The aim is to help beautify the box-like nodes, which have been placed at various locations as part of the National Broadband Network rollout.
The nodes enable broadband signals to travel from the local telecommunications exchange to the node via a fibre optic line, before connecting with the existing copper network to reach homes and businesses.
They are about chest-height, wide as a bookcase and generally army green to help them blend into the surroundings. This initiative presents the unique opportunity to support and promote Indigenous artists.
Thanks to the licence, the Indigenous artists’ work is protected, they receive licensing fees and their work is viewed by the wider community.
The artists are given approval of how the artwork is cropped to fit the nodes to ensure the integrity of the artwork is respected.
They also receive attribution on each cabinet – all culminating in an example of best practice in copyright licensing.
This project has created an Indigenous Artist Street Walk in the Inner West with 18 cabinets already completed, and a further five being finalised in Newtown over the next few weeks.
The project area covers St Peters, Alexandria, Erskineville and Newtown. The wrapped cabinets also discourage damage, vandalism and graffiti on the cabinets.