Balarinji was engaged by Transport for NSW to develop and co-design an integrated public art strategy with local elders, knowledge holders and community-endorsed artists from the Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung Nations for the Woolgoolga to Ballina (W2B) Aboriginal Art Trail – Drive the Songlines.
The W2B project is one Australia’s largest regional infrastructure projects, involving the duplication of 155 kilometres of the Pacific Highway. It involved the design of 18 large art panels on nine bridge overpasses that tell the stories of ancient travel routes (Songlines) Creation Stories, Country and the enduring culture of the Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung Nations.
Balarinji employed its groundbreaking best practice Designing with Country and community collaboration methodology to bring local Aboriginal elders and knowledge holders together to co-design an integrated art strategy. This informed the project’s themes, stories and concepts.
Balarinji worked with 10 community-endorsed artists from Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung Nations to create and deliver the artworks.
