Artist EOI Nyoongar Artwork - Seasons

Overview The City of Kwinana is seeking expressions of interest from six artists to create individual artworks celebrating local Nyoongar Aboriginal culture, for use across City of Kwinana programs, marketing and communications materials. About The City of Kwinana is located in Perth's outer southern suburbs, between 25 and 37 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. The City is a rapidly growing residential area with substantial industrial, rural and rural-residential areas and some commercial areas, encompassing a total land area of nearly 120 square kilometres. It is the second fastest growing local government area in Western Australia, with its population predicted to double in the next 15 to 20 years. In the 2016 Census, 3.6% of the City's population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, totalling 1,405 people, double the percentage recorded for the greater Perth area (1.8%). Purpose The City of Kwinana is commissioning six artists to create artworks that can be used, in part or in portion, to celebrate local Nyoongar Aboriginal culture in City programs. This may include use of the artwork in marketing and communications materials, including but not limited to a new Nyoongar seasonal calendar, printed decals and Kwinana Public Library marketing materials. The six artists will work with City staff to facilitate a community design workshop to inform part of their work. Objectives Build respect and recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by including visual representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and art within City programming, marketing and communications Expand the City's practice of commissioning local Aboriginal artwork and understanding of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) protocols Create recognisable, consistent branding that celebrates the rich cultural history of the local Nyoongar community Support local emerging artists through professional development opportunities Scope The scope includes: Creation of an individual artwork exploring the theme 'seasons', including seasonal change in land, sea, sky, plants and animals, as a contemporary Nyoongar artwork informed by the land Use of line work in the artwork concept, with dots used sparingly in line with advice from the Boola Maara (Many Hands) Consultative Committee Assisting City staff to facilitate a community art workshop at Darius Wells Library and Resource Centre, providing the community an opportunity to inform part of the individual design process Incorporating elements of the community design workshop into the final artwork where appropriate Developing the design after listening to local Elders' stories reflecting seasonal changes in Kwinana, and delivering a finished, detailed artwork (painting or digital work), including title and story Contract Terms and Conditions Total budget: $1,500 per artist (ex GST) Payment one: 10% of the commission, associated with the initial briefing, contract and marketing approvals being signed and the timeline being confirmed (November/December 2026) Payment two: final payment (February 2027) Eligibility The artist must identify as Aboriginal Nyoongar local to Kwinana and/or have strong family connections to the local Nyoongar Aboriginal families from Kwinana All designs and concepts submitted must be the authentic and original work of the artist submitting the design The City aims to support local and/or emerging artists through this commission process; artists who do not meet the requirements of an Aboriginal business or ABN may be supported by the City with this process Information Requested The Expression of Interest (Stage 1) must include the following, weighted as shown during selection: Artist CV including 2 examples of previous work (60%) A drawing of the proposed design showing the artist's cultural and creative approach to the artwork opportunity, noting this is not the finished work (30%) A statement confirming availability to meet the timeline of the project (10%) How to Apply Stage 1, Expression of Interest Artists are invited to submit their EOI using the attached form, together with their design drawing, by email to samantha.hay@kwinana.wa.gov.au. Stage 2, Selection Process Submissions will be assessed by a panel of three members of the local Aboriginal community (invited by the Boola Maara Consultative Committee) and two City staff. Following this process, six artists will be selected and invited to join a morning tea and yarn with local Elders about stories that reflect seasonal changes in Kwinana. City staff will then work with the artists to plan a community design workshop. Stage 3, Design Development Artists will be required to develop their design after listening to the Elders' stories from the morning tea and provide a finished, detailed artwork, which can be a painting or a digital work. Key Dates EOI open: 07 September 2026 EOI close: 16 October 2026 Selection Panel meets: 02 November 2026 Artists notified: 09 November 2026 Initial briefing ("Elders Yarn"), contract and marketing approvals signed, timeline confirmed: November/December 2026 Community Design workshop: 18/22 January 2027 Artwork title and story complete and delivered, with photos of artist and artwork taken: 12 February 2027 Further information and available documentation relating to this opportunity can be found at: https://www.kwinana.wa.gov.au/council/documents,-publications-and-forms/publications,-forms,-and-public-notices/forms/2026/artist-eoi-brief-aboriginal-artwork-commission-for Enquiries For any further information or clarification regarding this EOI, please contact: Contact: Karen Morgan, Community Development Officer – Arts & Culture Phone: (08) 9439-0203 Email: karen.morgan@kwinana.wa.gov.au