Yarra City Council strives to increase art in public places so that arts and culture can be enjoyed as an everyday experience. We value the impact of creativity on the fabric of our city and recognise arts and culture to be intrinsically linked to the City’s identity.

Public art helps to make Yarra a vibrant, creative and engaging place. We manage an existing collection and commission new works in public spaces, as well as support private commissions of publicly visible art. In 2015, we adopted a Public Art Policy which includes a scheme to embed public art into civic infrastructure developments.

A roving public art program is currently being curated to stimulate interest and discussion about our public spaces. This includes new temporary commissions on the former Queen Victoria plinth in Edinburgh Gardens, changing exhibitions in the Carlton Library light boxes and large-scale evening projections as part of the Roving Projection Program across the city.

We also acknowledge the popularity of murals and street art within Yarra and recognise their place within contemporary arts practice, as well as being a tool in graffiti management and place making. We've commissioned many murals and have helped facilitate many private commissions of murals. Read our Public Art Policy and guidelines for Public Art in Private Developments.