A new mural is taking shape – before the paint goes on.

Artists are invited to dream up a new splash of colour for one of Tauranga’s most visible city centre walls.

What will people see from the new Creation Station when they look across Willow St?

That’s one of the questions for artists to answer when they submit designs for a large-scale mural at 117 Willow St, beside the entrance to Wāihirere Lane and directly opposite the new Tauranga Library.

The wall will be particularly visible from the new Creation Station at Te Manawataki o Te Papa, making it one of the first public art opportunities to emerge alongside the developing civic precinct.

The view of the mural wall from across the road at Creation Station in the new city library Te Manawataki o Te Papa. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

Creative Bay of Plenty strategy and capability lead Annie Hill said the site offers artists an opportunity to respond to a changing part of the city.

“This is a particularly significant opportunity for an artist to create a work that will sit at the heart of Tauranga’s transformation,” Hill said.

“The mural has the potential to become an important visual connection between the lane, the library and the wider Te Manawataki o Te Papa civic precinct.

“For the successful artist, it is an opportunity to create a bold, innovative, and enduring work that will be seen by thousands of people and contribute to the cultural identity and experience of Tauranga’s evolving city centre.”

There was no prescribed design for the mural. Artists were encouraged to take inspiration from the surrounding landscape, local stories, the site itself or the wider city centre development.

They are also asked to consider the wall’s relationship with the new library and how the work might complement existing murals around Wāihirere Lane and the rear of the Pollett Legal building.

The wall is not new to public art. In 2020 it featured Taiohi, a mural by Irish artist Fin DAC (Finbarr Notte), depicting a masked wāhine standing over the whenua of her ancestors. The mural was later removed when the wall required treatment. The wall had since been waterproofed and repainted, ready for its next artistic chapter.

The wall previously featured Taiohi, a mural by Irish artist Fin DAC painted in 2020 which depicted a masked wāhine standing over the whenua of her ancestors. Photo/ Keren Harris

Hill said the building’s owner-manager would prefer a design covering the lower half of the wall and the higher vertical section on the right, although artists could propose a larger-scale treatment if their concept calls for it.

“Public art has an important role to play in creating places that feel vibrant, welcoming and connected to their communities, bringing creativity into everyday spaces and inviting people to pause, look, interpret, and engage with the place around them.

“Through our involvement in more than 20 public artworks across the city centre, we have seen the value these works can bring to the urban environment and to the creative community.

The building owner/manager prefers a mural that will run along the lower half of the wall, as well as the higher vertical area on the right-hand side. However, if an artist has a design that might cover more than this for best effect, Creative Bay of Plenty are keen to see the concept.

“This mural provides another opportunity to build on that work, adding a distinctive, high-quality artwork to the Te Manawataki o Te Papa precinct and creating a shared point of connection.”

The project is expected to take place in late 2026 or early 2027 but was dependent on funding.

The building owner/manager plans to apply to Tauranga City Council’s contestable Public Art Fund and seek other sponsorship once an artist was selected.

Artists have until 12pm September 30 to submit a concept, description, quote and budget, examples of previous work, estimated completion time and availability for December or January.

The full artist brief is available from Creative Bay of Plenty. Proposals and questions can be sent to Annie Hill at: [email protected]