Lightbox Lane Lismore 2027: Four $560 Public Art Spots for Local Digital Artists and Photographers
Four local artists sought for Lismore's February 2027 Lightbox Lane display
Lismore City Council in New South Wales, Australia, is inviting Expressions of Interest for the February 2027 edition of Lightbox Lane, its twice-yearly public-art initiative. The programme turns a shared urban space into an evolving gallery, featuring visual work that reflects the creativity and cultural identity of the Lismore region. The current EOI opened on 12 October 2026 and closes on 23 November 2026.
Four artists will be selected, and each will receive an artist fee of AUD 560, including GST. The council will handle reproduction, printing and installation of selected works and feature the artists in its communications and at the public launch. The opportunity is therefore a paid public exhibition commission for selected participants, not a cash-prize contest for everyone who submits a concept.
Digital art and photography are eligible when the result can be printed
The council explicitly invites applicants working across painting, photography, digital art and mixed media, provided the imagery can be translated into a large-format printed display. This is a useful option for digital illustrators, image-based mixed-media artists, photographic storytellers and emerging artists with strong visual compositions. Digital production methods are acceptable, but the final public presentation uses professionally printed artwork.
It is important not to mistake the programme for a new-media installation that automatically offers motion-video playback, projection mapping, screens or interactive sensors. A still from a moving-image project may be a suitable image if the artist has the rights and it works at the required print scale, but the official EOI does not promise video equipment or technical support for interactive software. The selected artists will receive the actual print specifications after selection.
A locally focused invitation, including students and recent graduates
Lightbox Lane is framed around Lismore's creative community and invites local artists, emerging and established creative practitioners, art students and recent graduates. The published call does not present itself as a worldwide residency programme or promise travel and accommodation for overseas applicants. Its stated focus is on artwork and cultural identity connected to the Lismore region.
The public overview does not set out a precise postcode boundary, a minimum period of residence or an explicit citizenship test. Applicants with an uncertain connection to Lismore should therefore ask the organisers whether they qualify rather than inventing a strict geographical rule. The invitation is open to a range of artistic media, as long as the work is compatible with printed public display.
Artwork themes: interpreting the character and culture of Lismore
The organisers encourage work that responds to the qualities of Lismore and its surrounding region. Potential points of departure include its natural environment, endemic wildlife, music and live performance, gatherings and community stories, wellbeing, sustainable agriculture, or unexpected ways of seeing familiar places. The EOI deliberately permits abstraction and does not require each topic to be illustrated literally.
For example, a digitally assembled image could explore local waterways through colour and texture, while a photographic sequence might focus on overlooked details in community spaces. Those are creative examples rather than specified mandatory subjects. The important consideration is to connect a distinctive, original visual language with a clear reason why this work would make sense in a shared public space.
Selection, fees and production support
The council will assess submissions for artistic quality, originality and practical feasibility, particularly whether an image can be adapted for large-format printing and public display. Four selected artists will each be paid AUD 560 including GST, a fee the council states is aligned with the National Association for the Visual Arts payment standard for public art. Artists who submit but are not selected do not receive that payment merely for applying.
Printing, installation and the logistics of public display will be managed by Lismore City Council. Selected artists will need to provide an invoice for the agreed artist fee and will receive guidance on preparing final artwork. The public announcement does not give a separate cash budget for every artist's materials or guarantee payment of travel expenses. These details should not be inferred from the included printing service.
Required EOI materials: concise writing and up to four images
Applicants should prepare their name, contact details and a short artist biography, as well as a brief artwork description of no more than 300 words. The form accepts up to four proposed artwork concepts or portfolio samples and relevant links to prior work. These requirements make it possible to explain a new project while also demonstrating artistic ability through existing pieces.
A proposal will be stronger when the submitted imagery is easy to assess at a glance and the description identifies the central artistic idea, local relevance and suitability for the display setting. Digital artists should maintain full-resolution working files and check any permissions needed for incorporated photography, graphics or other source materials. This is practical advice, not an additional formal submission condition.
The 2026–27 timetable and the two-week finishing window
Expressions of Interest opened on 12 October 2026 and close on 23 November 2026. The panel is scheduled to review submissions between 25 November and 2 December, with artists notified between 2 and 9 December 2026. The public launch of the February 2027 edition is scheduled for 12 February 2027.
Selected artists will then be given a dedicated two-week production period to finalise files for printing and installation. This preparation window is distinct from the application period: artists do not need to deliver a final large-format print before the panel makes its decision. The council will provide technical specifications, including size and resolution, after selection, so it is prudent not to invent finished dimensions from a generic image mock-up.
How to submit through Lismore City Council
Applications go through the Expression of Interest form linked on the council's Your Say Lismore project page. That page is the primary source for the current call, selection criteria, supported media, payment and schedule. Use the form labelled 'Lightbox Lane Public Art Exhibition – Expression of Interest – February 2027', and submit the required materials before the 23 November 2026 closing date.
Official announcement and application form: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/lightbox-lane-public-art-program-artist-eoi-february-2027 . Lismore City Council creative industries information: https://www.lismore.nsw.gov.au/Business/Business-support/Creative-industries . Contact: Sierra Bell at gpevents@lismore.nsw.gov.au. Any changes to the deadline, terms or submission process should be checked on the council's current page before applying.