Community murals & public art

Mural projects can revitalise and restore our neighbourhoods, communities and public spaces.

Council supports new mural projects in two ways:

Artists or community groups who have an idea for a new work on a Council-owned or managed park or piece of land can submit an application form online at any time.
Annually, Council also calls for submissions to the Youth Urban Arts Project, which works with young people to revitalise a number of chosen sites.

Making a request for a community mural project

The application form seeks details including site location, who you have consulted about the idea, key stakeholders involved, budget, aims, objectives and personnel. Another important thing to consider is how the mural will be maintained and preserved into the future.

Before submitting an application, please contact the Curator, Tanks Arts Centre to discuss your idea.

visarts@cairns.qld.gov.au or 07 40326609

Email the Curator, Tanks Arts Centre

Considerations for new mural requests

Applications are assessed by a panel against several criteria.

Location: identified and deemed appropriate, the mural should complement and enhance the character of the site and surrounding location.
Process: project management including realistic timeframes, risk management, evidence of adequate stakeholder consultation and applicant's ability to deliver - the applicant should clearly define how and when the project will be undertaken as well as who will be working on the project.
Artwork: appropriate content, scale, originality, type of paint and durability, compatibility to the proposed location, artistic merit, evidence of previous mural work - the applicant should provide a sketch of the proposed artwork and indicate its intended scale.
Budget: clearly outlined, feasibility and ongoing maintenance considerations. (Please note that Council is not obliged to fund or maintain murals therefore applicants should provide details of the project budget and identify all sources of funds.)

Assessment panel

An assessment panel is convened to assess each new application. If the panel approves the application, conditions are drafted and a contract is drawn up. Once the mural is complete, the mural is entered into the Cairns public art database.

The assessment panel consists of:

Local Councillor
Curator
Asset Owner
Senior Investigations Officer, Infrastructure Services

Apply online to develop a community mural

Youth Urban Arts Project

The Youth Urban Arts Project runs annually. Council identifies a number of sites throughout the region that would benefit from colour, creativity or new public art.

We call for expressions of interest from local artists and mural-makers early in each year then work with young people, community groups and artists to create murals and artworks that foster pride of place, connection, community pride and reduce graffiti vandalism.

Applications for the Youth Urban Arts Project 2023 are now closed.

Check out the sites for the Youth Urban Arts Project 2023

Council has chosen three sites for revitalisation in the Cairns region as part of the Youth Urban Arts Project in 2023.

Overpass Pier, Kamerunga Road, Redlynch (Redlynch Skatepark) - painting to start Monday 5 June . Completed by Wednesday 14 June.
Captain Cook Highway Pedestrian Underpass, Faculty Close, Smithfield - painting to start Monday 12 June. Completed by Friday 20 June.
Bill Mills Park, Mount Sheridan - painting scheduled to start Monday 5 June. Completed by Wednesday 14 June.

Murals on these sites will be completed in June.

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