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THE BEST EXPERIENCES FOR ART-LOVING TOURISTS REVEALED

Thirty-four public art experiences have been recognised as the best in the country for art-loving visitors at the Australian Street Art Awards.

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Heading the list is the Quirindi Silo Art and Light and Sound Show on the NSW Liverpool Plains. Designed by lead artist Peter Ryan and brought to life at night with the aid of Illuminart, the silo art was announced as the Best of the Best after taking out the Mega Mural category and Best Street Art Experience in NSW gong. The Best of the Best is handed to the Gold Winner that impressed the judges the most, as determined by the highest cumulative score from all category winners.

 

2023 GOLD WINNERS:

  • Best Community Art: Kapunda Post Office Mural, Light Region SA (Artists: numerous)

  • Best Entrance Art: Hawker Entranceway, Flinders Ranges and Outback SA (Artist: Juanella McKenzie)

  • Best External Mural: Adnate x Luther Cora Mural, Gold Coast QLD (Artists: Matt Adnate and Luther Cora)

  • Best Landmark Sculpture: The Big Koala, Spirit of All Koalas, Greater Port Macquarie NSW (Artists: by Pauline Roods and John Belfield)

  • Best Mega Mural: Quirindi Silo Art and Light & Sound Show, Liverpool Plains NSW (Artists: Peter Ryan, Kate Rutter, Illuminart)

  • Best Monument or Memorial: The World at Goldtower Central, Charters Towers QLD (Designer: Paul McIver)

  • Best Rural Art: Wool Bay Water Tank Mural, Yorke Peninsula SA (Artists: Sam Brooks, Harley Hall and Mark Harding)

  • Best Sculpture Park or Trail: Thomas Dambo's Giants of Mandurah, Peel Region WA (Artist: Thomas Dambo, Producer: FORM)

  • Best Small Town Street Art Festival or Event: Jumpers & Jazz in July Yarnbombed Tree Exhibition, Southern Downs QLD

  • Best Street Art Festival or Event: SWELL Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast QLD

  • Best Street Art Laneway: Savages Lane on the Macleay Valley Coast NSW (Artists: numerous)

  • Best Street Art Tour: Frankston's Street Art Walking Tours, Frankston VIC

  • Best Street Art Trail: Collie Mural Trail, Bunbury Geographe WA (Artists: numerous)

 

In addition to the above accolades two winners, the SWELL Sculpture Festival and Frankston's Street Art Walking Tours, have both been inducted into the Hall of Fame for winning their category for three consecutive years.

2023 SILVER WINNERS:

  • Best Community Art: Living Breathing Gallery, Ipswich QLD (Artists: numerous)

  • Best External Mural: ADNATE - Jace and Kacia King, Darwin NT (Artist: Matt Adnate)

  • Best Landmark Sculpture: The World at Goldtower Central, Charters Towers QLD (Designer: Paul McIver)

  • Best Mega Mural: ‘Reflections’ Mural at Wellington Dam, Collie WA (Artist: Guido Van Helton)

  • Best Monument or Memorial: 2022 Flood Memorial Murals, Clarence Valley NSW (Artists: Al Stark, NITSUA and others)

  • Best Rural Art: Katherine Power Substation Murals, Katherine NT (Artist: Jesse Bell, Proper Creative) Best Sculpture Park or Trail: Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail, Greater Port Macquarie (Artists: numerous)

  • Best Small Town Street Art Festival or Event: Spirit of the Land Lockhart Festival, Riverina NSW

  • Best Street Art Festival or Event: Frankston's Street Art Festival - Big Picture Fest, Frankston VIC

  • Best Street Art Tour: Jimmy C Street Art Tour by Flamboyance Tours, Adelaide SA

  • Best Street Art Trail: Maryborough Mural Trail, Fraser Coast QLD (Artists: numerous)

 

2023 BRONZE WINNERS:

  • Best Community Art: MilBi Magic: Archie’s Beach Community Mosaics, Bundaberg QLD (Artists: Paul Perry and numerous)

  • Best External Mural: Centenary Lane Mural, Gawler SA (Artist: Kyle Armstrong aka Whale Tale)

  • Best Landmark Sculpture: iDIDIT!, Sunshine Coast QLD (Artist: Russell Anderson)

  • Best Mega Mural: Yarram Water Tower, Yarram (Artist: Heesco Khosnaran aka HEESCO)

  • Best Monument or Memorial: Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial, Fraser Coast QLD (Artists: numerous)

  • Best Rural Art: Exmouth Sundown Silo, Exmouth WA (Artist: Tiffany Clitheroe)

  • Best Sculpture Park or Trail: Sculpture on the Marsh, Derby WA (Artists: Mark Norval, Valerie Lennard and Joey Kitching)

  • Best Small Town Street Art Festival or Event: Mali Heart Street Art, Wimmera Mallee VIC (Artists: numerous)

  • Best Street Art Festival or Event: 2023 Darwin Street Art Festival NT

  • Best Street Art Trail: Katherine Art Trail, Katherine NT (Artists: numerous)

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The Australian Street Art Awards encourage Australians to explore the world-class street and public art that is accessible all year round and found in every corner of the country.

 

Recognising this fact and wanting to ensure that visitors are encouraged to explore every corner of Australia, 2023 saw the introduction of awards for the Best Street Art Experience in each state or territory.

 

2023 STATE WINNERS:

  • NSW - Quirindi Silo Art and Light & Sound Show

  • NT – ADNATE’s Jace and Kacia King, Darwin

  • QLD - Adnate x Luther Cora Mural, Gold Coast

  • SA - Centenary Lane Mural, Gawler

  • VIC - Yarram Water Tower

  • WA - Reflections Mural at Wellington Dam, Collie

 

Commenting on the artworks that have been recognised this year, judges said, “These pieces are contributing significantly to making Australia a more vibrant, creative and interesting country – somewhere visitors want to explore more keenly”.

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MOST OUSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN ART TOURISM AWARD

This discretionary honour is awarded to a person who has been the often silent driving force behind transforming their destination through public art.

 

It is being granted for only the third time and this year’s recipient is Margret Meagher, initiator of the Hello Koala Sculpture Trail.

 

Since 2000 Margret has been a leader in the international field of arts, health and creative ageing, founding ‘Arts and Health Australia’ to promote the positive impacts on health and wellbeing for individuals and communities through creative engagement. In 2010 she embarked on developing a public art project in Greater Port Macquarie now known as the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail. Four years later it launched with 50 one-metre-high fibreglass sculptures hand-painted by artists. These days it encompasses 88 sculptures and is the region’s most popular tourism attraction.

 

In announcing this award, Awards Director Liz Rivers said that the impact that people like Margret have on the economic vitality of their hometowns needs to be highlighted.

 

“Australia has never been good at recognising our quiet achievers and through this award we simply want to say ‘thank you’ to those who give so much time and invest so much energy in helping their communities, but expect so little personally in return,” Ms Rivers said.

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