This episode is about the Outback Way Outdoor Gallery, which is a project we’ve been working on for the last couple of years and it will be launched in July 2021.

It has been an enormous project with lots of twists and turns but we have finally finished and it is actually now ready to view. So if you have been travelling along the Plenty Highway you may have been wondering what these billboards are, and this episode will give you a bit of background.

This is a pre-recorded episode from back at the very beginning of the Outdoor Gallery Project, in November 2019. Helen speaks with Mel Forbes, the project manager of the Building Better Regions Outdoor Art Gallery Project.

This project is an exciting and original concept that takes art out of the traditional gallery spaces and into the landscape of the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges, around the communities of Atitjere and Engawala, on the Plenty Highway located between 170 and 230kms from Alice Springs. Billboard sites will be dotted along the Plenty Highway, around and some located in the Engawala and Atitjere communities.

In this episode, Mel shares a bit about her background and where the idea for the project came from. These billboards will showcase the artwork from all the communities along the Outback Way and the Regional Art prizes in WA, NT and Qld.

Visit https://www.outbackway.org.au/outdoor-gallery/ to see the entire exhibition and purchase originals, prints & merchandise.

You can find all notes and links on our website, www.outbackway.org.au where you can subscribe to our newsletter, buy our guidebook and download the app if you haven't already. Join us on Facebook and Twitter @OutbackWay1

Send your questions, comments and travel stories to [email protected] and if you share your story, we may even feature you on this podcast! Thank you for joining us through the heart of Australia, on Australia's longest short cut.

The Outback Way has become a symbol of resilience, connection, and progress, weaving together the diverse landscapes and communities of Australia's heartland.

 In celebration of the  25-year journey of advocacy and lobbying to the funding announcement to complete the seal, the Outback Highway Development Council is proud to present ‘From Bulldust to Bitumen – 25 Years of the Outback Way’. A book that captures the spirit, history, and future vision of this transformative project.

Order your copy and be part of the journey that continues to shape Australia's outback, it’s people and the nation. 

Head over to our website and order yours today  W: outbackway.org.au