More inspiring women will be honoured in public art across the state thanks to a significant new investment from the State Government, with Victorians getting the opportunity to vote and select the final artworks.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins visited Garden Square at Melbourne Park, the home of the Australian Open, to announce a second round of the landmark Victorian Women’s Public Art Program which makes sure the significant contributions of Victorian women are better represented and recognised.
“Women’s accomplishments and contributions to history are so often undervalued, forgotten or purposefully erased, and we’re changing that,” Ms Hutchins said.
“I was honoured to be able to unveil amazing public art last year celebrating the achievements of remarkable Victorian women, and I can’t wait to see the important stories uncovered this year.”
Former champion tennis player Judy Dalton, who helped pave the way for women’s professional tennis and the foundation of the Women’s Tennis Association, has been honoured with a statue in Australia’s home of tennis as one of nine women who broke away from the male tennis establishment to form their own tour in 1970.
“We fought for recognition for women’s achievements back in the 1970s and the fight continues,” Ms Dalton said.
“It used to be that the only sports available to women were tennis, basketball and hockey, and now it’s wonderful to see that girls are able to choose whatever they want to do.”
In 2023, six new public art works were unveiled across the state, celebrating women such as journalist, comedian and disability rights advocate Stella Young and equal pay campaigner Zelda D’Aprano.
Women are still hugely underrepresented in statues, sculptures and other art in our public spaces.
The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program aims to address this by funding projects that pay tribute to women who have made a lasting impact on Victoria’s culture, history and development.
The second round of the Women’s Public Art Program will include a public engagement process, where Victorians will be able to learn the stories behind the proposed artworks and vote for the final ones.
