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Victorian Women's Public Art Program

The Victorian Women's Public Art Program aims to address the underrepresentation of women and their achievements through enduring public artworks.

Applications for the second round of the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program have now closed.

Land-owning organisations can apply for grants of up to $200,000 to design and develop public art that honours Victorian women.

The program funds the creation of permanent public art honouring:

  • individual women
  • groups of women
  • trans women
  • gender diverse people.

Program update

Applications closed for the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program on 30 August 2024, and are currently being assessed. The public will be invited to have their say on the final shortlist of projects to be funded, via the Engage Victoria website in late 2024.

The amazing artworks of the Victorian Women's Public Art Program
View transcript

Women are systematically underrepresented in public life, with their achievements and contributions historically overlooked. Currently, of the close to 600 statues in Melbourne’s public spaces, only about 2 per cent represent women.

This is why Our equal state, the Victorian Government’s gender equality strategy, prioritises elevating women’s achievements and supporting women artists through the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program works alongside the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. The Honour Roll recognises women who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and excellence in their field or commitment to the community.

Applicants for the Women’s Public Art Program may be inspired to celebrate one of the over 700 women inducted onto the Honour Roll.

The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program is funded by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund and run in partnership with McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery. McClelland supports contemporary artists to develop, create and present their work, and manages a range of significant commission programs.

Previous grant recipients

The first round of grants of between $50,000 to $200,000 were awarded to applicants working in partnership with community and interest groups.

The successful applicants were:

  1. Remembering Stella Young, Northern Grampians Shire Council
  2. Vera: Linton War Surgeon, Golden Plains Shire Council
  3. Creative Resilience, Queen Victoria Women's Centre, Melbourne
  4. Three Kurnai Women on Country, Baw Baw Shire Council
  5. Honouring Zelda D'Aprano, Victorian Trades Hall Council
  6. Yennaga Yettang/Come See, Mildura Rural City Council

Commissioned artworks

Artist Maree Clarke taking in the dusk at Merbein
Arts, culture & heritage

Yennaga Yettang / Come See

Yennaga Yettang / Come See is a mesmerising video projection that reflects women’s powerful connection to country and their role as knowledge holders of customs and traditions.

Sculptor Jennifer Mann standing with the statue of Zelda D'Aprano standing in front of the Victorian Trades Hall. She is holding a sign in her right hand that says "No more male and female rates. One rate only". In her left hand is the chain the from around her waist and would be chaining her to the courthouse.
Arts, culture & heritage

Honouring Zelda D’Aprano

A statue commemorating an activist’s fight for women’s rights and equal pay has been unveiled.

The working group (L-R ):Jessie McLennan, Lynette Hayes, Jeannie Haughton, Rebecca Van-Dyk Hamilton, Cheryl Drayton.
Arts, culture & heritage

Three Kurnai Women on Country

A life-size bronze sculpture of Dorothy Hood, Regina Rose, and Euphemia Mullet Tonkin, who maintained their Kurnai culture in the face of immense change.

Creative Resilience artwork. A sculpture of a forearm and hand holding a basket. Located on Lonsdale Street outisde the Queen Victoria Womens Centre. Six member of the Ngardang Girri Kalat Mimini artists collective are gathered around the base of the scuplture.
Arts, culture & heritage

Creative Resilience

A sculpture celebrating the strength and talents of First Nations women was the third artwork to be unveiled as part of the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

The bronze statue of Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown OBE in the green garden surrounds, in Linton
Arts, culture & heritage

Vera: Linton War Surgeon

A statue honouring trail-blazing wartime surgeon Dr Vera Scantlebury Brown OBE was the second to be unveiled as part of our Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

Lynne Young, Stella Young's mother, kisses the of the statue of Stella at the Remembering Stella Young statue unveiling.
Arts, culture & heritage

Remembering Stella Young

A life-sized bronze statue commemorates comedian, journalist, activist and disability advocate Stella Young in the town of Stawell. Unveiled in March 2023, as part of the Women's Public Art program.

Finding Her is Australia’s first interactive state-wide digital map spotlighting women’s commemorative sites. You can read about the six public art projects and many more at Finding Her.

Follow along on social channels

Share the stories of inspirational Victorian women via Women Victoria and DFFH’s social media channels.

Women Victoria

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

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