Applications open for Perfect Match street art program
Friday 14 July 2023
Inner West Council is thrilled to open a fresh round of applications for the hugely popular Perfect Match street art program.
The program matches artists with residents and community to collaboratively produce site specific street artworks.
So far, 150 street artworks have transformed the walls of inner west houses, shops and businesses into vibrant, history-inspired works of art that speak to people of all ages.
The fresh call for property owners and artists to apply for 2023-2024 has already been answered!
Newtown resident Krystina Gibson has applied to have three walls of the family’s two-storey home transformed by a fabulous inner west artist.
A massive fan of street art, Krystina jumped at the chance to nominate the walls as enormous blank canvasses.
“We are keen street art lovers and there was one wall not far from our place, with a big cockatoo, and they are popping up more and more,” Krystina said.
“Where we are is a thoroughfare for the school so anyone dropping off kids at school and kids going past will see the work.”
Krystina Gibson and her husband Matt have applied for a Perfect Match
If the nomination is successful, the kids of Camdenville Public School will get a front row seat for the new artwork, with hundreds of students set to pass by every day on their daily commute.
Council has increased funding by 20 percent for the program as part of Council’s Arts and Music Recovery Action Plan, which will also engage young people in the co-design and delivery of a Perfect Match artwork with an established artist.
The program began as an initiative tackling unwanted tagging and graffiti and has quickly grown to mentoring dozens of emerging artists, fostering creative expression and creating large-scale paintings in public spaces.
Damun Equine (2022) by George Rose, pictured with her assistant artist Sarah McCloskey.
“We do get tagging on the side and I notice when a nice street art work is created, it is less likely to get tagged and that is one of the main reasons we applied.
“For some reason people don’t go over the top, they want their tag to stand out and if there is a nice mural, it’s harder to see the tag, that’s my theory!” said Krystina.
Expressions of interest close on September 1, with the new roll out of art works to begin in October next year.
“You know you are in the Inner West when you see the beautiful murals, they brighten up the space and I love art in general,” Krystina said.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
The Inner West is the creative capital and engine room of Global Sydney with the highest population of arts and cultural workers in Australia.
One in ten Inner West residents work in the creative or cultural sector, employing 6,400 people and generating $1.4 billion a year for the local economy.
The program began in 2014 and has flourished over the years, becoming one of Australia's best-loved street art programs.
Property owners are invited to find their Perfect Match by nominating their wall to be transformed by an artist. Artists submit their portfolios, designs and ideas.
For all the details on how to apply go to: https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/perfect-match
ENDS:
For media enquiries please contact Brett Clancy on 02 9335 2193 – brett.clancy@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or Margaret Merten on 02 9335 2193 - Margaret.merten@innerwest.nsw.gov.au