First Nations and local artists called to showcase giant artworks at SPARK Ipswich 2022
27 January 2022
Ipswich City Council is calling for expressions of interest from local visual artists, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, for inclusion in deLight during SPARK Ipswich 2022 festival program – 7 to 17 July.
For the 11 nights of SPARK Ipswich, the iconic face and towering spires of St Mary’s Church will again be activated by deLight - a major projection work that profiles local visual artists and reflects the culture of Ipswich, its people and places.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council is looking forward to showcasing the city’s vibrant creative sector on the larger-than-life, heritage-listed sandstone canvas.
“Our beloved St Mary’s Church will again be central to the city’s incredible arts scene as it’s bathed in artworks created by our region’s best and most unique artists,” Mayor Harding said.
“We are encouraging all visual artists with a connection to our region to express their interest to showcase their work in SPARK Ipswich 2022, the reimagined Ipswich Festival.
“As this year’s festival shares dates with NAIDOC Week 2022, applications for deLight from First Nation artists will be highly regarded.”
Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee chairperson Councillor Andrew Fechner said deLight was a fantastic opportunity for local artists to have their work projected onto one of Ipswich’s most iconic heritage sites.
“A different local artist will be projected and profiled each night of SPARK Ipswich 2022, and each will each receive $1,000 for use of their artwork in the deLight project,” Cr Fechner said.
“Artworks may include paintings, drawings, animations and photography, and a specialised projection artist will be engaged to work with the artists to map and project their artworks onto St Mary’s Church.”
Last year’s inaugural deLight event was one of three major light installations for SPARK After Dark, which was a drawcard for residents and visitors alike to explore on foot the revitalised Ipswich Central and Nicholas Street Precinct.
Previous artists selected to take part in deLight included 2022 Ipswich Australia Day Award winner Kylie Hill.
To register interest in deLight, artists need to visit www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/spark-get-involved and complete the form by 11:59pm AEST Wednesday 2 February 2022. Artists can also request help to register their interest by emailing events@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Ipswich City Council has also opened expressions of interest for performers of all genres and styles for inclusion in the SPARK Ipswich 2022 festival program. For more information, visit www.ipswichfestivals.com.au/spark-get-involved and complete the form by 11:59pm AEST Sunday 13 February 2022.