Queensland Rail mural arts program Positive pARTnerships unites Queensland Rail community artists, Community groups, local schools, and stakeholders to produce high quality art projects which beautify our stations, builds community pride and ownership. The program also validates our commitment to the safety and well being of customers while enhancing community pride.
Community art projects have occurred for some years within Queensland Rail. A project by project program originated in 2001. Positive pARTnerships was officially named and recognised in 2006.
Positive pARTnerships has evolved into being Queensland State winners in conjunction with Norman Park State School of the AbaF Partnering Awards 2009, the Toyota Community Award for partnerships between businesses and arts and cultural organisations that enhance the life of communities.
Positive pARTnerships award submission was based upon Positive pARTnerships engagement with the community, in this case Norman Park State School, the partnership, the value of the partnership and the positive outcomes of the station beautification project at Norman Park Station.
The Abaf (Australian Business Arts Foundation) awards honour the best relationships between business and the arts in the areas of partnering, volunteering and giving.
How we create Murals
When you see a mural at your station or a piece of artwork, you are looking at the result of a very long process. There are a number of steps taken to bring the creative process together and ready for the ‘launch or unveiling” to the school / community group and the public. These steps can vary depending on the project and accessibility but most projects are created through the same progression, dedicated staff within Queensland Rail business groups and Positive pARTnerships community artists.
The Positive pARTnerships Community Artists Role
Our contracted community artists are employed on a project by project base. Artists are selected based on skill on a variety of levels; such as community consultation, design and art making workshops, development of a mural which reflects the interests of the community and creating art pieces on a scale few people have the access to in an environment so challenging.
The work environment can range from small walls at station car parks to sites on platforms or tracks near the overheads where 25000volts course and trains pass nearby, to large construction sites with massive plant and equipment.
Positive pARTnerships contracts child safety accredited artists to work with students in schools and community groups. The program also provides employment for artists on a variety of Queensland Rail property sites varying from small shelter shed projects, holiday art programs, community events to large scale subway and tunnel mural projects.
Interested artists can apply to work on the program by downloading the artist’s application and submitting examples of work.
Current Projects
For a list of current and planned community mural and artwork projects, please see our list of upcoming projects.
This list is updated every 3 months. Please note project timelines may change or are put on hold due to impacts out of our control.
If your school, community group or organisation would like to be apart of the Queensland Rail station beautification program, please email pARTnerships@qr.com.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How big is a mural?
Murals vary in size from small panels (a.500x 500,mm) to large walls, fencing and subway murals spanning over 1800 m. sq.
2. How long does a mural take to paint?
This varies according to scale of the project. The variables include size of mural, number of community groups involved in the consultation process, number of community panels involved in the job.
3. What kind of techniques do your artists use?
Techniques and art disciplines include mosaic, hand painted sculptures, air brushing to painting and trompe l’oeile. Positive pARTnerships is happy to consider most forms of art mediums.
4. How many artists are involved in a mural at one time?
This varies from 1-10 depending on the size and nature of the project
5. How many murals has Positive pARTnerships program done to date?
To date there are 57 stations adorned with artwork across our City network.
6. How many contract artists do you have on your books?
We have a core team of 20 artists to specifically paint large projects within the City network under a safety policy of “ZERO Harm”. We also contract artists external to this on a regular basis to create beautiful and diverse art pieces in conjunction with community.
7. I am an artist who would like to get involved. How do I go about this?
Please email through your details at partnerships@qr.com.au
8. How many schools / community groups have the program worked with?
Our program is community based. We liaise and partner with community on most projects. We aim to give a level of community ownership to community members on each project. Each project would involve consultation in varying degrees with 1-3 community groups.