Expressions of Interest – Parramatta Lanes: Auctioneer Lane Artist Mural

Background

Parramatta Lanes is the Parramatta’s flagship annual festival, transforming streets, laneways, and carparks across the Parramatta CBD into vibrant food, music, performance and public art destinations. As the festival continues to grow, public artworks play an important role in shaping the identity of individual sites, supporting wayfinding, creating moments of discovery and adding long-term cultural value to the city centre.

Auctioneer Lane is a key urban site within the Parramatta CBD and has the potential to become a highly visible canvas for a new mural that reflects the energy, diversity and creative character of Parramatta.  

Auctioneer Lane is positioned along the emerging Civic Link which will connect Parramatta Station, with the new Metro Station and the Powerhouse Museum.  

This EOI seeks proposals from artists with strong mural, public art or placemaking experience who can deliver a visually striking artwork suitable for a busy public environment.

About the Opportunity

City of Parramatta will commission an artist, artist collective or creative organisation to create a mural artwork for Auctioneer Lane. The successful applicant will work with Council to refine their concept, confirm site requirements and deliver the final artwork within the agreed timeframe, budget and approvals process.

The mural artwork will be commissioned as part of Parramatta Lanes with the successful artist working on and completing the mural during the Parramatta Lanes event hours. Wednesday 21 October – Saturday 24 October 5pm – 10.30pm.

The mural should contribute to the visual identity of Auctioneer Lane and support the broader creative vision of Parramatta Lanes and the Parramatta CBD.

Proposals should be original, site-responsive and suitable for all ages, with concepts that reflect Western Sydney, Parramatta’s communities, local stories, contemporary urban culture and/or the festival spirit encouraged.

What We Are Looking For

• A high-quality mural concept that is visually bold, engaging and appropriate for a public-facing CBD location.
• An artwork that responds to Auctioneer Lane, Parramatta and/or Western Sydney in a meaningful way.
• A concept that can be delivered safely, practically and within the agreed project budget and timeline.
• A durable mural designed to remain in good condition in an outdoor urban environment.
• An artwork that enhances the visitor experience, supports the vibrancy of the area and contributes to the long-term character of Parramatta’s public realm.
• Mural will be delivered as part of Parramatta Lanes, including live art demonstrations by the artist throughout all activation hours of Parramatta Lanes. 

Location

The location of the mural will be in Auctioneer Lane, to the right of the Eat Street Carpark. The wall is a brick wall and is approximately 4.1m wide and 13.8 high. 

Key Considerations

Artists should consider the scale, sightlines, pedestrian movement and surrounding built environment of Auctioneer Lane.

The mural must be suitable for all ages and appropriate for presentation in a public civic environment.

No brand advertising, sponsorship messaging or commercial logos are permitted within the mural artwork.

Artists must be available for concept refinement, site meetings, approvals, installation and any required documentation within the project timeline.

Artist must be available throughout Parramatta Lanes (21–24 October 2026) and will be required to undertake live painting of the mural during festival operating hours, including any finishing touches, or any other creative activations that enhance the visitor experience. The mural must be fully completed by Saturday 24 October 2026.

Submitting an EOI does not guarantee selection. City of Parramatta reserves the right to commission outside of this EOI process where required. Submissions will not be accepted after 31st August.

Council to provide: access equipment (as required), traffic management, exclusion zone fencing, security (for installation period).

Artist to provide: surface preparation (including buffing and preparing the wall), artwork execution, and on-site safety measures relating to their work area (e.g. exclusion zones where required).

Artist Fee and Budget

Artist Fee and Budget

The successful applicant will be provided with an artist fee of $32,500 ex GST.

Shortlisted applicants will be a provided a fee of $3000 ex GST to develop their concept.

Parramatta Lanes will also cover costs for materials and installation equipment exact costs will be confirmed following concept review and budget approval.  

Access equipment, such as a scissor lift will be provided by City of Parramatta. Successful artist should have relevant licences or provide an operator as required. 

Revisions and Refinement

Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide a detailed budget, methodology and installation plan before final confirmation.

Shortlisted applicants will receive a fee of $3000 and will be required to provide there design concept by 4th September. Shortlisted applicants may be given feedback and ask to refine artwork once. Final design due 25th September.

Selection Criteria

A selection panel made up of representatives from City of Parramatta will assess all eligible submissions. Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Artistic calibre, originality and strength of the proposed concept.
2. Suitability of the artwork for Auctioneer Lane and the broader Parramatta CBD context.
3. Relevance to Parramatta, Western Sydney, local communities and/or the Parramatta Lanes creative vision.
4. Demonstrated capacity to deliver a durable mural artwork safely, on time and within budget.
5. Experience delivering murals, public art, placemaking or comparable large-scale visual projects.
6. Artist holds or is able to obtain Public Liability Insurance. 

Indicative Timeline