The Rural City of Wangaratta’s Public Art Policy, 2019, supports the development of a program of commissioned works of art, including permanent site-specific works of art and temporary and ephemeral installations. The Rural City of Wangaratta (RCoW) acknowledges the unique nature of its public spaces and is committed to enlivening its public and open spaces through the development of a Public Art Collection, and through community led public art projects.

Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified artists or groups of artists to develop sculptural works for two sites that provide a sense of arrival to the King Valley ‘Prosecco Road’ tourism trail. The artworks will be highly visible and must fulfill the criteria of beautifying the space, being sensitive to driver distraction and be site specific.

There are two sites identified for artwork:

• Site 1. Oxley – budget allocation $400,000 (ex GST)
• Site 2. Whitfield – budget allocation $150,000 (ex GST)
Artists may submit Expressions of Interest for one or both sites outlined in this brief.



This is a three-stage commissioning process.

• Stage 1. Expression of Interest - Concept
• Stage 2. Shortlist and Concept Development
• Stage 3. Commission and Delivery



Members of the RCoW Public Art Acquisitions Advisory Panel and Council Staff will select concept designs from three artists from Stage One (EOI) to proceed to Stage Two (concept development). Each of the shortlisted artists who proceed to Stage Two will receive a development fee of $2,500 for a detailed concept design and/or Maquette.




One of the selected artists for each site will be awarded the commission and commence Stage Three. More detail is included in the Selection Process section of the commission document.




Public Art Vision for the Prosecco Road – Gateway Entrance

The King Valley is an area of exceptional beauty, extending from the plains around Wangaratta through to the Alpine National Park. The King Valley has developed a reputation for quality wine, with a strong emphasis on Italian varietals and in particular Prosecco. The extent of the King Valley has been determined by the boundaries of the Geographical Indication (GI) region, as defined by Wine Australia. Milawa and Whitfield are the hero towns of the King Valley, defined by their locations on key arterial roads of Snow Rd (Milawa) and Wangaratta-Whitfield Rd (Whitfield). Oxley acts as northern entry point for King Valley, while Whitfield acts as a southern gateway for King Valley.




When you venture to the King Valley in Victoria's High Country, you could be forgiven for thinking you'd been transported to the picturesque hills of northern Italy. The vineyards, perched on the fertile slopes that rise above the King River, are home to great wines and their makers. First, second and third generation Italian migrant families continue a tradition, today treating the Australian palate with their Mediterranean-inspired wines. Pinot Grigio, Arneis, Verduzzo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Barbera formed their first wave.




With a growth in the popularity of Prosecco and the boom in visitors to the region, the King Valley is ripe for development and investment, to become a leading wine tourism destination in Australia




To respond to this expression of interest, and view additional informational documents, register via the e-tendering portal linked here. Registration is free.