Chorus is once again working with Whakatāne District Council to extend its cabinet art programme in the district and is calling for designs from local artists.
Three cabinets, one each in Whakatāne, Matatā and Edgecumbe, have been chosen for beautification and artists are encouraged to get their designs in.
Last year Chorus partnered with Whakatāne District Council to bring art works to Whakātane and Ōhope and now is looking to extend this to other towns in the district.
Three cabinets were painted in 2020, two in Whakatāne and one in Ōhope.
Chorus Community Relations Manager Jo Seddon says it makes sense to partner with local councils, as they know their communities best.
"It is great to work with local councils when it comes to choosing cabinets and designs," she says.
"Whakatāne District Council has nominated the three cabinets and we’re really looking forward to seeing what local artists come up with."
These cabinets become works of art in the street, often telling stories about the communities in which they are located, and help to discourage tagging.
Council Reserves Planner Kayla Warren will be co-ordinating designs and artists and says it's a great opportunity for artists to showcase their talents to not only the local community but also the wider world.
"This is a win-win for our communities. Not only do we get fantastic art works in our streetscape, but also it provides work and promotion of our local artists," she says.
Requests for designs are now open and the winning design for each cabinet will be chosen from entries received. Entries close on 1 September 2021.
Information can be found on Chorus' dedicated webpage.
All finished art will be included on the Chorus website and will be considered for the 2022 Chorus Cabinet Art calendar, copies of which are sent around the world.