Gillie and Marc sculpture donations

Gillie and Marc are a British-Australian collaborative artistic duo, based between Sydney and New York. As husband and wife, they’ve been creating art together for over 30 years, producing a wide range of works including bronze sculptures, paintings, and large-scale public installations.

Their art is deeply rooted in wildlife conservation, with a strong focus on endangered species. They’ve delivered major public art projects in cities around the world - London, New York, Singapore, Sydney and more. In fact, The New York Times once described them as 'the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s history.'

Gillie and Marc’s work is internationally collected and some pieces are donated through Australia’s Cultural Gifts Program. Their installations have been shown to boost visitor engagement significantly, with people interacting up to five times more in locations where their artworks are displayed.

At the heart of their practice is a simple mission - to spread love, equality and conservation through public art that everyone can enjoy.

The Cultural Gifts Program, administered by the Australian Government’s Office for the Arts, encourages cultural philanthropy by supporting the donation of artworks and cultural materials to public institutions.

Benefits for donors include:

• a tax deduction based on the market value of the gift
• no capital gains tax on the donated item.

For communities, the program offers significant cultural value by enriching public collections in galleries, museums and libraries across Australia. It ensures that culturally important artworks remain accessible to everyone.

How it works:

1. A donor offers an artwork to a public collecting institution.
2. The artwork must meet eligibility criteria (relevance, quality, significance).
3. Independent valuers assess its market value.
4. The institution applies to the program for approval.
5. Once approved, the artwork becomes part of the public collection, and the donor receives a tax deduction.

Eurobodalla has already benefited from this program, receiving artworks that would otherwise have been beyond our reach.

In short, it’s a win-win: donors are recognised and supported through tax benefits, while communities gain access to cultural works that deepen and expand our shared collections.

Eurobodalla has received a remarkable collection of sculptures by internationally acclaimed artists Gillie and Marc, whose work blends creativity with conservation.

Wild About Babies collection

This global sculpture project features a joyful series of life-sized bronze baby animals. Designed to be interactive, these sculptures invite visitors to touch, climb, and play - creating memorable encounters between people and wildlife.

At its heart, Wild About Babies celebrates endangered species and raises awareness of their plight, highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation in a way that’s accessible and fun.

The sculptures from this series include:

• Wild Mother Eastern Lowland Gorilla
• Wild Baby Sumatran Orangutan
• Wild Baby Leopard
• Wild Baby Giraffe
• Wild Baby Bengal Tiger
• Wild Baby Grevy’s Zebra
• Wild Baby Giant Panda
• Wild Baby Cheetah
• Wild Baby White Rhino
• Wild Baby Marsican Brown Bear
• Wild Baby Chimpanzee
• Wild Baby Polar Bear
• Wild Baby Lion
• Wild Baby Arctic Fox
• Wild Baby Indian Elephant
• Wild Baby Western Lowland
• Wild Baby African Elephant
• Wild Baby Giant Tortoise
• Wild Baby Rock Wallaby
• Wild Baby Javan Rhino
• Wild Baby Hippo

The Splendid Fairywren Loved Adventure with Rabbitwoman and Dogman

This one-of-a-kind piece showcases Gillie and Marc’s iconic style and offers a unique photo opportunity with strong social media appeal. It helps promote Eurobodalla as a creative, nature-connected destination and adds to the region’s cultural tourism offer. Visitors often return with friends and family to experience the sculpture again, reinforcing Eurobodalla’s reputation as a place where art, community, and environment meet in memorable ways.

The acquisition of these works aligns with key local strategies and policies, including the Community Strategic Plan 2042, the Eurobodalla Public Art Strategy 2021, and the Public Art and Art Acquisitions policies. These frameworks guide how public art can enrich our region and support community wellbeing.

Through this acquisition, Eurobodalla aims to:

• enhance the character and identity of public spaces, making them more vibrant and welcoming
• strengthen cultural tourism by showcasing high-quality, internationally recognised public art
• encourage inclusive participation in the arts through installations that are accessible, engaging, and interactive
• support the wellbeing of residents by enriching everyday environments with meaningful creative experiences
• champion environmental sustainability by featuring artworks that educate, inspire, and advocate for endangered species
• build Eurobodalla’s reputation as a destination for cultural tourism and creative experiences

In short, these artworks are more than beautiful additions - they’re part of a broader vision to connect people, place, and purpose through public art.

The sculptures are proposed for sites across Eurobodalla, stretching from Nelligen to Narooma. Locations have been carefully selected to align with existing amenities and natural foot traffic—places where people already gather for recreation and connection.

Given their strong family appeal, the artworks are best suited to areas with:

• parks and playgrounds
• barbecue facilities
• spaces for family activities and community gatherings.

• View the proposed sites for installation of the sculptures (330.6 KB)

Site Selection and Due Diligence

Each proposed site undergoes thorough assessment to ensure suitability and sustainability. This includes:

• Native Title considerations
• Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System (AHIMS) checks
• identification of underground assets such as cables and pipes
• compliance with legislation relating to playgrounds and recreation spaces
• planning for ongoing maintenance to ensure the artworks remain safe and accessible.

These steps help ensure the sculptures are not only inspiring and engaging, but also responsibly placed and cared for—adding lasting value to our public spaces.