Murray Bridge Piano Sanctuary
Located at Carey's Park, on Mannum Road in the suburb of Northern Heights, the Murray Bridge Piano Sanctuary is a project led by local composer and sound artist Jesse Budel. Jesse worked with the Murray Bridge Community Action Group to secure funding to trial the project by installing two pianos at the site in 2018.
In September 2022 the Rural City of Murray Bridge was awarded $5,000 by Country Arts South Australia to extend the Piano Sanctuary to a total of eight pianos spaced along the reserve. These works are scheduled to be completed prior to the end of 2022.
Artist Statement
The Piano is a significant part of Australian Cultural heritage, being a social and entertainment fixture of nearly every colonial household. Over the past century, many of these instruments have exchanged hands and travelled vast distance, resulting in rich and detailed histories and experiences of each piano.
Although seen as cultural icons, it is often the case that once pianos move beyond the traditional understandings of playability and functionality, they are neglected and ignored. To address this and conserve them in contemporary contexts, numerous piano sanctuaries have been set up as resting places for the aging instruments.
This project was made possible by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia
Project Enquiries can be directed to:Tegan Hale, Public Art Officer
t.hale@murraybridge.sa.gov.au