Castaways Sculpture Awards

Castaways Sculpture Exhibition

Saturday 22 October - Sunday 30 October 2022

The City’s iconic Castaways Sculpture Awards celebrates artistic innovation and environmental awareness. Castaways is an annual outdoor sculptural exhibition showcasing artworks created from repurposed materials at the Rockingham Foreshore.

Castaways started in 2008 as a community arts project to raise awareness around the discarded items or ‘castaways’ washing up on local beaches and has continued to expand and evolve. Today, Castaways provides an important opportunity for emerging and professional Western Australian artists, schools and local businesses to be a part of a regionally-recognised arts program that continues to promote sustainability values.

Castaways Sculpture Awards 2022 will consist of three exhibitions, with a prize pool of $26,000 (non-acquisitive):

• the Main Exhibition displayed at the Rockingham Foreshore
• the Schools Competition displayed at the Rockingham Foreshore
• the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition at the Rockingham Arts Centre.

All three exhibitions will run concurrently from Saturday 22 October – Sunday 30 October. During the exhibition, pick up a free Castaways catalogue from the Information Tent at the Rockingham Foreshore; which will be open daily from 9am-5pm. If any of the sculptures catch your eye, chat to staff at the Information Tent for details on how to purchase.

Beach wheelchairs and beach walkers will also be available at the Information Tent for people to loan free of charge. These are available on a first come, first served basis. Beach access matting will also be available for the duration of Castaways, to help people using wheelchairs, walkers, and/or prams to view the sculptures on the sand.

Main Exhibition 

An impressive 79 sculptures will be exhibited as part of Castaways 2022. This includes 32 works in the Main Exhibition, 25 works in the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition, and 22 works in the Schools Competition. A full list of the exhibiting artists can be found below.

This year Castaways welcomes Guest Artist, Greg James.

Greg James was born in Perth. His involvement with art began at 18 when he enrolled at Claremont Technical College (later to become Claremont School of Art) where he studied Fine Art, majoring in Sculpture. He initially worked as a Sculpture Technician for Claremont School of Art before, establishing a small foundry in his home studio in 1987. In 1992, he moved his studio to J Shed, where he developed the Greg James Sculpture Studio Gallery. 

His numerous public sculptures have become well known landmarks throughout Fremantle and Perth, while his collectable work is displayed throughout Australia, and in galleries in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. His work has also featured previously in Rome, Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Hong Kong. Greg specialises in bronze sculpture, however, he also works with materials such as stone, marble, wood, forton, aluminium and steel, and produces paintings and drawings using acrylics, charcoal, pencil, pastel, oil and watercolour.

​Castaways Schools Competition 

Both primary and secondary schools are invited to design and create a sculpture from recycled or repurposed materials for public exhibition alongside emerging and professional artists.

A number of benefits have been reported by teachers including student collaboration, belonging to a community event and the pursuit of knowledge and new skills.

Castaways aims to introduce to young people how values and important messages can be effectively promoted through engaging channels – important for future community leaders.

Awards

Sponsors

With thanks to our 2022 sponsors: Alcoa, Water Corporation, and Fremantle Ports.

Volunteer for Castaways

Each year, volunteers staff the Information Tent at the Rockingham Foreshore throughout the Castaways exhibition. Information Tent volunteers distribute catalogues and handle enquires from visitors. Two volunteers are required per shift; daily shifts are 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm. Volunteers can register for any number of shifts to suit their availability.

Interested? Read the Volunteers Role Statement document below for more information. To apply, fill out the Volunteer Expression of Interest below and email the complete form to customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au.