What dictates where and how public life unfolds in our regional urban spaces? During 2020 and into 2021, I toured the Capital region with my camera, observing what makes for a successful and inclusive built public environment in urban and regional towns. 

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Capital Country is the outcome of a PhotoAccess Emerging Artist Support Scheme Residency, which was awarded in 2019. This publication also received generous funding through an ACT Government Creative Endeavour Grant in 2020.

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In Canberra, Goulburn, Yass, Cowra and smaller settlements along the way, I walked and photographed shared spaces, investigating how sets of buildings and street furniture, roads and trees, signs and shops created stages for everyday routines, chance encounters and community connection. I sought to document why some places invited people to pause, stay a while and say hello, while others seemed to encourage visitors – or at least some visitors – to hurry along elsewhere.

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This book visualises all these observations of Capital region public spaces in a series of photo-montages, wihch draw our attention to the many ways of seeing and experiencing a place. I hope to underscore the importance of pluralities, of how different people might interact with a public space in different ways. Our built environment must not only accommodate, but be inviting to all.

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Capital Country is available for sale now online, and is be available for sale in person from at PhotoAccess in Canberra.

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Self published by Kate Matthews, 2021, Canberra

Printed by Carbon8, Sydney
Edition of 70
ISBN: 978-0-646-83617-1