Victorian Women’s Public Art Program

The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program aims to address the underrepresentation of women and their achievements through enduring public artworks. Women are systematically underrepresented in public life, with their achievements and contributions historically overlooked.

This is why Our equal state, the Victorian Government’s gender equality strategy, prioritises elevating women’s achievements and supporting women artists through the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program.

The Victorian Women’s Public Art Program is funded by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund and run in partnership with McClelland Sculpture Park + Gallery. McClelland supports contemporary artists to develop, create and present their work, and manages a range of programs to commission artwork.

2025 commissioned artworks

In 2024, organisations were invited to apply for funding under the second round of the program. Thirteen projects were shortlisted to be part of a public engagement process. The Victorian community were invited to have their say on which stories they would most like to see honoured through public artworks.

As a result of the public engagement process, six new public artworks have been commissioned. They will be installed in locations across metropolitan and regional Victoria by early 2026.

Agnes Chambers, Agnes Doig and the Wonthaggi Miners Women’s Auxiliary – a trailblazing collective of striking miners’ wives, who advocated for women’s rights while supporting the miners. (Bass Coast Shire Council)
Aunty Dorothy Peters – a proud Yarra Yarra woman, activist, educator, author and Elder who raised awareness of issues impacting First Nations people. (Knox City Council)
Aunty Margaret (Lilardia) Tucker – a survivor of the Stolen Generation who was a committed activist for Aboriginal rights. (Maribyrnong City Council)
Barbara Rae – the winning captain of the first women’s cricket match held in Australia in 1874 (City of Greater Bendigo)
Louisa Briggs – an Aboriginal rights leader, midwife and nurse who advocated for the rights of displaced First Nations people. (City of Port Phillip)
The Women of Montsalvat – the driving forces behind Montsalvat’s design, construction and culture, who defied the cultural expectations of their day to establish an inclusive artistic community. (Montsalvat Artist Community, Eltham)

Read about the women who have inspired these six new public artworks.

Arts, culture & heritage

Agnes Chambers, Agnes Doig and the Wonthaggi Miners Women’s Auxiliary

The Auxiliary founding members were a group of striking miners’ wives, led by Secretary Agnes Chambers and Agnes Doig.

Arts, culture & heritage

Aunty Dorothy Peters

Aunty Dorothy ‘Dot’ Peters AM was a widely loved and respected Yarra Yarra woman.

Arts, culture & heritage

Aunty Margaret (Lilardia) Tucker MBE

Aunty Margaret Tucker MBE was an activist for Aboriginal rights.

Arts, culture & heritage

Barbara Rae

Barbara Rae was the top scorer and winning captain of the first women’s cricket match held in Australia.

Arts, culture & heritage

Louisa Briggs

Louisa Briggs was a trailblazing Aboriginal rights leader, midwife and nurse.

Arts, culture & heritage

The women of Montsalvat

The women who were the driving force behind Montsalvat’s design, construction and culture.

Previous grant recipients

Equality