A $103,000 South Australian Government program will fund 58 community art projects around the rail network.
A glow-in-the-dark mural at Peterhead train station and a community mosaic at Christie Downs were two projects highlighted by transport and infrastructure minister Stephen Mullighan on May 17.
“Projects like the Rail Care Art Grants are excellent initiatives to inject life and brightness into rail neighbourhoods and our Adelaide Metro passengers’ commutes,” Mullighan said.
“The art projects include traditional, Aboriginal and contemporary pieces using a variety of materials and techniques including painting, aerosol art, mosaic, vinyl wrapped prints and sculptures.
“It’s a pleasure to announce these grants on the back of the success of the Wonderwalls Festival, where street artists from all over the world came together to paint large murals all over Port Adelaide.”
Grants are available to community groups, schools, not-for-profit organisations and individual artists, with funding packets ranging from $120 for street art calligraphy, to almost $9000 for larger community art projects.
The Government says the projects will improve the look and feel of metropolitan train stations and tram stops, while discouraging graffiti, particularly at suburban stations and stops.
Other projects to be undertaken in the first round of grants include a garden sculpture at Coromandel train station, a contemporary Aboriginal mural at Blackwood train station, and a traditional painting of country by an Aboriginal artist at Gawler Central train station.
Mullighan said successful applicants were chosen based on several criteria including cultural diversity, site suitability, geographic spread across the network, and community or school involvement.
The Rail Care Program launched applications for its first Rail Care Art Grants in February. 115 applications were received by March 20.
“The response to the first round of Rail Care grants has been overwhelming and it’s encouraging to see so many artists of all levels wanting to contribute to local train stations and tram stops,” Mullighan said.