Gareth Jenkins
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator – City Engagement
Claire Morgan
Program Manager Special Projects Public Art
Have your say on the return of the ‘Joy’ sculpture
Project Status: Closed
Community feedback was reported to Council in June 2024. The Chief Executive Officer will investigate and report back to Council on the feasibility and cost of reinstating a replica of Joy by artist Loui May (nee Fraser) on the corner of Stanley and Yurong streets, Darlinghurst. View the Council resolution.
Public consultation period to
What we’re doing
We invite your feedback on a proposal to reinstate a replica of the sculpture Joy to the original location in East Sydney.
Joy was displayed on a plinth at the corner of Yurong and Stanley streets in Darlinghurst for 18 months in the 1990s.
The artwork is a life size sculpture of a sex worker. Artist Loui Fraser’s intent was to pay tribute to the women who historically were sex workers in the area.
The sculpture created a lot of controversy and many people were opposed to it, while others were supportive.
In 1997 the sculpture was removed at the end of its agreed installation period. Joy was acquired by Macquarie University as part of its sculpture collection in 1997 and it does not wish to part with the original. It will support a replica of the artwork.
The sculpture Joy by Loui Fraser.
Digitisation of original artwork Joy in the original location.
Why we’re doing this
In November 2023 following representations, Council resolved to consult our communities on whether there was support to reinstate the sculpture.
Your feedback will help Council make an informed decision on this proposal.
How you can give feedback
Consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 26 April 2024.
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Complete our feedback form
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Email or post your feedback
You can give your feedback by email to [email protected] or post to:
Gareth Jenkins
Senior Community Engagement Coordinator, City Engagement
City of Sydney
Town Hall House, Level 7, 456 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Feedback may be published in publicly available reports at the end of the consultation period. Your name or organisation's name may appear in these reports with your feedback attributed. If you would like your feedback to be kept confidential, please let us know when making your contribution.
