Perth Voice Interactive

A PROSAIC car park in Mt Lawley could soon be transformed into the Left Bank in Paris—well, kind of.

The Beaufort Street Network has lodged a submission with Vincent city council to hold a monthly art market in the carpark at the corner of Barlee and Beaufort Streets.

“Arts on Beaufort” would have around 18 stalls and be held on the first Sunday of every month from 8am to 1pm.

Local artists will be able to hire stalls for $50 to sell “high-end” WA art pieces, including paintings and sculptures.

Artists who don’t want a stall can hang works for $10 per item, rising to $20 after the markets is established.

Special introductory offers for artists will be available for the first few months.

BSN chair Pam Herron says the council has granted a trial permit for September.

“We just got the temporary permit yesterday and have already got local artist Bonnie Boogaard signed up, she’s a contemporary artist who specialises in textiles and watercolours,” she says.

“We chose Sunday because there are already a lot of food markets on a Saturday and people tend to have other things on—Sunday felt right for a relaxed art market.

“None of us are artists in the network—we couldn’t draw a circle—but we all appreciate art and have wanted to launch an art market for a long time.”

Ms Herron added that every month a free stall would be allocated to a local community group for fundraising.

The project has been spearheaded by BSN member Lesley Thomas, who previously ran the Hyde Park Festival and a free concert in Forrest Place headlined by Human Nature.

Three volunteers will run the market and the BSN estimates between 50 and 100 people will visit at any one time.

Public consultation on the market closes August 15.

Arts on Beaufort goes before council for approval next month.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK