumbal people as they interacted with the Causeway Lake precinct over many thousands of years.

The ‘Arthouse Outhouse Tour’ is a finalist in the Best Street Art Trail category – it’s a nod to our most unconventional yet attention-grabbing trail, with numerous public amenities blocks rendered in different themes, featuring many local Capricorn Coast artists.

‘Let's Get Crabby, in a Big Way’, is an eye-catching collection of soldier crab sculptures by local artist Brendon Tohill. These larger-than-life crustaceans can be found at Lammermoor Beach, and are a finalist in the Best Landmark Sculpture category.

The Australian Street Art Awards, established in 2018, recognises destinations like Livingstone Shire that employ public art to increase visitation, lift their national profile, boost the economy and support local artists.  Most importantly, public art fosters local community pride and increases community engagement with public spaces.  Communities with quality public art also retain more youth than their non-arty peers.

Portfolio holder for Vibrant Community (Tourism, Events and Culture), Councillor Rhodes Watson said the finalist announcement was a credit to the outstanding artists in our region and Council’s investment in placemaking projects to ensure our shire is an appealing place to live and visit.

“The pieces highlighted, showcase some of the best aspects of our Coastal lifestyle, including the impressive soldier crabs at Lammermoor, the turtles at the Kemp Beach amenities and our wonderful coastal birdlife,” Cr Watson said.

“Having placed as a finalist in three categories is evidence of the quality of artwork being produced in our region.

“The national exposure that these awards bring to Livingstone is invaluable. Tourists that visit our region to experience the artwork generally stay longer and inject more money into the local economy, and these awards help to put our Shire on display to a bigger audience.”

Awards Director Liz Rivers said the Awards provide a platform where trailblazing destinations – regions, towns and precincts – can be recognised for their contribution to both the world of street art and art tourism.

“Each of the communities acknowledged through these Awards have made their mark as a must-see destination for art lovers,” Ms Rivers said.

The Australian Street Art Awards was the tourism industry’s first, and remains the largest, recognition program for excellence and innovation in art tourism.

“Being shortlisted in these Awards further cements the Capricorn Coast’s reputation as an aspirational destination for everyone who loves to discover visually stunning experiences,” Ms Rivers said.

Gold, Silver and/or Bronze winners in 11 Australian Street Art Awards categories will be announced during an online celebration of creativity on Friday 10 February.

For more information about the Capricorn Coast Art Trail visit: https://discovercapricorncoast.com.au/ 

For more information about the Street Art awards visit: https://www.streetartawards.com.au/