New art policies to guide public and civic art collections
Published on 24 June 2026
Council has endorsed two new policies that establish a clear framework for the strategic management and best-practice stewardship of Council’s public artworks and civic art collection.
A revised Public Art Policy has been developed to replace the existing 2019 policy, providing a framework to the creation, acquisition, care and future management of public artworks such as sculptures, murals and digital works. There are currently over 200 public artworks across the Shire.
The policy seeks to benefit the community by championing the following principles:
- Community-driven and inclusive
- Diverse and representative
- Accessible and engaging
- High-quality and curated
- Supporting arts communities
- Educational and enriching
- Purposeful and aligned
- Place-based and locally relevant
- Dynamic and evolving
- Sustainable and responsible
- Public facing with easily accessible information
A new Civic Art Collection Policy has been developed to provide a framework around management of artworks such as paintings, prints, ceramics, tapestries, mosaics and small-scale sculptures commissioned by, gifted to or acquired by Council. There are currently 122 artworks in Council’s civic art collection from local, national and international artists, some of which are displayed at the West Gippsland Arts Centre and other Council facilities, with others secured in storage.
Over the lifespan of this policy, the aim is to increase the display of these works in civic spaces such as libraries, community hubs, customer service centres, and other publicly accessible facilities, ensuring the collection is widely available for the community to experience and enjoy.
Deputy Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Councillor Suzanne Allen said both policies would strengthen the role of public and civic art in community life.
“Baw Baw Shire has always been a vibrant creative community with a rich cultural history and an evolving character. We are fortunate to be home to many talented artists whose contributions have enriched both our public art and civic art collections”, said the Deputy Mayor.
“Through community consultation, we heard strong community support for art along with a desire to do more to celebrate local stories and enhance our public spaces.
“Together, these policies provide a clear framework for the care, management and stewardship of our artworks, ensuring their cultural significance and community value are preserved for current and future generations.
“Looking forward, we will continue to seek meaningful opportunities to expand and enhance our collections, bringing more artworks into shared spaces that reflect our culture, history, heritage and values.
“We’re proud to present these policies to the community and reaffirm our commitment to the vital role that art plays in creating vibrant, connected and inclusive places.”
Both policies set out to support the overall Council Plan and have been prepared in line with best practices and community consultation and feedback during 2025-2026.
For more information, please visit Public Art in Baw Baw Shire
Image: Three Kurnai Women by Jessie McLennan, Rebecca Van Dyk, and Grace Rose Hamilton located in Drouin’s Civic Park
Image: The Neerim Bower by Christine Cochran, Phil Henshall and Keith Graham located at the gateway to Neerim South