Artist brief: BIG ART. SMALL TOWNS.

Selected artists will:

• Receive an artist fee of $1,500 per site.
• Have their artwork reproduced as large-scale vinyl installation.
• Exhibit work in a prominent public location within Moyne Shire for approximately three months. 

Things to know:

• This is a paid opportunity to exhibit artwork, rather than a commissioned artwork project.
• Artists may submit existing work or propose new work.
• There is no theme. Submissions are open to all concepts and styles. Artists are encouraged to consider how their work might connect with or respond to the exhibition location and surrounding area.

Artist and Council responsibilities 

Selected artists will be required to: 

• Provide final artwork suitable for large-scale reproduction.

• Supply print-ready digital files to agreed specifications and timelines.

• Liaise with Council staff as required throughout the process.

• Participate in agreed promotional activities.
  
  

Moyne Shire Council will:

• Coordinate artwork production, installation and removal.

• Prepare and manage the exhibition sites.

• Project manage the delivery of the program.

• Undertake marketing, communications and promotion.

The $1,500 artist fee covers provision of the artwork for reproduction and display, associated coordination and participation in agreed promotional or engagement activities.

Koroit Theatre 

This site is presented across three portrait-format panels . Artists may submit:

• A single artwork designed to be presented across all three panels, or
• Three individual artworks that work together as a series or cohesive set

Artists should consider how their work will translate across the three-panel format.

Panel dimensions and artwork format

Each panel: 1800 mm wide × 2400 mm high per panel
Aspect ratio: 3:4 portrait 

Existing artwork

Artists submitting existing work are encouraged to consider how the composition will translate to the portrait format. Artwork does not need to have an exact 3:4 ratio; although cropping or adjustments may be required to fit the panel. 

Consider whether cropping could affect important visual elements or the overall composition.

New work

Artists proposing new work do not need to create artwork at the final panel size. For individual panels, artwork can be developed at any suitable scale using a 3:4 ratio, provided the final files are of sufficient quality for large-scale reproduction.

Examples of suitable dimensions include:

• 30 cm wide × 40 cm high
• 45 cm wide × 60 cm high
• 60 cm wide × 80 cm high
• 90 cm wide × 120 cm high

For a single artwork spanning all three panels, artists should consider how the composition will work across the full display, including the breaks between panels.

Final artwork will be prepared to fit the 1800 mm × 2400 mm panels.

Mortlake Community Hub

The Mortlake Community Hub site features a single, large landscape-format panel.

Panel dimensions and artwork format

Panel size: 4670 mm wide × 1785 mm high
Aspect ratio: approximately 2.62:1 landscape

The panel has an unusually wide format, and artists should carefully consider how their work will translate across the full display area. 

Artwork created specifically for this format is encouraged, as the proportions of the panel can make it challenging to adapt existing artwork without significant cropping.

Existing artwork 

Existing artwork is welcome, although artists are encouraged to select compositions that can be adapted to the wide format without losing important visual elements.

Artwork does not need to have an exact 2.62:1 ratio, but cropping or adjustments may be required.

New artwork 

Artists proposing new work can develop their artwork at any suitable scale, provided it maintains approximately the same 2.62:1 ratio and can be supplied at sufficient quality for large-scale reproduction.

For example, suitable proportions include:

• 26.2 cm wide × 10 cm high
• 52.4 cm wide × 20 cm high
• 78.6 cm wide × 30 cm high

Final artwork will be prepared to fit the 4670 mm × 1785 mm panel.

Who can apply?

The program is open to emerging and established visual artists based in Moyne Shire and the broader South West Victoria region.

Current Moyne Shire Council employees are not eligible to apply.

What to submit

Artists will be asked to provide:

• A short biography of up to 150 words.

• Images of existing artwork or supporting visual material for proposed new work. Refer to the EOI form for specific requirements.

• If proposing new work, provide a clear description of your concept and what you intend to create. Simple sketches, indicative colours, reference images or other visual ideas may be included to help the assessment panel understand your proposal. These do not need to be finished or highly developed.

Detailed production specifications will be provided to successful applicants.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Artistic quality: The creative and artistic merit of the proposed artwork.

• Visual impact: The artwork's ability to engage audiences in a prominent public setting.

• Suitability for large-scale display: How effectively the artwork will translate to the dimensions and format of the nominated site.

• Appropriateness for a public setting: The artwork's suitability for display in an accessible, public environment.

Expressions of Interest

Applications open: 5 October 2026

Applications close: 13 November 2026

Artists contracted week commencing 23 November 2026

Artwork files presented to Council in required digital format: 8 January 2027

2027 exhibition periods

Successful artists will be programmed into one of three exhibition periods:

• Exhibition 1: 1 February - 30 April 2027
• Exhibition 2: 30 April - 30 July 2027
• Exhibition 3: 30 July - 1 November 2027

A fourth exhibition period, from 1 November 2027 to 31 January 2028, will be dedicated to young artists aged 12–25, with a separate Expression of Interest process.

Contractual Arrangements

Selected artists will be engaged and paid by Moyne Shire Council under a formal agreement.

Copyright and Licence

Artists retain copyright of their artwork.

Selected artists will grant Moyne Shire Council an ongoing, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish and communicate their artwork for the purposes of:

• Producing and displaying the artwork as part of the BIG ART. SMALL TOWNS. Public Art Program.
• Reproducing the artwork for replacement installations or future public displays across Moyne Shire. 
• Promoting the BIG ART. SMALL TOWNS. Public Art Program
• Council communications, including websites, social media and publications.
• Display on the Moyne Virtual Gallery.
• Media and marketing activities.
• Reporting, documentation and archival records.

This licence does not restrict artists from using, reproducing or licensing their artwork elsewhere.

Ownership of Physical Artwork 

The physical vinyl installation produced by Council remains the property of Moyne Shire Council.

Council may reuse or relocate the physical installation for future display across the Shire. This does not affect the artist's copyright or ownership of the original artwork.

Artist Attribution 

Moyne Shire Council will acknowledge artists by including their preferred name and the title of their artwork when images of the artwork are published on Council websites or used in promotional materials.