Aboriginal Artist - PoHC EOI Form

The Port of Hastings Corporation (PoHC) is seeking Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal artists to create an original artwork to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Western Port.

The successful artwork will acknowledge the cultural significance of Western Port to First Nations people and deepen understanding of Bunurong history, the continuing connection to Country and sense of belonging through traditional storytelling.

The artwork will be used as an identifiable image of PoHC and will be displayed publicly. In addition, the artwork may be included on promotional resources including printed and digital publications, social media, our website, and clothing.

Port of Hastings Corporation story:

Western Port has been an active trading port since the early 1800s, featuring a wide variety of trades either derived from the sea or dependent on maritime transport.

Today, the Port is responsible for a significant share of the State’s bulk liquid trade and includes the BlueScope Steel Wharf, Long Island Point Jetty, Crib Point Jetty, and the Stony Point Port Jetty.

PoHC, as the port operator, is committed to caring for the waterways surrounding the Port precinct which are of international environmental significance and critical to biodiversity objectives.

PoHC is seeking one primary art piece for display at the PoHC offices and for reproduction and use on promotional resources including printed and digital publications, social media, our website, and clothing.

The artwork should focus on the cultural heritage of Western Port and the themes of ‘Waterways’ ‘Caring for Country’ and ‘Community’. Artists are encouraged to explore the waterways, stories, native flora, and fauna integral to the history and cultural landscape of Western Port.

The successful artwork will reflect the past, present and future of Western Port.

Artwork mediums and dimensions:

The preferred medium is paint on canvas however, the use of other materials and mediums will be considered.

The artwork will be displayed in a prominent location within of the Port of Hastings Corporation offices and should be within the following parameters (unframed):
Width: Min 600mm - Max:1000mm
Height: Min:900mm - 1500mm

Submissions are open to First Nations artists who identify as Bunurong people from the southeastern Kulin Nation, who are living on or off Country. We warmly welcome both emerging and established First Nations artists to apply, fostering a diverse and inclusive artistic community.

All designs and concepts must be the authentic and original work of the artist submitting the design.

Participants are required to submit their ABN if possible as part of the engagement.

Applications must be submitted via this form by 5pm, Friday, August 30, 2024.

Please ensure that you prepare and include the following in your application, or it will not be accepted:
- Artist's biography and background (up to 500 words).
- Artist portfolio showcasing previous work and links to relevant work.
- In lieu of a portfolio, you may provide relevant examples of previous work, such as photos or images (no larger than 2 MB and 300 DPI per image).
- Include links to websites, social media, and online portfolios showcasing your work.
- Artwork concept proposal (see below)