Announcing a major Art for Public Building Scheme commission opportunity

The Art for Public Building Scheme will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2009. The scheme was the first of its kind in Australia. Its creation demonstrated a visionary understanding of the way art can enrich public buildings and spaces as well as enhance the community's access to, and understanding of, contemporary art in all its diversity. The scheme has created a vital public interface between the State's professional artistic community and the general public. By incorporating the cost of artworks in the construction estimate of the building, art works are recognised as an essential element of the building project from its conception. The State Government currently allocates two per cent of building budgets to the commissioning of art works. The full percentage is available to buildings with a budget below $4 million. Above that figure a ceiling limit of $72,000 for art works applies.

From its humble beginnings in 1979, the scheme has employed more than 400 artists in more than 300 buildings in Tasmania.

The Kingston Education Project is advertised in this week's bulletin. It represents the first commission where the maximum fund for art works has been allocated.

arts@work, in collaboration with the Kingston High School and the team of architects, has decided to award one or a team of artists the complete funds for this project. The strategy to focus on one large project, as opposed to having three or four smaller artistic works, is to give the winning artist the ability to develop and execute a visionary project in a visionary school setting.

For more information about this exciting commission, please view the Opportunity Section at http://www.arts.tas.gov.au/opportunities/commissions