Kiama will come alive with colour in March for the Paint the Town Femme event. Photo: Keeli Royle.
A vibrant public art initiative celebrating and empowering women will take over Kiama next month with Paint the Town Femme one of just 15 events chosen across the state to receive a Women’s Week Grant from the NSW Government.
Public spaces throughout Kiama will be transformed from 2 to 7 March with the creation of murals and unexpected art interventions to engage the community and showcase the region’s artistic talents.
“Art is an impactful means for storytelling, self-expression, and connecting community,” Council Cultural Development Officer Carmelina Nunnari said. “Kiama chose to celebrate Women’s Week through public art to highlight the creative talents of women, transforming shared spaces into vibrant public art.”
Local elder and artist Aunty Jodie Stewart and public artist Claire Foxton will be some of the artists leaving their mark, but there will also be ways for the wider community to participate.
“The project not only empowers female artists by amplifying their voices in public spaces but also invites the broader community to engage with themes of identity, resilience, and collective storytelling, including First Nations,” Carmelina said.
“The community can witness live painting, engage in a creative workshop, and connect with the artists behind the works.
“The event invites everyone to experience art in motion by female artists.”
Artist Claire Foxton will be painting substations like this one outside Kiama Library. Photo: Kiama Municipal Council.
The idea for the event by Kiama Municipal Council came from a community engagement campaign on arts and culture, where there was a repeated desire for more art and murals in the public realm.
And although the event lasts just a few days, the impact will be ongoing.
“Another exciting appeal of this particular public art initiative is its longevity and legacy aspect,” Carmelina said. “Extending beyond Women’s Week ensures that the project’s impact is long-term, creating an ongoing visual celebration of women in the arts.
“These works serve as daily reminders of creativity, strength, and inclusivity in public spaces.”
The event was selected as one of 15 organisations across the state to receive a share of $430,000 from the NSW Government.
The Women’s Week Grants, which have been running since 2018, are designed to fund innovative events that empower women and girls to participate in our communities, to advance gender equality in the longer term.
“Alongside some great activities that focus on women’s health, art and stories, we have funded events we hope will engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the LGBTIQA+ community, women with a disability and women from rural, regional and remote NSW,” NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said.
“We want these events to inspire creativity and talent, empower women of all ages and backgrounds and encourage diversity and inclusion. I encourage everyone to get involved in the events that are planned in your communities.”
The funding boost is vital in helping the small municipal council to make a big impact and celebrate the community through Women’s Week and beyond.
“Funding from the NSW Government enables Paint the Town Femme to commission artists, inject high-quality art into the public realm, and facilitate a creative workshop to engage the community,” Carmelina said. “This support ensures that the project reaches its full potential — celebrating creativity, sparking conversations, and leaving a lasting artistic legacy in Kiama.”
The event will run from 3 March, with details to be made available through the Kiama Municipal Council website closer to the date.
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