Beacon Art Project ‘Cast In Blue’ the mythical megafauna creature inspired by paleontological discoveries in local sinkholes and caves, will be installed on Bay Road outside the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre. The location was endorsed at the November 2024 Council meeting.
Council issued a national call out for Expressions of Interest for the Mount Gambier Beacon Art Project in April 2024, with 22 submissions received from artists around the country. Council resolved to proceed with Huna Studio’s Expression of Interest for the Mount Gambier Beacon Art Project at the October 2024 Council meeting at a cost of $137,450 funded from Council’s arts and cultural budget quarantined over the past three years.
Following strong community opinions regarding Council’s decision, Cr Paul Jenner put up a motion with notice as part of the November Council meeting agenda to revoke the Beacon Art Project decision made at the October Council meeting.
The motion enabled Councillors to further debate and discuss the decision in the chamber this week.
Public art can be controversial and not all art is universally loved. Art will frequently evoke strong feelings and opinions and we have seen that in response to this project. - City of Mount Gambier CEO Sarah Philpott
“During their discussion, Councillors weighed up the purpose of beacon art. They acknowledged the range and value of differing views about the mythical sculpture and considered feedback around where funds are spent in the current economic climate with cost of living pressures.”
“Councillors explored the project’s benefit to local tourism, with the art considered as a way to foster further interest in our sinkholes, caves and paleontological history and garner interest from visitors who might like to interact with the big blue sculpture and take a photo with it.”
The recission motion was ultimately lost, with three Councillors voting in support of it, and five Councillors voting against it. A division was called to record the vote in the Council minutes.
“In making its decision to proceed with the project as planned, Council ultimately thought about the elements that make a vibrant and active city in the CBD and what makes a city a great place to live in. - Art is one of those factors for a progressive city.”
A report to decide on the location for the Beacon Art Project was then discussed as per the October resolution of Council.
“At the October meeting, Council acknowledged the community concern regarding the creature’s proposed location in front of the historical Old Town Hall building and resolved to reconsider its placement at the November meeting,” Ms Philpott said.
Two high profile locations were presented as options for the location of the sculpture, the corner of Bay Road and Commercial Street opposite the entry to the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre, or Bay Road, close to the gallery and the soon to be implemented Visitor Information Centre hub.
“The criteria for the Beacon Art Project is to create a vibrant atmosphere within the CBD to encourage community engagement and visitation. Council chose the high-profile location on Bay Road due to its proximity to the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre and the Visitor Information Centre hub, encouraging tourists to engage with the work.”
CCTV cameras in the area will deter vandalism of the sculpture.
The contract with artists Huna Studio has now been executed and the art is expected to be installed in 2025. Fabrication of the work will commence in Melbourne in early 2025 with installation scheduled for June 2025.
Media contact: City of Mount Gambier Media and Communications Coordinator Sharny McLean on 0413 798 327 or smclean@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
