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Large-scale public murals on way for Ipswich Central

A series of large-scale public artworks will be painted on walls in Ipswich throughout the year in an adapted Brisbane Street Art Festival program.

This year is the first time an Ipswich program has been included as part of the popular annual festival.

From May, international and national artists – including Ipswich born and raised contemporary Aboriginal artist Rachael Sarra – were set to paint murals on seven walls in Ipswich.

Artists were selected through a world-wide open expression of interest process last year.

A program of hands-on workshops and networking events were also planned for local artists, designed to grow their street art skills and connections into the broader street art community.

Current restrictions on gatherings and travel as part of the COVID-19 response mean the program cannot proceed in its original format within the May dates.

Instead, the program will now roll out progressively throughout 2020 with a focus on using online technology to connect with the community.

This is likely to include live streamed artist talks, interviews and daily progress updates on murals as they are painted and online workshops.

Community, Cultural and Economic Development general manager Ben Pole said while it was disappointing the program could not proceed as planned in May, the community would still see the benefits throughout the year.

Moldovian Street artist iZZY iZVNE, aka Inna Beregoi, at work.

“The delay is disappointing but community health and safety must come first,” he said.

“The good news is Brisbane Street Art Festival has committed to delivering all 41 murals from this year’s program, which includes seven in Ipswich.

“Ipswich’s partnership with Brisbane Street Art Festival will provide our city’s artists with important opportunities to learn from national and international artists, and also valuable networking opportunities.

“It will also deliver large scale street murals which will ultimately lead to the development of a street art trail over the next few years.

“Council continues to advance the rejuvenation of the Ipswich Central precinct, with the idea of street murals one of the recommendations of council’s Economic Development Community Reference Group.

A projection piece by Ipswich artist Rachael Sarra lights up the Go Between Bridge in Brisbane.

“We hope the street art trail becomes not only a source of pride and interest for Ipswich residents but also an important drawcard to entice tourists to visit and explore the city.”

More details about the revised Brisbane Street Art Festival Ipswich program will be released as they become available.

The original program proposed for Ipswich in May is available at www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/brisbane-street-art-festival

The full Brisbane Street Art Festival program is available at www.bsafest.com.au

The Brisbane Street Art Festival Ipswich program is presented in partnership with the Regional Arts Development Fund, Coates Hire and Dulux.

The Regional Art Development Fund is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Ipswich City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Brisbane-based contemporary painter Emily Devers at work.

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4 Comments

    1. We are looking to do a black and white wall feature in new house of a picture of old town with horse and carts , can anyone help us ?

  1. Very disappointing that the residents did not have the chance to decide what goes on the walls. It could have been made into a competition with the winning pictures decided by the residents. We really do not want another dark Pac-Man wall that does not fit into a city with so many historic buildings. Black is a depressing color and nothing uplifting. Transparency and involvement of the community starts by involving them and being up front what is planned.

    1. Here, here I fully agree there is nothing like looking down Darling St to see such a depressing view as the Old cinema wall covered in what was the first piece of wall art in Ipswich, (supposedly board shorts the painter’s mum wouldn’t let him wear – with good reason). We could probably all agree this needs to go. This wall should be given over to the residents to display local history or even further back to the traditional owners of the region. Rachael Sarra would be my pick to see a large scale work representing the first nations of Australia story.

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