In partnership with Living Links, the City of Greater Dandenong secured a $150,000 grant from VicHealth to deliver the Aboriginal art trail. Working closely with Aboriginal Peoples and the broader community, the project co created seven place based public artworks along a 22km section of the Dandenong Creek Trail between Heathmont and Dandenong. This built on the success of the ‘Spreading the Message’ artwork completed by Aboriginal artist Ian Harrison at Tirhatuan Park (Dandenong North) in April 2020.
The arts trail project was motivated by a desire to:
•        foster a deep connection to place, nature and community, improving health and wellbeing for participants and visitors;
•        draw inspiration from traditional Aboriginal cultural values while celebrating perspectives from our contemporary multicultural community; and
•        increase use and appreciation of the Dandenong Creek Trail, creating a regional attraction that delivers health and wellbeing benefits.
Early stages of the project focused on close consultation with Aboriginal Peoples to understand their ideas and aspirations. Opportunities for broader community involvement were then provided as the project progressed.
The Dandenong Creek Arts Trail was one of seven initiatives funded through VicHealth’s Everyday Creativity grants program, supporting community access to arts and cultural participation. VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio noted that projects like the arts trail help address barriers to creative engagement and support healthier, more connected communities, particularly in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic.