Artists and community groups have been working for a while on concepts for the popular interactive community art project which will be held on the eastern foreshore.

Last year’s event saw recycling cubes transformed into contemporary works of art, 2010 will feature a series of art stations which will stimulate the senses of sight, taste, sound, touch and smell.

Festival coordinator Carolyn Marks said many community members have sensory disabilities and could not interact with forms of visual art as the key factor to experience the art piece is sight.

“We are looking forward to the Mandurah foreshore coming alive once more with a creative experience set to stretch our imagination and understanding of contemporary art,” Mrs Marks said.

“The artists’ brief for this project is to create work that stimulates sensory perception, not just sight – but also touch, hearing, sound, and taste to express an artwork enabling those with a sensory impairment to also interact and enjoy the works.

“Imagine trees talking and furniture singing as you stroll along the foreshore, being blindfolded to feel your way through an art station, succumbing to a variety of strange tastes and smells that trigger childhood memories or viewing your surroundings through multicoloured, moving lenses.”

Thirty artists are collaborating with five local cultural and community groups to create the artworks for the installation.

Some of these groups contend daily with disabilities and will work with artists on the project to give the audience a greater insight and understanding of their lives.

The five groups involved are the Riverside Primary School, Nulsen Haven Association, Challenger TAFE art students; Community First International Ability Arts clients and Bilyidor – Billy Dower Youth Centre.

The Perceptions project is supported by the City of Mandurah and Festivals Australia, an Australia Government program which supports cultural activity at regional and community festivals.

For more information send an email to Carolyn.Marks@mandurah.wa.gov.au or call 9550 3271.