Moonee Valley City Council invites First Nations artists (individuals or in teams), who have a connection to Victoria, to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of a permanent Stolen Generations Marker (Marker) at Napier Park in Moonee Valley.
Napier Park is full of natural character. It is an example of pre-European woodland with some significant flora. This includes River Red Gums that pre-date colonisation and feature large
hollows that can take more than a century to develop.
The Stolen Generations Marker artwork may take a variety of forms. Artists (or teams) are encouraged to respond to the characteristics of the site and to consider large-scale, as well
as intimate works, and a broad range of potential materials, landscaping and approaches. As a baseline for consultation, however, the Stolen Generations Marker Working Group has proposed the following creative suggestions for artists (or teams) to consider. The Marker must:
- Reflect the stories of all Stolen Generations.
- Be respectful of Victorian Aboriginal cultures.
- Be a place of healing.
- Contribute to a family friendly, welcoming place which provides a sense of connection for those who visit the space.
- Provide the community an opportunity to welcome one another, share and reflect.
- Be prominent enough to create interest so that people will want to visit and learn about the Stolen Generations.
- Respond to the natural environment
Support is available to emerging artists who have not completed submissions for similar public art projects before. Please feel free to contact us using the details below to discuss with Council staff or a community member from our Stolen Generations Marker Working Group.
Budget
The overall budget for the Stolen Generation Marker project will be up to $300,000.
This will cover all fees, materials, fabrication and installation costs for the project including landscape design and construction.
Key dates
Stage 1 – Artist EOI
| Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| EOI launch | Monday, 29 June 2026 |
| Online information session | Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 7pm AEST |
| EOI submissions close | Sunday, 9 August 2026 at 11.59pm AEST |
| Artist shortlisted by | Friday, 21 August 2026 |
| Shortlisted artists notified by | Monday, 24 August 2026 |
Stage 2 – Concept design
| Timeline | Date |
|---|---|
| Shortlisted artist site visit | Friday, 28 August 2026 (TBC) |
| Concept submissions due | Sunday, 15 November 2026 |
| Artist selection | Thursday, 26 November 2026 |
| Successful artist notified | Thursday, 3 December 2026 |
| Project commission commences | 2027 |
How to apply:
Stage one – EOI
Download the Artist Brief guidelines available via Council’s website and read thoroughly.
Preview the application form also accessible via Council’s website.
Complete the application form, attach your images and submit before the closing date (Sunday, 9 August at 11:59pm AEST).
Stage two – Concept Design
During Stage Two, the shortlisted artists (or teams) will be invited to develop their artwork proposals in close consultation with the Stolen Generations Marker Working Group and Moonee Valley City Council.
A fee of $5,000 will be provided per shortlisted artist/team to develop their final artwork proposals, paid after the submission of a completed concept design and presentation of the concept to the Stolen Generations Marker Working Group/selection panel.
A Stolen Generations Marker selection panel will select the final design to be fully developed and realised.
Online information session
The online information session will cover the submission requirements in more detail, and offer an opportunity for potential applicants to ask any further questions. The information session will be facilitated by Simon Clarke, Project Lead Igniting Creativity at MVCC, and attended by members of the Stolen Generations Marker group, which includes Wurundjeri Elders and representatives of VACCA, Link-Up, and Connecting Home.
To register for this session, please contact Simon Clarke via: [email protected] or 9243 1744
For more information click here
