Parramatta Lanes Art EOI - Inflatable Artwork Commissions
City of Parramatta is seeking expressions of interest from emerging artists for the commission of an inflatable art installation to be presented at Parramatta Lanes 2026.
EOIs close 24 May.
Parramatta Lanes is a multi-site festival that seeks to temporarily transform urban spaces in the Parramatta CBD by reimagining them as themed outdoor food and entertainment sites, activating new spaces for art installations, music, and performance work.
Parramatta Lanes was conceived and delivered for the first time in 2012 and 4 event sites were included in the inaugural event. Since then, the festival has grown into a key event on the Western Sydney calendar and now includes multiple sites and attracted over 330,000 people last year.
What we're looking for
Parramatta Lanes aims to support high-quality, meaningful, interactive, and innovative visual and/or performance-based works that truly engage and affect Lanes attendees. Because of the large geographical footprint and visitor scale, works should visibly standout, capture interest and draw attention. The work must be appealing and effective in both day and night conditions and be suitable for outdoor presentation.
All disciplines are eligible, including (but not limited to): structural interactive art installation; inflatable artworks; digital installation; light installation; physical/visual mobile street performance; puppetry; immersive theatrical experiences; dance; movement; physical theatre and performance art.
Click the artists below for examples of previous Parramatta Lanes artworks
- Legs on the Wall, Ascend, 2025
- Skunk Control, Sanctuary, 2025
- EJ Son, ‘Dancing Teddy 2.0’, 2023. Photo: Cassandra Hannagan.
- HOSSEI, ‘Bubble Fever’, 2022. Photo: Cassandra Hannagan.
Key Considerations
- Artworks are temporary and will not become permanent installations
- Works should aim to engage festival patrons, create immersive experiences, and invite contemplation
- Proposals should consider audience interaction, as well as patron access and flow through busy event sites
- Lighting, sound (if applicable), footprint and spatial requirements must be clearly identified
- Festival hours span afternoon daylight, dusk and night—works should remain legible and engaging across shifting light conditions
- Most sites are exposed to the elements; artworks must withstand variable weather conditions
- An installation manager will be appointed to work with artists on lighting and technical solutions
- Artist fee is up to $5,000 per artwork (not per individual) and covers creative development and artist time
- Public liability, risk assessments and approvals will be managed in consultation with the City of Parramatta and Parramatta Lanes team.
- For this program, emerging artists may include those within the first 5–10 years of practice or artists who have not previously delivered a large scale public artwork.
- Applicants must provide a clear, practical description of their proposed artwork, including themes, materials, power requirements, footprint, audience experience, and relevance to Parramatta Lanes (max. 250 words)
Artist Engagement & Promotion
In addition to creative delivery, selected artists will be required to participate in the following activities:
- Availability for a content shoot day coordinated by Parramatta Lanes for promotion and documentation
- Sharing a minimum of two (2) posts on artist’s social media channels promoting their artwork and its presentation at Parramatta Lanes (guidance provided)
- Participation in a public‑facing networking or meet‑and‑greet event during the festival
Artwork Locations
- Eat Street Carpark (All Levels available)
- Centenary Square
- Parramatta Square
- Church Street
- George Street
- Empty stores in Civic Arcade (48 George Street)
- Empty Stores on Church Street
- Lennox Bridge/Parramatta River
- Any other location, business rooftop or storefront in the event footprint. (With owner's permission organised by artist and Parra Lanes Visual Arts Producer).
