Kieren Karritpul at Merrepen Arts
Photographer: Patch Clapp
Development Opportunity:
Have your artwork featured in the new Darwin Civic Centre
Darwin/Garramilla artists are invited to generate concepts for integrated art and design in key public spaces for the future Civic Centre. Designed to reflect the city's vibrant cultures and creative voices, the new building will create a shared space shaped by the many people and communities who call this place home.
We're inviting up to 20 artists to join creative workshops developing concept proposals with the support of other artists, design consultants, and the GARUWA team on Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026.
The designs will be presented to a Public Art Peer Assessment Panel, who will select four artists to continue developing their ideas into final concepts for integrated art and design within the new Civic Centre.
Submit your Expression of Interest before Thursday 19 March at 11:59pm Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).
Nuha Saad, The New City Beautiful I
Green Square, Sydney
© Nuha Saad
THE PROCESS
Phase 1: Application & Selection
Submit your Expression of Interest before Thursday 19 March at 11:59pm Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).
City of Darwin and GARUWA will review applications with independent oversight and will select individuals to join workshops based on their ability to meet eligibility criteria and focus areas.
Phase 2: Workshops
Creative workshops will take place in central Darwin, from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026. If selected, you will participate on Day 1, and either Day 2 or 3 (i.e. 2 days of workshops only):
Day 1: Workshop with all participants (up to 20 artists)
Day 2: Group A participates in smaller workshop developing and refining your ideas to create a 2-page concept proposal (up to 10 artists)
Day 3: Group B participates in smaller workshop developing and refining your ideas to create a 2-page concept proposal (up to 10 artists)
Workshops will include a family-friendly activity station for children to enable parents and caregivers to participate fully in the program.
Phase 3: Panel Selection, Design Refinement & Concept Finalisation
After the workshops, a Public Art Peer Assessment Panel (assembled by City of Darwin) will review all the concept proposals. The Panel will select four artists to move forward. These artists will work with a design consultant to develop and refine their final designs for licensing with the City of Darwin. GARUWA’s team will provide on-hand support during each stage of the process.
SUMMARY
What’s involved?
Each artist will take part in two facilitated workshops to develop creative ideas for public artworks for the new Civic Centre. Applicants must be available on the workshop dates detailed below to be eligible.
From the workshops, four artists will be invited to progress to a design refinement phase, where ideas are further developed for presentation to the City of Darwin.
When
EOI submissions close Thursday 19 March at 11:59pm Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
Workshops Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026
Design refinement phase late-April to Late-May 2026
Final concept development June-July 2026
Licensing is after July or delivery of final designs, whichever comes first
Who is this opportunity for?
We welcome expressions of interest from all Darwin-based artists, working in any discipline, at any career stage, including emerging and early-career artists.
Where
The workshops will take place in central Garramilla/Darwin, in-person and design refinement will be supported by ongoing consultations.
Payment
All workshop participants will receive a $500 artist fee (inclusive). If selected to progress to design refinement, artists will receive additional fees independently negotiated with the City of Darwin.
FOCUS AREAS
City of Darwin’s Creative Strategy 2024–2030 has three key focus areas:
Celebrating Larrakia
Distinctly Darwin
Invigorating Spaces
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to apply, you must:
Live &/or work in Darwin (minimum requirement of 12 months residency or work)
Be available to attend workshops on Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April 2026
Be able to commit to the design refinement phase (mid-April to late - May 2026) if selected as one of the four progressing artists
Respect the originality, ideas and intellectual property of every artist in the workshops as you would your own
Maree Clarke and Hillary Jackman, Walking on Country
narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services
Photographer: Spilt Milk
Courtesy of City of Melbourne
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many artists will join the workshops?
Up to 20 artists will be selected.
Who will assess the Expressions of Interest?
The applications will be assessed by GARUWA and City of Darwin, with oversight from an independent assessor.
How many artists will be chosen to create final designs?
Four artists will be selected by the panel to develop their designs further for the City of Darwin.
What costs are covered?
All workshop participants receive a $500 artist fee. This is an all-inclusive payment covering your participation and any associated costs such as travel to and from workshops. Lunch will be provided each day of the workshops. Additional reimbursements for workshops are not available.
If you're selected as one of the four artists to progress to design refinement, you will receive additional fees negotiated with and paid by the City of Darwin.
What is integrated art and design?
Integrated art and design weaves artwork into the fabric of a building, it is embedded into everyday spaces that people move through, gather in, and use. This often appears as licensed artwork reproduced across a range of materials and applications, such as carpets, window treatments, wall surfaces, and other building elements. Integrated art and design shapes how the building feels and functions, helping create a welcoming, culturally rich and meaningful public space. Opportunities for integration include:
Library spaces (for example, carpet or flooring designs, furniture or window treatments)
Welcome areas that set the tone for visitors
Stylised window treatments
Citizenship and civic service areas
Function and gathering spaces
Examples of integrated art and design include: Maree Clarke’s immersive artworks at narrm ngarrgu, Re-Right Collective’s Shimmer at Heffron Centre, Troy Firebrace and Drew Berick’s Djaara Lights, Manapan’s Yolngu commission pieces, Nuha Saad’s public artworks, Danniel von Sturmer’s Painted Light and Jason Wing’s In Between Two Worlds.
Is this opportunity for Larrakia or First Nations artists only?
This invitation is open to all artists based in Darwin/Garramilla. We welcome expressions of interest from artists of all backgrounds and communities who call this place home.
What happens to the rights to my artwork?
The intellectual property (IP) of all work created in workshops will be protected. If your design is used, licensing will be agreed upon between you and the City of Darwin.
Do I need a fully formed concept to apply?
No. The workshops are designed to be a collaborative exploration process. We're looking for artists interested in engaging with the opportunity, not complete proposals at this stage.
I’m an artist, what level of experience do I need in “public art”?
Artists do not need prior experience working on public artworks, buildings or infrastructure. What matters most is a strong creative vision, a willingness to collaborate, adapt and explore how artwork can live within shared civic spaces. We encourage you to apply if you’re curious, creative, have lots of ideas, or want to learn more about how art can live in public spaces. We’re especially keen to hear from artists who may be applying for an opportunity like this for the first time.
What happens after the workshops?
A Public Art Peer Assessment Panel (established by the City of Darwin) will review all concepts from the workshops. They'll select four artists to continue. These four artists will be supported by the GARUWA team and a design consultant to refine their designs into final concepts.
What does the design refinement process look like?
The four selected artists will work with a Design Consultant, with oversight from GARUWA, to ensure their concepts meet the technical requirements of the City of Darwin. This will include online support and, where possible, in-person sessions to help develop your design into a final concept ready for the Civic Centre.
Will my work be considered for the final building?
The four selected artists will create final designs that go to the City of Darwin. The City of Darwin will make the final decisions about which designs are built.
What if my designs aren’t selected?
Your work may be considered for future opportunities with the City of Darwin.
This is an exciting opportunity to make your mark on Darwin/Garramilla's civic life.
Submit your Expression of Interest before Thursday 19 March at 11:59pm Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).
A collaboration between the City of Darwin and GARUWA, celebrating Larrakia voices and Darwin's diverse artistic community
