The New Museum for WA will open its doors in 2020. Photo / Robert Frith © WA Museum
Ever wanted to shape the face of a state? Western Australia is calling on artists to contribute to one of the most significant museum redevelopments taking place in the world – right in the heart of Perth’s Cultural Centre.
The $1.6 million public art commission will invigorate Western Australia’s New Museum Project: a $428.3 million state-funded cultural icon that will open its doors in 2020. Local, national and international artists are encouraged to put forward expressions of interest this month.
Western Australian Museum CEO Alec Coles said the Museum and State is looking for creative responses from individuals or teams of artists.
‘I have a completely open mind in terms of the types of public art that could reflect the history, creativity and diversity of our State. I’m extremely excited at the prospect of seeing the expressions of interest.’
By engaging with artists, educators, WA residents and Aboriginal communities throughout the planning process, the New Museum aims to share the stories of Western Australians and act as a gateway to exploring the State and its place in the world.
‘We want to inspire people to explore and share their identity, their culture, their environment and their sense of place,’ said Coles, who believes firmly in the ‘transformational’ power of museums.
Some of the world’s leading designers and architects are bidding for the right to design and build the New Museum, which will integrate with the site’s existing heritage-listed buildings.
The contenders include design firm Foster and Partners, creators of the British Museum’s Great Court; Musée du Quai Branley designers Ateliers Jean Nouvel and OMA, which is responsible for the Musée National Des Beaux Arts in Quebec. All three teams are working with local architects and are led, respectively, by John Holland, the Doric Group and Brookfield Multiplex.
‘We’ve had three excellent responses from three very strong teams,’ said Coles, adding that the successful team will be announced in a few months. Early works are expected to begin in 2016–2017.
The successful artist teams will have the opportunity to work alongside architects, designers, curators, diverse cultural groups and the wider community to create artworks that not only contribute to the visitor experience, but also reflect the spirit of the State.
Western Australia is undergoing a transformation and Coles said the grand scale of the New Museum project is indicative of the cultural explosion happening in Perth right now – which is already home to a bursting arts calendar, including the third largest Fringe festival in the world.
‘We have well and truly buried ‘dullsville’ and the ‘cultural cringe’ and all that nonsense. Perth is a really exciting place to be now in this day and age,’ said Coles, who sees the state becoming a vibrant cultural and tourism destination.
‘We want the New Museum to be used by all Western Australians, and admired by the world.’
The invitation for expressions of interest from artists to create the public art for the New Museum for WA will be advertised on Tenders WA.
