Artist EOIs - Lake Illawarra Art Trail

⁠⁠⁠Shellharbour City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from artists for two new public artworks along the Shellharbour Coastal Art Trail. Artists are welcome to apply for a single opportunity or for both.

Locations

Hooker Park/Pelican View Reserve

Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra

Download the Site Information Pack(Opens in a new window)

Elliot Park/Barrack Reserve

Headland Parade, Barrack Point

Download the Site Information Pack(Opens in a new window)

EOI Submissions

For this EOI, please prepare and submit a 1-2 page proposal that includes:

• Your portfolio (URL)
• A short explanation of your process
• Your technical experience (CV or similar)
• 3 professional references and their contact information

Successful EOIs will be invited to Request for Tender. The successful Tenderer will be awarded a contract to design, fabricate and deliver an artwork.

Please submit this EOI by 5pm Tuesday 26 May to arts@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au (Opens in a new window) with the subject line 2026/33 Expression of Interest – Coastal Art Trail. Please indicate if you wish to apply for a specific site.

Submitting artists will be contacted by mid-June to advise whether they have been invited to the next phase of the submission process.

EOI ranking

EOIs will be ranked against the following selection criteria by a panel of subject area specialists. A detailed breakdown is as follows:

Your portfolio

The artist demonstrates a high level of artistic skill, innovation and professionalism in concept development, design and fabrication.

Examples:

• Online portfolio showing high-quality completed public artworks (social media or website).
• Awards, publications or peer recognition.
• Evidence of innovation.

Share your process

The artist demonstrates an ability to create work that is site-specific, locally relevant and reflective of local stories, identity, culture and landscape.

Examples:

• Clarity and sophistication of creative process.
• Clarity and sophistication of consultation process.
• Previous artworks responding to local history or communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of regenerative practice.

Share your technical experience

The artist uses robust, safe, low-maintenance materials appropriate for long‑term public exposure, including coastal conditions.

Examples:

• CV outlining material specifications and sites.
• Works installed in coastal or high-exposure environments.
• Collaboration with fabricators or engineers.
• Use of regenerative materials / regenerative design approaches

The artist has experience creating public artworks designed for high‑traffic sites and diverse audiences.

Examples:

• Projects in parks, town centres, coastal trails, civic precincts.
• Interactive or universally accessible artworks.
• Evidence of understanding public engagement and safety.

The artist demonstrates organisational, communication and project management skills required to deliver the artwork on time and within budget.

Examples:

• Project plans with timelines and deliverables.
• Experience collaborating with councils or professional teams.
• Ability to prepare engineering drawings, risk assessments or installation documentation.

Share your references

Please provide contact information for 3 references who can speak to specific artworks in your portfolio.

Overall Impact of your EOI

Panelists use their professional skills to consider the artist’s portfolio and suitability to explore curatorial themes of discovery, belonging or transformation

Reference documents

The following documents do not need to be completed, and are here for reference only.

• Sample Conditions of Tender(Opens in a new window)
• Sample Agreement(Opens in a new window)
• Hooker Park Information Pack(Opens in a new window)
• Barrack Point Information Pack