Katoomba’s Street Art Walk won a prestigious National Award for Local Government on Friday.
Blue Mountains City Council took out the win for “excellence in building innovative and inspired communities” for its partnership with Mountains Youth Services Team, Street Art Murals Australia and the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre.
“I congratulate the Katoomba Street Art Walk team and the talented street artists for creating a wonderful urban cultural attraction,” said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill
“The Mountains Youth Services Team and Street Art Murals Australia have been instrumental in fostering high quality street art throughout the city, an impressive achievement for which I thank them.”
The Katoomba Street Art Walk project transformed an urban alley, Beverly Place, into one of the biggest open-air galleries in Australia with 40 massive murals from local and international street artists in one weekend in June 2015.
“We want to foster a liveable, vibrant and inclusive city - a place that reflects the diversity of people within it and strengthens local identity, sense of place and pride,” said Cr Greenhill.
“Urban attractions such as the Katoomba Street Art Walk complement the nature-based attractions, encouraging new visitors to the Blue Mountains with economic benefits for the retail and tourism sector.”
Federal local government minister Paul Fletcher announced the category winners on Friday, April 29.
The overall winner of the 2016 National Award for Excellence in Local Government will be announced in Canberra on June 21.