A sculpture celebrating people who have a lived experience with disability has moved from its temporary home at Eastern Beach to Austin Park in Lara.

Each letter in the sculpture weighs around four tonnes and it was moved to Lara using a crane truck.

Deputy chair of the Creative Communities and Culture portfolio Councillor Jim Mason and Member for Lara John Eren MP joined artist Mark Cuthbertson is celebrating the arrival of the artwork in Lara.

The City of Greater Geelong commissioned Mark Cuthbertson with artist-collaborators Robert Croft Hannah Wilkinson Christian Den Besten and George Macaronis to develop the public art sculpture.

The sculpture was developed based on more than 85 contributions from the local community through a series of artist-led workshops.

Drawing reference from powerful political and pop culture statements such as the 1968 Memphis black sanitation workers slogan “I AM a man” and Helen Reddy’s 1971 anthem “I AM woman” the work celebrates the empowerment of diversity in our society.

The sculpture stands at more than two metres and is interactive by design inviting you to be a part of the work. You can position yourself within and take photos (using the hashtag #IAMGeelong) that will form a collective voice celebrating the diversity of our local community.

The sculpture was funded by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund and delivered in partnership with VALiD (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disabilities) and Geelong-based ArtGusto.

The sculpture will remain in Lara until later this year.

Cr Anthony Aitken chair of the Volunteering and Disability portfolio

This work was designed to be relocated around the City of Greater Geelong to allow for a greater connection with our whole community and to increase awareness around the concepts it conveys. It is an important piece of public art that celebrates people who live with a disability and reminds us that everyone’s voice is valued.

Councillor Jim Mason

So many people across our community contributed their ideas to the development of this work so we’re proud it’s making its way around the municipality. It is a shining example of the wide range of creative talent in our inclusive city where everyone has a rightful and participatory place.