Youth murals splash colour into Cairns suburbs

Native wildlife and vibrant colours have been splashed into artwork in three suburbs as part of Council’s Youth Urban Art Project.

Frogs, sharks, turtles and butterflies have featured on colourful murals in Smithfield, Redlynch, and Mount Sheridan.

Smithfield State High School students worked with local artist Violet Shaban to paint a new mural at the pedestrian underpass along the Captain Cook Highway.

The Youth Urban Art Project is funded by Cairns Regional Council, working with local artists and young people to reduce graffiti and tagging and increase community pride by adding a burst of new colour to highly visible public spaces.

The project allows local young people to learn new skills, clean mural sites, and paint artistic designs.

Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan said the murals positively engaged local young people and brightened up suburban sites.

“The murals are a fantastic way to give young people an opportunity to inject creativity and pride into really visible public spaces,” she said.

“Smithfield State High School students worked with a wonderful local artist to bring vibrancy to the pedestrian underpass which is used by many students each day.

“I have no doubt these students will take pride in seeing this colourful artwork before and after school.

“Council continues to identify opportunities to get more young people positively involved in public spaces.”

The 2023 project brings to the total number of murals painted from Babinda to the Northern Beaches to 21 as part of the Youth Urban Art Program since 2018.

The new murals, led by artists Violet Shaban (Smithfield), Daniel (Wally) Wallwork (Redlynch), and Sharon Wedel (Mount Sheridan) were hand-painted or sprayed in the suburban sites.

This year’s project featured young people from the Transition to Success Program, an initiative of the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, as well as students from Smithfield State High School, Holy Spirit College and Newman College who worked alongside artists to contribute to both the design and application of the artwork.

Ms Shaban said working with the high school students was a fantastic experience.

“We were able to connect students to the site by getting them to come up with the concepts behind the project,” she said.

“This year we had robots, birds, turtles, bees and loads of faces, so this became the focal point across all the murals.

“We have heaps of students and locals passing through the tunnel every day. I can honestly say it has been the most rewarding job I have ever worked on.”

The murals were completed at the following locations:

• Overpass Pier, Kamerunga Road, Redlynch (Redlynch Skatepark)
• Captain Cook Highway Pedestrian Underpass, Faculty Cl, Smithfield
• Bill Mills Park, Mount Sheridan

For more information about the Youth Urban Art Project, please call 4044 3688 or email CommunitySupport@cairns.qld.gov.au