Public art mentoring

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Public art mentoring *

public art mentoring (P.A.M.)

The T Projects annual Public Art Mentoring (P.A.M.) Program is a series of weekly seminars designed to provide artists with a comprehensive understanding of the people, processes and opportunities involved in public art commissioning. Specially designed to guide artists through every stage of the commissioning journey, the program offers practical insights into how public art projects are conceived, developed, procured and delivered.

Through a structured program of seminars, T Projects brings together leading industry professionals and subject matter experts to share their knowledge, experiences and perspectives. Participants gain valuable insights into the roles of commissioners, curators, architects, landscape architects, project managers, fabricators and artists, while exploring real-world case studies and precedent projects.

The People and Process Seminar Series is focused on knowledge sharing and professional development, providing artists with direct access to industry expertise in a supportive group mentoring environment. By exploring all stages of public art commissioning, the program helps participating artists build confidence, develop industry knowledge, and better position themselves to pursue public art opportunities.

When: Every Wednesday at 5pm AEST from 1st July to 26th August 2026.

Duration: Experts from each specialism present for approximately 45 mins to 1 hour, followed by a Q&A session.

Where: Online or hybrid

Costs: $650 including all nine weekly seminars, access to presentations & recordings, project templates, resources and reading list.

**Fees are non-refundable once the program commences.

To apply fill out the form and submit via Dropbox or OneDrive

Ten images of your work submitted as individual image files
Artists CV

Applications deadline - 17th June 2026

Successful applicants will be notified by the 24th of July 2026.
Places are limited and will be allocated based on application assessments.

meet your instructors

chris chow

Chris Chow is the founder and Managing Partner of Creative Lawyers. He specialises in advising clients on contractual, commercial and intellectual property matters in the entertainment and creative industries. Chris has spent his entire career working with clients involved in music, film, TV, games/software, content and otherwise creative endeavours, helping them achieve practical solutions, protect their rights and assist in dispute resolution. Chris founded the firm in 2012, and it has since become a one-stop-shop for clients in the entertainment and creative industries. Having once been an opera singer and musician himself, Chris gets creatives and they get him. Chris likes to think of it this way: he works in the entertainment & creative industries as a lawyer, rather than being a lawyer who has clients in the entertainment and creative industries – it’s a subtle, but important distinction.

Craig Guthrie

Craig is a landscape architect and urban designer with 25 years' experience working in Melbourne, China and the Middle East.

He is passionate about cities and how they function and are lived in. Improving movement and liveability are driving forces in his approach to large scale master planning, as well as the detailed design of spaces and streets.

Craig is well known for his work in urban transport having worked on many successful city shaping projects. He believes that improved transport systems that are coordinated with land use planning objectives, can be catalysts for development and renewal. At a local scale, Craig’s approach to the design of streets, and precincts prioritises the needs of people - walking, cycling, and taking public transport. He is committed to the notion that good design unlocks the potential of place by increasing the capacity of urban streets - providing multi-dimensional spaces for a variety of activities which support urban life.

Nick Adams

Nick is a multidisciplinary design engineer and senior Project Director with wide ranging experience across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. He leads Arup's Regional Healthcare business and has a background across workplace, education, property, arts, sport, health, and civic spaces. Passionate about good design, Nick is skilled in bringing diverse teams together to deliver integrated design, drawing on experience from 25 years in commercial building design and delivery. Having declared a climate emergency, Nick is committed to making every one of Arup's projects more sustainable. A mechanical engineer by training, Nick's background is in design of building services systems, passive building design and building energy performance.

Nick served on the Airah Victoria committee for seven years and President for two, providing communication, advocacy and education within the HVAC industry. He also served on the PCA Social Infrastructure committee for two years, where he enjoyed contributing to shaping the future direction of this important sector.

Elishia Whitchurch

Elishia Whitchurch joined UAP in 2007 and brings over 15 years of experience collaborating with artists and creatives on a wide range of projects across diverse budgets, materials, and contexts. Her work spans both public and private realms globally, where she plays a key role in helping artists deliver ambitious and meaningful outcomes.

Elishia was pivotal in establishing & managing UAP’s design studio in Shanghai, where she lived with her family for five years. Upon returning to Brisbane, she led the local design team for three years, continuing to shape the studio’s creative direction and project delivery.

In her current role as Principal, Elishia partners closely with artists and clients to deliver successful, impactful works. She has delivered a range of significant works both in Australia and internationally.

Elishia holds a Bachelor of Product Design from Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art

Owen Craven

Owen Craven brings over 20 years of expertise in the visual arts sector to his role as a contributor to the Public Art Mentorship Program. As Director at UAP, he drives strategic growth and creates transformative opportunities in public art by fostering innovative partnerships that connect visionary artists with platforms to enhance public spaces and cultural landscapes.

During his nine years as Managing Principal and Senior Curator at Urban Arts Projects (UAP), he led Curatorial, Design, and Business Development teams across Australia and the Middle East. Under his leadership, UAP expanded from its Brisbane headquarters to establish successful studios in Sydney and Melbourne while developing a thriving consultancy practice.

His previous role as Managing Director at Ames Yavuz provided valuable insights into curatorial programming and exhibition development, further enriching his comprehensive approach to public art projects.

George Huon

George is a principal of BKK with 20 years’ experience in architecture and urban design. He takes hands-on leadership roles in BKK projects that are cultural, urban-design, masterplanning, infrastructure and public.

George also has a background and qualification in fine arts and has led BKK collaborations with artists. These include Wellspring, Our Tree House and The Welcome Arch, all with Louise Paramor.

As well, George’s design work for the new Whitehorse Performing Arts Centre has included incorporating a stained-glass window from a demolished local arts facility.

George has substantial experience with complex user groups and multiple client structures, and a good knowledge of government and authority requirements. This helps him navigate the processes involved in bringing public art to fruition.

Roland Henry

Roland Henry is the Public Art & Collections Officer at Wyndham City Council. With over 20 years’ experience in curation, publishing, and project management in the contemporary urban art field, Roland brings his specialist knowledge to the delivery of Wyndham’s ambitious and progressive public art plan. Previously, Roland has worked with many high-profile artists and brands across the globe, including managing leading street art publication, VNA Magazine, and curating the world’s first urban art museum, Urban Nation, in Berlin. Past projects encompass a diverse portfolio of high-profile international clients, such as Sony, Google, Artshub, easyJet, The Guardian US, WSP, Hypebeast, and Grande Experiences.

Monica Davidson

Simon Knott

Simon is a principal of BKK. He leads architectural and multi-disciplinary teams on a range of projects from home extensions to major infrastructure.

He is a recognised leader in the architectural community for his strong urban design focus and broad architectural experience.

Simon has been a leader in many projects involving public artwork such as the new Refik Anadol Studio commission Wind of Lilydale at Lilydale Railway Station and the iconic Building 17 façade at Monash University with Callum Morton. He worked recently with Wadawurrung artists to incorporate original drawings into the shared-user path and balustrades of a new bridge along Barwon Heads Road near Geelong.

Simon has worked extensively in design advocacy. This has included presenting to governments, stakeholders and approval bodies in support of public artworks. It has also been through his many roles in broadcast and print media, and formally in government contexts such as the Office of the Victorian Government Architect Design Review Panel.

Simon has led design-studio courses for architecture students at Monash and RMIT Universities. He has been a guest lecturer at the Universities of Melbourne and Tasmania.

Tegan Lang

Tegan Lang is the Team Leader of Arts and Culture at Wyndham City. She leads an ambitious team delivering gallery, public art, policy and arts development programs in Melbourne’s outer west.

Tegan has over 15 years experience working in the arts, in community settings, local and state government and both micro and federally funded arts organisations. In 2023 she lectured for Deakin University’s MBA Arts & Culture Management students on Arts Fundraising and Sponsorship. She has a strong interest in arts development in growth areas and the role of people, policy and spaces to build relevant and representative audiences and programs. Her experience in public art includes commissioning works within regional and urban settings to engage and surprise the community and to align with recovery and site renewal objectives.

Victoria Jones

Victoria has worked in the creative industries in the UK and Australia for over 20 years. She has led the commissioning of over 100 site specific art commissions, managed large art collections, devised participatory programs, curated multiple exhibition spaces, programmed regular events and performances etc and developed the required creative strategies to support these. Victoria has extensive experience of working within complex environments with diverse teams, having led creative projects for Transport for London, the National Health Service, Melbourne Metro Tunnel & the Level Crossing Removal Project.

Victoria is a firm believer in the power of collaboration and has brokered partnerships with some amazing organisations including Amnesty International, The British Museum, Arts Centre Melbourne, Ausdance, Central Saint Martins, London Transport Museum, The British Library and The Royal Ballet amongst others.

Victoria’s work has received awards & accolades, including the International Academy for Design & Health, the Building Better Healthcare Awards, the Institute of Medical Illustrators Awards and the Royal Society for Public Health.

Victoria enjoys creating new projects and programs from scratch including - the Creative Communities program for London Underground, GO Create! at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the ARCH creative program for Royal Children’s Hospital.

Vipoo Srivilasa

Over a career spanning more than 20 years, Thai-born, Melbourne-based artist, Vipoo Srivilasa has created intricate and elaborate artworks that reflect his bicultural experience living between Australia and Thailand.

Working predominantly in ceramics, though his expansive practice also incorporates mediums of paper, mix media, bronze, public art and performance art. Vipoo’s works celebrate the intersections and overlaps between our cultural, social, philosophical, and environmental ideologies with a mix of playfully and reverence, iconography and ornamentalism. He created works that are accessible, positive and beautiful.

An important aspect of Vipoo’s practice is his collaborations and work as an activist to create opportunities for cultural exchange between artists and diverse communities and invite further engagement with cross-cultural and migration experience.

Vipoo holds a Master of Fine Art and Design from the University of Tasmania. His work is represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Australia, the Art Gallery of South Australia, Queensland Art Gallery and Shepparton Art Museum amongst others. Vipoo was awarded the 2021 Ceramic Artist of the Year by The American Ceramic Society, USA.