The Drain Street Art Project emerged from a thirteen-year-old artist-run initiative called tbC. Melbourne Water and Victoria’s Department of Environment and Primary Industries commissioned tbC to devise drain art projects to raise awareness around the fact that drain systems in Belgrave and Melbourne’s CBD flush unfiltered water directly into local river systems. Melbourne Water funded the painting of 10 drain lids in the township of Belgrave to remind local community members about the environmental effects stormwater rubbish has on dwindling local platypus populations. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries funded the painting of 25 drain lids in Melbourne’s CBD to raise awareness around the fact that Melbourne’s drain system does not filter stormwater and that rubbish flows directly into the Yarra River. These two public art projects were extremely high profile in both their execution and community engagement. Artists were paid for their contributions, which resulted in significant artistic agency and status. Artists found the projects challenging but exciting; many reflect on them as life-changing experiences.

GRAFF STREET, tbC’s follow-on project, is keen to do more work like this and welcomes inquiries and proposals.