Little Lui by Thomas Dambo, Giants of Mandurah, 2022. Photo by Duncan Wright, image courtesy of FORM Building a State of Creativity
The economic impacts of Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah were recognised at the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence recently.
His first outdoor exhibition in Australia, Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah won the Economic Development through Partnerships and Collaboration award, recognising the project had addressed several economic goals through partnering with multiple organisations, including increasing visitor spending and enhancing Mandurah’s profile, plus forging deeper connections with the community and First Nations custodians.
Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah was initiated, produced and managed by FORM Building a State of Creativity, delivered in collaboration with the City of Mandurah, and supported by the State Government through Tourism WA’s Regional Events Program, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, and Lotterywest; plus the City of Subiaco and Alcoa Foundation.
Mayor Rhys Williams said the Giants project was an incredible story of successful collaborations, meaningful partnerships, and an example of how art could transform tourism and boost local economies.
“Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah were an absolute game changer for our city and surpassed our wildest expectations. The project reinvigorated our economy after the pandemic, highlighted the importance of caring for our natural environment, and fostered cultural awareness in many amazing ways,” Mayor Williams said.
“Close to half a million visitors came to see the Giants in the first 12 months of the installation, and half of the visitors who made their way to Mandurah came specifically to see them. This in turn created a significant boost to our economy with $81 million in direct economic impact to local businesses in the first year. The project leads the way in enhancing the region’s cultural profile and positioning Mandurah as a cultural tourism destination, with the Mandurah Visitor Centre initially seeing a 400 percent increase in footfall.
“It was incredibly special to work with FORM to create even closer partnerships with our Bindjareb Noongar Traditional Owners, with their deep connection to the land crucial to informing and enriching the project. We are proud that Bindjareb stories and culture are woven into the narrative of the Giants and thus able to be shared and celebrated on a wider scale.
“The Giants will leave a remarkable legacy in Mandurah and have helped us to define a new story for our city.”
Local businesses also harnessed the Giants’ immense popularity and created products or experiences around the exhibition to create new offerings.
FORM's CEO Tabitha McMullan said, “FORM is so proud of this project. It has been such a privilege to work alongside the cast of many who helped bring this enormous vision to life”.
“For more than two decades, FORM has delivered projects that harness the power of creativity to transform the lives, learning and livelihoods of Western Australians across the State. As a free-to-view attraction, Thomas Dambo’s Giants of Mandurah has provided access to arts and culture for hundreds of thousands of people within and beyond our State’s borders.
“Through its design as a game, this project has also provided a unique way for visitors to engage and connect with First Nations culture, the splendour of the natural world, and one another. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has embraced the Giants.”
