“This is a significant opportunity to contribute to the reinvigoration of the Festival Plaza, Adelaide Railway Station and the broader Adelaide Riverbank precinct,” said Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Stephan Knoll.
“We’re looking for an innovative and inspiring new artwork that will become an iconic feature for South Australia and the Adelaide Riverbank precinct.” – The Hon Stephan Knoll, MP
“There has been an enormous level of investment in the Adelaide Riverbank which is home to some of Adelaide’s most significant cultural, tourism, sporting and public facilities and institutions.
“Festival Plaza will be a world-class destination, right in the centre of Adelaide Riverbank and has attracted nearly a billion dollars of public and private investment.”
Renewal SA’s Acting Chief Executive Mark Devine said public art plays an integral role in transforming spaces into places which draw people in and create an attraction for visitors and a means of engagement and interaction with a space.
“We are also revitalising the Adelaide Railway Station with the restoration of heritage façades and features, upgrading commercial tenancies and negotiating new retail and service offerings” said Mr Devine.
“The new northern entrance and arcade will include retail and specialty tenancies for visitors to enjoy and bring even more visitors through the Railway Station as they make their way to Adelaide Riverbank.”
A Public Art Reference Group will assess EOI submissions and select three artists to develop and present their concept proposals before the final artwork is commissioned. The reference group has membership from Renewal SA, ARM Architecture, Art Gallery of South Australia, Office for Design and Architecture SA and Arts South Australia.
The Festival Plaza redevelopment comprises five separate but highly integrated development projects including the refurbishment of the iconic Adelaide Festival Centre; the construction by Walker Corporation of a new car park, office and retail development; a major expansion of SKYCITY’s Adelaide Casino including a 6-star hotel; and the establishment of a new and exciting public square featuring event spaces, water features, landscaping and public art.
The SKYCITY casino expansion will extend its footprint approximately forty five metres to the north creating a new pedestrian walkway underneath, connecting the Adelaide Railway Station, Adelaide Festival Centre and Festival Plaza and a striking new northern entrance to the Adelaide Railway Station.
The new entrance and arcade will become a significant landmark located at the cultural crossroads of the Adelaide Riverbank, where the promenade linking the Adelaide Festival Centre to the Adelaide Convention Centre will intersect the main pedestrian link between the city centre and Adelaide Oval. For many visitors, this space will truly be the gateway to the Adelaide Riverbank.
The arcade will feature a series of intersecting vaults arching down to ground and a vaulted ceiling that has been deliberately designed to incorporate a landmark artwork occupying approximately 175 square metres.
Artists with demonstrated public art experience are invited to respond to the EOI via the SA Tenders and Contracts website by 16 April 2019.