Joint Winner

Brisbane City Council
Botanica – Contemporary art outside 2019

Brisbane City Council’s Botanic Gardens was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997 in recognition of its natural, historic and cultural values.

For ten days in May 2019, the Gardens played host to Botanica – Contemporary art outside. There are many and varied ‘rooms’ within the Gardens, ranging from large open grassed areas, rainforests, water lily-filled lagoons, a mangrove boardwalk and an avenue of Bunya pines, planted in the 1850s – an important tree for First Nations Peoples. 

The Public Art team at BCC and the Botanica Curators, Urban Art Projects, worked closely with the Gardens’ curator and staff in consideration of the sensitive nature of the flora and fauna. Consisting of 12 ephemeral works by leading local and interstate contemporary artists and designers, Botanica’s rich public program featured daily tours, artist workshops, talks and performances.

A core objective for the growth and development of Botanica was partnerships. Griffith University generously supported Botanica with financial sponsorship and in-kind support. Programming Botanica within the school term provided the opportunity for BCC’s Public Art team to work with the Queensland Art Teachers Association in the development of an Education Resource which was distributed to secondary schools across Queensland. Botanica was also a highlight of the Museum of Brisbane’s Brisbane Art Design Festival.