Streets, parks and laneways across The Hills Shire are set to become open-air galleries under a new Public Art Grant designed to bring colour, creativity and local stories into everyday public spaces.
The funding stream was adopted at the Hills Shire Council meeting on 9 December as part of a broader review of the council’s grants policy, with the aim of encouraging artistic expression and celebrating the area’s cultural diversity.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said the aim of the grant was to celebrate local artists and breathe new life into The Hills Shire’s public spaces.
“Public art provides opportunities to make our public spaces more beautiful, encourage community participation, and celebrate our heritage,” Mayor Byrne said.
“This new funding stream also gives local artists a chance to create their masterpiece on a canvas that will be seen and interacted with by residents and visitors alike.
“Any Hills Shire location that’s visible and accessible to the community can be put forward for public art. I can’t wait to see what this grant creates for our community.”
Under the program, any location within The Hills Shire that is visible and accessible to the public can be proposed as a site for an artwork, opening the door to projects ranging from murals and installations to sculptural works that respond to the area’s heritage and identity.
The grant is open to individuals, not-for-profit and for-profit organisations, and other entities delivering public art projects in the Shire. Funding of between $5,000 and $50,000 is available, with successful applicants required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds. Projects will be assessed on merit by a panel in line with council’s grants policy.
The program is intended to support initiatives that enhance vibrant places, increase community participation in arts and culture, recognise local heritage and history, encourage placemaking and contribute to the visitor economy.
Applications for the first Public Art Grant round are expected to open in early 2026.
The new grant sits alongside existing council funding streams, including Community Grants, Arts, Culture and Events Grants, Orange Blossom Festival Grants and Minor Grants.
The recent policy review also introduced several changes, including renaming the policy to the Hills Shire Council Grants Policy, extending application periods from four weeks to eight weeks, aligning grant rounds with the financial year, and updating guidelines to prioritise projects with broader community impact. Clarification around funding restrictions for staff wages was also included to ensure grants are directed toward project delivery rather than ongoing costs.
For more information, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for ‘Grants’.
