Public Art in NSW

Create NSW works across government to create public art opportunities for artists. Find out more about our opportunities, resources and programs.

Colourful box-kite-like sculpture lamps hanging over street of terrace houses at night

Public Art Programs

Downing Centre First Nations art commissions EOI

To complement the recent refurbishment of the Downing Centre, Department of Communities and Justice and Create NSW have identified 5 opportunities for NSW First Nations artists to create site-specific artworks for public areas of the courthouse.

Engaging First Nations artists ensures the artworks are meaningful, culturally informed and impactful. NSW First Nations artists are invited to submit one proposal per location. Key themes include strength and resilience; connection to Country and Culture; family, kin and community; shared and collective histories.

One artist or artist group will be selected for each location. Artists must engage with community to ensure artworks align with Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

An artist information pack (PDF 2.05MB) has been developed to support submissions.

Expressions of Interest have closed.

Stolen Generations Keeping Places Keller House Public Art EOI

First Nations artists were invited to honour Stolen Generations Survivors through powerful truth-telling public art, to be embedded in the deeply significant site of Keller House, the heritage-listed home to the Stolen Generations Keeping Place in Parramatta North’s cultural precinct.

Expressions of Interest have now closed.

Parramatta Road Urban Amenity Improvement Program (PRUAIP)

Create NSW has been working closely with Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and six local councils to implement public art as a key component of the Parramatta Road Urban Amenity Improvement Program (PRUAIP).

Creative Road developed an overarching Public Art Framework to provide a comprehensive guide for the implementation of public art works along the Parramatta Road corridor. Local and state government policies informed the development of the framework – identifying opportunities and approaches to public art while responding to community.

Sydney Metro Art

Since 2018, Create NSW has been working in partnership with Sydney Metro to commission artworks for the Sydney Metro lines across metropolitan Sydney. This collaboration enables artist to access public art opportunities in major infrastructure projects across Sydney.

Circular text printed path wraps floor inside Central Station

City Metro Art

All Alongside of Each Other, 2023 Central Station

Artist: Rose Nolan

North West - Light Line

Light Line - Social Square, 2019 Cherrybrook Station

Artists: Turpin Crawford Studio and McGregor Westlake Architecture, with Hassell.

Artwork at Hurlstone Park station, A possum is watching Emily Crockford Image Eva Young

City & South West

A Possum is Watching by Emily Crockford, 2023 Hurlstone Park Station.

Transport Art

Create NSW works with Transport for NSW across a range of Trains and Light Rail public art projects.

Discover Transport Art

Parramatta Light Rail

The Parramatta Light Rail is one of the NSW Government’s latest major infrastructure projects to serve a growing Sydney. Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail connects Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres.

The route links Parramatta’s CBD and train station to the Westmead Health Precinct, Cumberland Precinct, CommBank Stadium, the Camellia Town Centre, the largest museum in NSW Powerhouse Parramatta, the private and social housing redevelopment at Telopea, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse and three Western Sydney University campuses.

Artists have been commissioned to develop site specific installations at each stop. To find out more, visit Westmead to Carlingford.

Macquarie Street East Precinct

The NSW Government is transforming one of Sydney’s iconic historical and culturally significant heritage precincts, Macquarie Street East (MSE), into a vibrant, connected and people-friendly arts, cultural and civic destination. Create NSW is supporting Property Development NSW in the delivery of public art for the precinct. See Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Spotlight: Public Art profiles

'In Time We Shall' Interview with Khaled Sabsabi

a sculpture lit up after dark at Homebush Station

N-S-E-W creates a new landmark at Homebush Station

Public Art Resources

NSW Public Art Toolkit

The Toolkit aims to help NSW Government agencies apply best practice principles to planning, commissioning, implementing, and maintaining public art. The Toolkit guidance notes, and case studies summarise and illustrate the key steps in successfully creating public art along with links to further specialist information.

Decorative cover image of Aboriginal art and cultural protocols (Create NSW)

Aboriginal Arts and Cultural Protocols

Create NSW acknowledges that it must play a strong role in supporting the right way for cultural business and has worked with the NSW Aboriginal cultural sector to develop these NSW Aboriginal arts and cultural protocols. The Protocols should be considered when working on Country and developing work in the public domain.