Three Bridges of Homebush Bay Integrated Public Art Commissions

Dates

Applications open: Monday 20 November 2023 [10am time/AEDT]
Applications close: Friday 13 December 2023 [5pm time/AEDT]

Overview

The City of Parramatta invites suitably qualified artists residing in Australia to submit an EOI application for one of three (3) Public Art commissions available for the Three Bridges of Homebush Bay Project.

Project Context

The Three Bridges Project has identified the need for Integrated Public Art on each of three (3) new bridges in the Homebush Bay area. Each integrated design will form part of the engineering and construction of the bridge. 

In response to the curatorial theme of Passages, each bridge design will consider place, bridge design, functional and performance requirements, urban design, and the amenity and enjoyment of the community. This approach ensures that the design for each bridge has a site-specific response, aligns with the curatorial vision and bridge design, and supports the City’s long term cultural goals.

Public Artwork Commissions Overview

This opportunity is for three (3) permanent (minimum lifespan 100 years) Integrated Public Artworks to be designed, fabricated and constructed as part of the overall bridge delivery.

This Artist's Brief includes benchmark projects that demonstrate comparable themes, materiality, budget, and fabrication methodologies. The project overview will include the scope of works, materiality, design life, safety in design, maintenance, and the artist commissioning process. It is imperative that the design be considered within the concept and design development stages of the bridge construction project and involve coordination with Council, the bridge designers BECA, engineers, and Principal Construction Contractor.

Each of the 'through truss' bridge designs are unique in their functional design and performance specification. Each commission will be developed in consultation with cultural, architectural, engineering, landscape and fabrication teams to successfully realise each artwork.

Public artwork for bridges in this context to consider:

• Vertical and horizontal plane 
• Integrated into bridge design and construction 
• Patina/colour/ porosity/ solidity ratio
• Form as repetitious movement 
• Mesh, screens, perforated panels
• Limited materials palette - Stainless steel or Corten steel
• Landscape design, environmental and ecology of each location
• Performance specification and function of each bridge 
• Bridges as transit corridors and points of connection
• Significance of this Installation within the Homebush Bay Area 
• Landmarks, adjacencies and waterways 
• Egress, vehicular and/or pedestrian movement
• Desire lines 
   

Budget

The budget for each of the three (3) bridge commissions is $70,000 (ex GST) inclusive of all costs including artist fees, consultation, design development, detailed design, fabrication and installation advisory, operations and maintenance instruction, and all approval stages therein. Council will contract the artist for the design only, with the Principal Construction Contractor responsible for delivery.

Important Insurance Update:

I have sort further advice from our risk and audit team and can confirm the following requirements for insurance

As each commission is for design and advisory only, the challenge relates to whether executing the artistic vision could compromise the overall engineering design. There may be some tension between design elements and fabrication, engineering  and safety requirements. Ultimately, the engineering design would prevail in these circumstances, and for that reason, Council will accept $5million PI as an insurance requirement.

Download Guidelines

Download the project guidelines which contain the Artist Brief and Draft Contact.

How to apply

For more information and details on how to apply please visit the relevant link below: