Blue Mountains City Council and Street Art Murals Australia received a prestigious national award for the popular Katoomba Street Art Walk in Canberra on June 21.
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Senator Zed Seselja presented Blue Mountains Cultural Centre director Paul Brinkman and SAMA founder Jarrod Wheatley with the award at the National Awards for Excellence in Local Government. The project was recognised for “excellence in building innovative and inspired communities”.
Mr Brinkman described the Katoomba Street Art Walk as a dynamic, community-driven outdoor art gallery located in the Katoomba CBD.
“The Katoomba Street Art Walk has quickly become a cultural treasure within the Blue Mountains, transforming a passive laneway into Australia’s largest curated outdoor street art gallery”, he said. “The benefits of the Street Art Walk are far reaching, including urban beautification, artist validation, increased tourism, social inclusion and community safety.”
Jarrod Wheatley commended council’s “commitment to young people and enlivening the Katoomba town centre”.
“This project exemplifies partnerships and innovation in local government and I am proud to see the Street Art Walk contribute to our creative economies and tourism,” he said.
“I am even more pleased to see the Street Art Walk dynamically represent a diverse range of voices in our city’s public art, ultimately making a meaningful contribution to social inclusion.”
The gallery is registering 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor and is rated one of the Top 10 places to visit in the Blue Mountains – all within only one year.
Blue Mountains Mark Greenhill congratulated “the team for their well-deserved recognition for this this unique and inspired cultural arts product that brings the community together and celebrates local identity”.
The award category win was first announced in May.
Mackay Regional Council in Queensland was named the major winner in the finalists’ ceremony last week.