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.
EOI: Inflatable Artwork Commissions
We’re inviting emerging artists, illustrators and designers who are keen to expand their practice into large‑scale public artworks to submit an EOI. This opportunity is ideal for creatives interested in working at festival scale and exploring inflatable artworks as a new medium.
About the Opportunity
City of Parramatta will commission two (2) artists (individuals or groups) to design new inflatable artworks for presentation at Parramatta Lanes 2026.
Selected artists will be supported throughout the commissioning process by Parramatta Lanes’ Visual Arts Producer, who will assist with fabrication coordination, installation planning and technical delivery.
Artists will focus on the creative development and design of their inflatable artwork, working closely with the Parramatta Lanes team to ensure each work is suitable for the medium, site conditions, budget and festival context. This includes collaboration on final 3D design concepts and technical documentation required for fabrication.
This pilot commissioning program supports artists stepping into large-scale public art for the first time, offering mentorship, professional guidance and hands-on experience within a high-profile, high-foot-traffic festival environment. Proposed designs should be visually striking, playful and engaging, with strong consideration of audience experience and site specificity.
The program offers a rare opportunity to realise large‑scale work, expand audiences, and gain hands‑on experience delivering a commissioned artwork within a major public arts event.
Successful applicants will receive an artist fee of up to $5,000 per artwork. All production and manufacturing costs will be covered by Parra Lanes.
The completed artwork will remain owned by the artist, supporting opportunities for future touring, re-presentation or hire to other festivals and events.
This project is supported by the Create NSW Arts and Cultural Funding Program.
View examples of inflatable artworks previously presented at Parramatta Lanes:
- Haein Kim ‘Summer Kim’ photo, 2025. Photo: James Horan
- Haein Kim ‘Summer Kim’ photo, 2025. Photo: James Horan
- Samuel Kim & Lawrence Liang 'Otto & Anina’, 2024. Photo: James Horan.
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
Festival Footprints
To get a sense of possible artwork locations, please click here to see the 2025 festival footprint. We're keen to hear your thoughts on where your artwork would best live within the festival: be it in the heart of Parramatta Square, within an empty shopfront, over a floor of Eat Street Carpark or on Lennox Bridge overlooking the Parramatta River - or a site we have yet to consider.
