Creatives sought to help take the next step in Story Trails project

Calling all creatives – Scenic Rim Regional Council is seeking submissions from artists as the next step towards the completion of the region’s Story Trails project.

After years of working with community groups, museums and individuals to capture more than 800 stories about the Scenic Rim to support the region’s heritage and identity, Council is now calling for artists’ designs for free-standing or wall-mounted story markers that will be installed at significant sites.

The stories will be linked by five key themes of The Natural World, First Nation, Discovery, The 20th Century and the Modern World and successful submitters will be awarded $1000 for each of the five story markers concepts selected for the project.

Scenic Rim Arts Reference Group Chair, Cr Michael Enright, said the Story Trails will link public art and the environment, significant events, and places and people of the Scenic Rim as part of a broader strategy to connect community members and visitors to the region’s heritage.

“The wealth of stories collected through this project is not only important to the people of our region but also fascinating to the many visitors who come to the Scenic Rim each year,” he said.

“The Story Trails will add depth to the Scenic Rim experience for visitors and create a greater sense of community connection for our region’s residents.

“This project has been years in the making and it’s exciting to see it now moving into the design phase.”

While the Natural World and First Nation themes span all time periods, the Discovery, 20th Century and Modern World themes refer to defined periods in the Scenic Rim’s history.

The Natural World will tell the stories of the geology of the land and the formation of the mountain ranges, the rivers systems that flow through the region, its animal and birdlife and its rainforests and national parks.

Stories of the Indigenous people who settled the Scenic Rim - the Mununjali, Ugurapul and Wangerriburra people - and their traditions, families and connection to country will be told in the First Nation theme.

The Pioneer theme will focus on the period from colonial history until 1859 when Queensland became a state, including stories of the early explorers mapping the region, the experiences of convicts and free settlers on arrival in Queensland, the establishment of closer settlements, early transport systems and early townships.

The 20th Century theme will explore the timeframe from 1860 until 1945, with stories of the development towns and cities, migration, federation and the impact of two world wars at home and overseas.

The Modern World Contemporary stories relate to the Scenic Rim in the present, from World War Two to the 2020s.

The five artworks chosen for the story markers will be selected for their artistic vision, quality and originality of design, their suitability in reflecting the chosen theme and their ability to be adapted for fabrication.

The artwork should be stylised and simplified into positive and negative forms - black and white designs.

While digital works are preferred as these simplify the process for fabrication, hand-drawn artworks will be considered in a medium, such as paint, marker or cut paper, that will scan clearly.

Artists have until Monday 31 May to submit their concepts for the story markers.

"The Scenic Rim is renowned for the strength of its creative community and I hope local artists will get behind this project," Cr Enright said.

More information go to http://www.liveatthecentre.com.au/EOI-Story-Marker-Design-pg33202.html