Art in Public Spaces
Townsville City Council recognises that the incorporation of public art contributes to an attractive and stimulating built environment, and to the community’s appreciation and knowledge of the visual arts. Public artworks are also important as they have the ability to improve the quality of life and the environment, reinforce the unique identity of Townsville, and acknowledge the cultural diversity of contemporary Townsville, and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritage of the city.
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About Townsville's Public Art
There are over 70 public artworks currently on permanent display throughout the city:
- Public Art Images (PDF, 5.9 MB)
- Memorial and Commemorative Items (PDF, 3.6 MB)
If you're looking to enjoy some of the city's public art, you can take a day trip to the Jezzine Barracks precinct and stroll the public art trail, or see the permanent artworks located along The Strand and around the city.
Townsville is also the home to Ephemera, a biennial outdoor sculpture exhibition. Attracting over 180,000 local, national and international visitors in 2021, it is anticipated that audiences will exceed 200,000 in 2023, with the exhibition period expanding to 16 days, thanks to public feedback!
New Public Art Acquisition
Riot
Riot, created by Australian artist and Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures 2023 Acquisitive Prize winner, Carla Gottgens, is now on permanent public display in Central Park across from the Queensland Country Bank Stadium. Consisting of 15 large steel structures resembling red-tailed black cockatoo feathers adorned with mirrored disks, viewers can move between the quills, catching a glimpse of their own behaviour. In the same way that groups of visitors swarm, gather, laugh and play, so the birds reflect this in their daily demonstration in the treetops.
Image: Carla Gottgens, RIOT 2024
Jezzine Barracks Public Art
The heritage precinct at Jezzine Barracks is home to 33 public artworks created by 13 Aboriginal and 11 non-Aboriginal artists from Townsville, North Queensland and Queensland.
All the works have been created in response to this unique site, with some artists considering the military history of the headland and others considering the significance of the area for Aboriginal people. Some of the works address the meeting and reconciliation of Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal and military groups.
Learn more:
- Jezzine Barracks Public Art Collection playlist (YouTube)
- Jezzine Public Art Map (PDF, 4.0 MB).
Townsville Public Art Map
Discover our public artworks on display throughout the region with the below interactive Google map.
More Information
For more information, please Contact Us.
