The City of Melbourne commissions art in the public realm, opening up city spaces to create encounters with the unexpected for the people of Melbourne. Once commissioned, permanent public artworks enter our collection, while temporary works stay in the minds of Melbourne’s publics.

During community and stakeholder consultation that informed the Draft Concept Plan for Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street, public art was identified as a critical component of the project by the community and Council. Transforming Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street will be one of the first projects of its kind to create a strategic partnership between the City of Melbourne, and the vibrant communities in Southbank to deliver high-quality public art which will be integrated into the landscape.

The first phase of commissioning public art in the area involves the appointment of a Public Art Strategist for Southbank, who will consult with community and stakeholders on the development of a vision and strategy for public art in the precinct.

We are proud to announce Vaari Claffey (pictured above) as the Public Art Strategist for Southbank. Claffey was chosen from a shortlist of candidates as she presented an innovative vision that aligns with her three decades of creative experience, and a track record in establishing new ways to commission artworks and build relationships between people and place. Vaari Claffey is a Dublin-based independent curator known for producing dynamic exhibitions and longer-term projects of complex scope.

Claffey will work with key creative organisations in Southbank, community and stakeholders to realise a vision and strategy by which works of public art will be commissioned. This will ensure the resulting art works are enduring, site-responsive and commissioned through a rigorous selection process. The purpose of this strategy is to ensure exceptional and meaningful outcomes for the Southbank precinct and its community in the broadest sense.