More inspiring women will be honoured in public art across the state and Victorians, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, get the opportunity to vote and select the final artworks.
Women Minister Natalie Hutchins visited Garden Square at Melbourne Park, the home of the Australian Open, to announce a second round of the landmark Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.
“Women’s accomplishments and contributions to history are so often undervalued, forgotten or purposefully erased, and we’re changing that,” Ms Hutchins said.
“I was honoured to be able to unveil amazing public art last year celebrating the achievements of remarkable Victorian women, and I can’t wait to see the important stories uncovered this year.”
The state government said this program will make sure the significant contributions of Victorian women are better represented and recognised.
Former champion tennis player Judy Dalton has been honoured with a statue in Australia’s home of tennis.
Dalton helped pave the way for women’s professional tennis and the foundation of the Women’s Tennis Association.
She is one of nine women who broke away from the male tennis establishment to form their own tour in 1970.
In 2023, six new public art works were unveiled across the state, celebrating women such as journalist, comedian and disability rights advocate Stella Young and equal pay campaigner Zelda D’Aprano.
Women are still hugely underrepresented in statues, sculptures and other art in our public spaces, the state government said.
The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program aims to address this by funding projects that pay tribute to women who have made a lasting impact on Victoria’s culture, history and development.
The second round of the Women’s Public Art Program will include a public engagement process, where Victorians will be able to learn the stories behind the proposed artworks and vote for the final ones.
