Pole position for Believe Housing Australia’s customers

Believe Housing Australia customers have been hard at work commissioning and designing art for the community in Elizabeth Vale.

Several safety bollards and poles have been painted with art by Believe Housing Australia community housing tenants over the past eight months. This initiative is part of the Community Development Place Making strategy for the area.

Windmills, a rainbow iguana, pink gerberas and native animals painted with their names as spoken by First Nations people are among the hand-painted work that’s turned these suburban poles into vertical street art.

The artwork was recognised recently at a community event to celebrate upgrades to the garden area and installation of the art poles. Six local tenants and partners were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions in designing, painting, installing and management of the art poles.

Among them is Anthony – a retiree who likes to spend his time helping the community at Believe Housing Australia’s Elizabeth Vale housing.

“I painted some of the poles and sent them off to be put together,” Anthony said.

He said he was a little hesitant about getting involved at the start. “It’s the first time I’ve painted in my entire life. I’m not scared to do a job. If I don’t know it, then I’ll learn it.”

Design of the artworks was supported by Stephanie, owner of Hands on Creativity, through Believe Housing Australia.

“It was an amazing space, and we talked about what we can do here, and we decided on constructing the art poles,” Stephanie said.

“It doesn’t have to be fancy; you don’t have to be an artist – you just need to have a go,” she said.

The project – which normally takes a year to finalise – was completed in eight months.

Believe Housing Australia customer Taryn turned her front room into an art studio.

“I have chronic pain, so I’d go in the front room and paint if I couldn’t sleep,” Taryn said.