Call for Artists: Oakleigh Art Trail

An artist carefully painting a mural onto an outdoor brick wall.

Overview

Artists are invited to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to create a mural or wall activation as part of the Oakleigh Art Trail with a minimum life span of 5 years. 

Proposed artworks must address to the key selection criteria outlined in the Artist Brief where they will: 

  • Respond to curatorial themes identified through community consultation. 
  • Outline a plan for stakeholder engagement. 
  • Demonstrate required experience and portfolio 
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness, safety, consent and respectful practice 
  • Detail capacity and availability to deliver scope on time and on budget.

Download the Artist Brief(PDF, 565KB)

Curatorial themes

The themes identified through community engagement are:  

  • Food as culture 
  • Greek heritage and migration
  • Community, gathering and village atmosphere
  • Multiculturalism, many communities
  • History, trade and local identity.

EOI submissions close on Monday, 14 September 2026, 10pm.

Who can apply

Artists must meet all requirements:  

  • Be an emerging to mid-career visual artist 
  • Demonstrate some public art experience
  • Live, work or have a connection to the City of Monash
  • Meet the project’s feasibility requirements.

What to submit

Artists will be required to submit the below as part of their EOI submission:  

  • A 200-word artwork proposal that responds to curatorial themes 
  • A plan for stakeholder engagement  
  • Artist CV or link to a website
  • A short artist biography (200-words).

FAQs

Do I create a mural or wall art?

Applications are open to all visual artforms, if the artwork medium can: 

  • Be presented on a small-scale wall or pavement outdoors
  • Have a minimum 5-year life span
  • Be delivered on time and within budget
  • Does not require a connection to power source.

Do I need to produce a design concept?

No. EOI submissions call for a 200-word artwork proposal.

Do I have to collaborate with stakeholders?

Yes, stakeholder engagement is a requirement set out in the project’s key selection criteria.  

Artists are required to include a plan for their stakeholder engagement.  

Council will support artists throughout this process, providing links to traders and community representatives.   

Artists can undertake various forms of engagement from interviewing and storytelling to co-design, or participatory installation.

Submit an EOI

Apply now

Accessible submissions

Submissions can also be provided via video. Please email a video link addressing the EOI questions (up to 10 minutes) to creative@monash.vic.gov.au

After you apply

How we assess applications

All submissions must meet the minimum requirements set out in the EOI submission form.

Eligible submissions will be assessed by a Public Art Panel comprising industry professionals and local community representatives and will be evaluated against a key selection criteria.

Successful artists

Successful artists will be mailed a letter from Council's Creative Industries Team inviting them to enter into an artist agreement.

Your responsibilities

A total budget of $10,000 exc. GST will be paid to each successful artist. The budget is intended to cover:  

  • Artists fee for time
  • Concept and detailed design development (initial $1500 payment)
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Artwork materials and consumables
  • Artwork production and installation. 

Prior to commencing works, artists are required to provide Public Liability Insurance to the value of $10 million.

Support for successful artists

Council’s Creative Industries Team will support artists throughout the project and provide:  

  • Artist's Agreement
  • $1500 fee for concept development
  • Anti-graffiti treatment and maintenance
  • Local connections to traders and community organisations, if required
  • Risk assessment and safe working methods 
  • Site preparation, induction, and traffic management.  

Key dates

 Milestone Date
 EOI submissions close  14 Sep 2026, 10pm
 All artists notified of EOI outcome Early Oct 2026
 Successful artists contracted Early Oct 2026
 Concept development Oct 2026 – Dec 2026
 Final design Jan 2027
 Installation Feb 2027
 Project closed Mar 2027