Underwater art goes on display in Townsville before being submerged
The latest items to join the now famous Museum of Underwater Art will be display at Townsville’s Museum of Tropical Queensland until they are submerged on the Great Barrier Reef later this year.
The ‘Ocean Sentinels’ Above the Surface Exhibition will run at the museum until mid-May, featuring six of the eight sculptures as part of the next stage of the MOUA project.
The sculptures celebrate the work of marine scientists and community members who have increased our understanding of reef protection, including the ‘Godfather of Coral’ Professor Charlie Vernon and the ‘Giant Clam Man’ of Magnetic Island Dr Richard Braley as well as Molly Steer, the young girl from Cairns who founded the Straw No More Project in 2017.
The exhibition will feature a ‘Meet the Muse’ as well as an online webinar series where people can meet the people the sculptures are base on.
The plan is to install the sculptures at shallow depths, so they are accessible to snorkellers.
In other words, meaning lots of people will be able to visit them.
The Queensland Government is the major funding contributor to the Museum of Underwater Art Project, contributing $4 million for two of its three stages.
This includes $2 million through the Jobs and Regional Growth Fund for the first stage of the project – which was completed in 2019 and includes the Ocean Siren at the Strand at Townsville and the Coral Greenhouse at John Brewer Reef – a popular dive site.
It also includes $1 million under the Growing Tourism Infrastructure Fund and $1 million through the Attracting Tourism Fund for the ‘Ocean Sentinels’ project.
The sculptures were produced by renowned English sculptor and environmentalist Jason deCaires Taylor.
He was recently recognised as one of the Global 100 Inspirational Leaders for 2022, along with Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Dr Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates, Andrew Forrest and Jacinda Ardern.
The statutes are made of non-polluting concrete. The idea is that over time, they will turn into artificial reefs, encouraging coral growth and become part of the marine ecosystem.
Once fully operational, the MOUA is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors annually, boosting the regional economy by $22.5 million per annum and supporting over 150 local jobs.
It will be the only underwater museum in the southern hemisphere.