Working closely with TfNSW, construction contractor John Holland has commissioned a public artwork as part of the $274 million Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project.
A budget of $150,000 was set aside for the artwork commission
An expression of interest (EOI) process attracted 16 high quality submissions from artists around NSW and the ACT and these were further shortlisted in December 2020 by a panel consisting of TfNSW, John Holland and Council representatives.
The shortlisted artists presented their detailed concepts to the panel in January 2021, who scored each presentation against the criteria laid out in the artist brief.
A winning concept was selected at the end of this process.
The panel were satisfied that the winning sculpture concept reflected the key elements and specifications of the brief as determined by location, community consultation and safety requirements for the sculpture.
The artwork concept was submitted to the PAAC and the fine details of the design were discussed with the artist including safety, construction, concept, longevity, and finish.
The artist is currently working with John Holland engineers on a detail design package. Upon Council endorsement, John Holland will contract the artist and work on the artwork will begin. Installation of the piece is scheduled for September/October 2021.
As the project is bound by the terms of the contract between John Holland and TfNSW all announcements and information relating to the sculpture will be embargoed until these organisations are ready to promote the sculpture.
What has been revealed however, is that the winning artwork will incorporate components from the existing old bridge at Batemans Bay being some of the steel and some of the foundation parts. As the old bridge is pulled down the artist will be working with the salvage crews to access materials for the piece to be designed and built.
It is understood from Councillor Lindsay Brown who is on the Public Art Advisory Committee that the winning artist is a "Very Significant Artist" that has exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea.
