Murray to Mountains
Rail Trail Enhancements

Calling Victorian Artists and residents of Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta

Expressions of Interest now open to help shape the future of the iconic Murray to Mountains Rail Trail.

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project will see the introduction of a series of world-class public art installations, experiences and infrastructure improvements designed to increase visitation by offering one of a kind, “must-see” moments that are engaging, shareable and repeatable.

Through a curatorial lens, the Trail will be transformed into a seamless journey that celebrates local stories and provides meaningful creative opportunities for Victorian artists and First Nations peoples to share their work on a world stage.

This exciting project is being delivered as part of a significant upgrade to the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land the trail sits upon. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise their ongoing spiritual connection to this country.

Opportunities for Local Residents, Community Members & Artists

25-26 November 2023

Residents of Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta are invited to submit their interest to attend a half-day Cultural Symposium in Beechworth where they can contribute stories, thoughts and impressions of the region that may be incorporated into artistic installations along the Trail. This opportunity is not limited to artists and creatives, all locals are encouraged to apply to share their unique perspectives.

Opportunities for Victorian Artists

Commissions from early 2024

There will be multiple paid creative opportunities suitable for Victorian artists and teams with a strong connection to the area who specialise in sculpture, visual arts and related disciplines.

Artists may then have the opportunity to respond to creative briefs aligned with their practice that will be issued from early 2024 with works installed throughout the year.

People of all nationalities, cultural backgrounds, genders and identities are encouraged to apply.

About The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail is the perfect way to discover the diverse and ever-changing landscape of North East Victoria – from natural bushland to verdant farmland, delightfully unexpected hidden valleys and some of Australia’s most spectacular mountain ranges. Along the ride (no matter which leg you choose) you’ll savour some of Australia’s finest gourmet produce, renowned wines, and handcrafted beer. Ride over 100 kilometres of sealed and off-road trails, which provide the perfect link between the popular tourist towns of Wangaratta, Beechworth, Rutherglen, Bright and Myrtleford.
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project project is being delivered by Tourism North East (TNE) and is curated by DAE Global. It will be guided by the Victorian Local Job First Policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cultural Symposium

The Cultural Symposium is a tried and tested way to meaningfully engage with the community, ensuring that the Rail Trail Enhancements are based on relevant, local themes and stories. Over the course of 4.5 hours, attendees will be briefed on the project, connect with others and have the opportunity to share their stories, impressions and aspirations for their region. These ideas are then refined, combined with others and may form the basis for artist briefs which in turn become artistic installations along the Trail.
We want the Rail Trail to reflect the uniqueness of the surrounding community. For that reason, we invite residents and those with a strong connection to the area to participate.

Absolutely. Anyone who lives within or has a close connection to Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire or the Rural City of Wangaratta may respond to the expression of interest. We want to hear from local business owners, residents and anyone with a story to tell.

The Symposium will take place on Saturday 25 November and Sunday 26 November with dedicated sessions for each LGA. Exact timings will be released closer to the date.
The symposium is an in-person experience, invitees are unable to join virtually.
Invitees to the Cultural Symposium will receive a $250 voucher in consideration of their time.
No. There is a separate expression of interest for Victorian Artist Commissions and Symposium attendance will not affect the selection of Artists to execute the project.

Enquiries can be made via email to info@murraytomountains.com.au

Please note, all expressions of interest submissions must be made via the online form.

Victorian Artist Submissions

All submissions must be made through the expression of interest online platform in fairness to other artists. If necessary, we will contact you directly to gather more information or detail regarding your work.

You are welcome to submit work from multiple genres – but each submission must be done separately nominating the specific genre it is applicable to. This will assist with the evaluation process and ensure you are considered for future creative briefs.
Artists will be remunerated based on the size and complexity of the work. Further details will be provided in individual Artist Briefs that will be released in early 2024 and artists will be contracted by Tourism North East for each commission.

Enquiries can be made via email to info@murraytomountains.com.au

Please note, all expressions of interest submissions must be made via the online form.

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project

The High Country aspires to offer the best rail trail network in the Southern Hemisphere. The Murray to Mountains Enhancements project was developed to assist the High Country in realising this vision.

Developed in 2016, the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements Project, which includes the development and installation of public art, landscaping, improved amenity options and new commercial opportunities along the trail, looks to effectively establish the region’s rail trail network as an authentic, iconic tourism product, central to delivering strong outcomes for the local visitor economy.

The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail has been prioritised for these installations because it is the most established trail with the highest market awareness levels. It has a strong point of difference as it travels through many towns and villages and enjoys the amenity of cafes, accommodations, parks and facilities en route.

The project aims to:

  • Make the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail the preeminent rail trail in the Southern Hemisphere
  • Drive repeat visitation and advocacy for the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail through enhancing the visitor experience
  • Inspire, delight, encourage talkability and social shareability as to position the Murray to Mountains Trail as a ‘must do’ accessible cycling experience to domestic and international audiences.
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements will roll out in phases throughout 2024 with anticipated completion by mid-2025.
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements will be placed along the trail at sites in the Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta. A full precinct map and details of each site will be released with Artist Briefs in early 2024.
The Murray to Mountains Rail Trail Enhancements are being delivered by Tourism North East (TNE) in consultation with the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Alpine Shire, Indigo Shire and the Rural City of Wangaratta with funding by the Victorian State Government. The project is curated by DAE Victoria (David Atkins Enterprises), producers of White Night Melbourne, Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong 2017-2019.

Tourism North East (TNE) is the Regional Tourism Board for Victoria’s High Country, which encompasses the Shires of Alpine, Murrindindi, Benalla, Indigo, Mansfield, Towong, Wangaratta, and the three major alpine resorts of Falls Creek, Mt Buller and Mt Hotham.

Tourism North East is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that represents a partnership between Local Government, the Victorian Alpine Resorts, Visit Victoria and industry and is charged with developing the strategic tourism direction for the High Country, uniting its diverse stakeholder base in a common development path to optimise visitor economy outcomes.

This work includes delivering a broad range of strategic supply and demand tourism initiatives, including regional marketing, product development, strategic planning, industry development, investment prioritisation, research and advocacy.

These efforts focus on the High Country’s five recognised product strengths in cycle, snow, nature-based tourism, food/drinks and arts/cultural heritage.

Key updates will be communicated via social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.

Enquiries can be made via email to info@murraytomountains.com.au

Please note, all expressions of interest submissions must be made via the online form.