A cat stalks a numbat through tall grass and kangaroo paws. 'Numbat (Stay Away Cat)' by Nicholas Thompson.

Exhibition Information

Castaways invites Western Australian artists to showcase their innovation and creativity by creating sculptures made from recycled and repurposed materials. Artists of all levels, both emerging and professional alike, are invited to submit their entries. 

The Main Exhibition features sculptures made from at least 65 per cent recycled materials. Selected sculptures will be exhibited along the Rockingham Foreshore. 

The Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition coincides with the Main Exhibition on the Rockingham Foreshore. It celebrates the intricacy of small-scale three-dimensional artworks and will be held at the Rockingham Arts Centre.

Primary and secondary schools within the City of Rockingham are also invited to enter the competition. The Castaways Schools Exhibition gives students the opportunity to explore sustainable art and learn how art can convey important messages about sustainability and recycling. Works will be exhibited beside the Main Exhibition in Churchill Park.  

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Castaways 2025

Important Update:

Entries for the 2025 Castaways Sculpture Awards have been extended to 4pm on Tuesday 27 May to assist with new requirements for artworks in the Main Exhibition. If selected as a finalist in the Main Exhibition, artists will be required to obtain an artwork certification from a structural engineer.

The exhibition will be displayed from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November 2025.

Please see below for further information. 

Main Exhibition

  • A metal sculpture with accordion-style panels, each resembling a dice face with woven colorful aluminium strips, set against Rockingham Foreshore.

    The Main Exhibition showcases outdoor sculptures made with recycled and repurposed materials. 

    Enter nowopens in a new window

     

    Joan Johnson, Deconstructed, Reconstructed and Embellished, 2024, aluminium, Perspex, wood.
    Castaways 2024 Alcoa Major Award Winner.

  • The Terms and Conditions have been updated as of 1 May 2025 to reflect recent changes to artwork certification requirements

  • All finalist artworks in the Main Exhibition will now be required to obtain certification from a structural engineer. We acknowledge that this is a significant change and may require additional time and consideration. In response, we have decided to extend the entry deadline by two weeks to 4pm Tuesday 27 May, to provide additional time for all entrants to evaluate their submissions.

    This new requirement has been introduced as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety, stability and integrity of the artworks presented in the exhibition. Given the scale and complexity of some artworks, this step is necessary to safeguard both the artists’ works and the public.

    What you need to know:

    • Structural certification is required only for selected finalists exhibiting in the Main Exhibition.
    • If you are selected as a finalist, you will need to engage a qualified structural engineer to certify your artwork’s design.
    • The certification must be submitted for the City’s review and approval. We strongly recommend waiting to begin fabrication until you have received confirmation of approval from us.
    • After fabrication is complete, you will need to submit an 'As Constructed' Certification no later than Wednesday 15 October, which is one week before the installation day.
    • To assist with these costs, the City will be offering a subsidy of up to $500 to help offset the expense of engaging a structural engineer. Proof of payment will be required to access this subsidy.
    • Plans for subsurface treatment (e.g., how the work is anchored or interacts with the ground) are still required as part of the entry form submission.
    • There are no major changes to the entry form, except that artists will now be required to acknowledge the structural certification requirement upon entering.
    • We are currently preparing a detailed information sheet outlining the certification process, subsidy instructions, and other important details, which will be made available shortly.
    • An updated Terms and Conditions document has been released to reflect these changes. Please see the ‘Terms and Conditions’ tab. 

    We also acknowledge that this process may be unfamiliar or challenging to many artists. Please be assured that both the City and the Curator are available to support you throughout this process.

    Please fill out the form below as part of the $500 subsidy payment. Please refer to the “Information Sheet for Structural Engineering Requirements” for more details once available. 

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    MilestoneDate
    Entries openWednesday 5 March 2025
    Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture ExhibitionCancelled*
    Entries closeTuesday 27 May 2025, 4pm
    Letters of notification sentBy Tuesday 17 June 2025
    Final catalogue image dueTuesday 5 August 2025
    Final progress update and images dueSaturday 20 September 2025
    Construction Certification due to the CityWednesday 15 October 2025
    Artwork installationWednesday 22 October 2025
    Exhibition opensSaturday 25 October 2025
    Exhibition closesSunday 2 November 2025
    Artwork de-installationMonday 3 November 2025

    *​Due to a review of our timeline and key updates still being finalised, the Information Webinar has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

  • Video

    How to Photograph Your Artwork with Peter Zuvela

    Learn how to take quality photographs of your artwork to submit with your entry form. Remember: your photograph is one of the key ways your artwork is evaluated. Higher-quality photos also increase the chances of your artwork being selected as a promotional image.

    Video

    Installing Footings with Artist Stuart Bryce

    Learn about the pylon footing system developed by artist Stuart Bryce and how it might be applied to your own artwork. Please note: whether this system is suitable for your work should be discussed with your engineer.

Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition

  • A sculpture of two abstract figures made from recycled high-fired porcelain and crinkled chip packaging. Each figure has a rounded ceramic base with delicate perforations and a textured metallic cone-shaped top, accented with small protruding elements.The Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition showcases smaller-scale three-dimensional artworks made with recycled and repurposed materials. 

    Enter nowopens in a new window

     

    Valerie Schönjahn, Travellers, 2024, high fired porcelain, chip packaging.
    Castaways 2024 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award Winner.

  • The Terms and Conditions have been updated as of 1 May 2025 to reflect recent changes.

  • Scroll sideways
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    MilestoneDate
    Entries openWednesday 5 March 2025
    Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture ExhibitionCancelled*
    Entries closeTuesday 27 May 2025, 4pm
    Letters of notification sentBy Tuesday 17 June 2025
    Final catalogue image dueTuesday 5 August 2025
    Final progress update and images dueSaturday 20 September 2025
    Artwork deliveryTuesday 21 October 2025, 8am – 10am
    Exhibition opensSaturday 25 October 2025
    Exhibition closesSunday 2 November 2025
    Artwork collectionMonday 3 November 2025, 2pm – 4pm

    *​Due to a review of our timeline and key updates still being finalised, the Information Webinar has been cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

  • Video

    How to Photograph Your Artwork with Peter Zuvela

    Learn how to take quality photographs of your artwork to submit with your entry form. Remember: your photograph is one of the key ways your artwork is evaluated. Higher-quality photos also increase the chances of your artwork being selected as a promotional image.  

Schools Exhibition

  • A sculpture of a pelican made from recycled materials, including a lampshade, wire fruit baskets, vacuum parts, milk bottles, tyre tubes, and a gym ball. The pelican appears to be eating discarded fishing lines and rubbish.

    The Schools Exhibition showcases outdoor sculptures made with recycled and repurposed materials by local primary and secondary schools.

    Enter nowopens in a new window

     

    Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre, I’m a peliCAN, not a trash CAN, 2024, lampshade, wire fruit baskets, vacuum parts, milk bottles, tyre tubes, gym ball.
    Castaways 2024 Alcoa Primary School Award and Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Schools Exhibition Winner.

  • The Terms and Conditions have been updated as of 1 May 2025 to reflect recent changes to the artwork exclusion zone. 

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    MilestoneDate
    Entries openWednesday 5 March 2025
    Information Session – Schools ExhibitionFriday 14 March 2025, 3.45pm – 4.45pm
    Entries closeTuesday 27 May 2025, 4pm
    Letters of notification sentBy Tuesday 17 June 2025
    Final catalogue image dueTuesday 5 August 2025
    Final progress update and images dueSaturday 20 September 2025
    Artwork installationWednesday 22 October 2025
    Exhibition opensSaturday 25 October 2025
    Exhibition closesSunday 2 November 2025
    Artwork de-installationMonday 3 November 2025
  • Video

    How to Photograph Your Artwork with Peter Zuvela

    Learn how to take quality photographs of your artwork to submit with your entry form. Remember: your photograph is one of the key ways your artwork is evaluated. Higher-quality photos also increase the chances of your artwork being selected as a promotional image.

 

Information Sessions

A spherical sculpture with metallic tendrils, made from a shark net float, contact lens containers and galvanized steel, displayed on the beach. A spherical sculpture with metallic tendrils, made from a shark net float, contact lens containers and galvanized steel, displayed on the beach.

Cancelled: Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition

Due to a review of our timeline and key updates still being finalised, the Information Webinar has been cancelled. If you have any questions regarding entering the Castaways Sculpture Awards, please contact us at customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au. For information about the new structural engineer requirements, please see above under the ‘Main Exhibition’ section.

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Sheryl Chant, Urchin of Myopia, 2024, shark net float, contact lense containers, galvanised steel.

A sculpture of a giant bucket of chips, made from copper pipe, pine, cardboard, and canvas, displayed in a park with people in the background. A sculpture of a giant bucket of chips, made from copper pipe, pine, cardboard, and canvas, displayed in a park with people in the background.

Information Session – Schools Exhibition

  • Date: Friday 14 March
  • Time: 3.45pm – 4.45pm
  • Location: Dome Café, Waikiki Village Shopping Centre
    1, 9 Gnangara Drive, Waikiki
  • Cost: Free but registration is encouraged

Teachers were invited to enjoy coffee with Castaways Curator Lyn Di Ciero and the Schools Facilitators while learning how their school could enter this year's competition. They received tips on guiding students in artwork design, followed by a Q&A session. For a summary of the discussion, view the Schools Exhibition Information Sheet.

 

South Coast Baptist College, The Hot Chip Effect, 2024, copper pipe, pine, cardboard, canvas.


Header image: Nicholas Thompson, Numbat (Stay Away Cat), 2024, aluminium, steel, timber.

Thumbnail image: Lesley Barrett, MOO, 2024, balsa wood, bronze. Image credit: courtesy the artist.

Lesley Barrett, MOO, 2024, balsa wood, bronze. Image credit: courtesy the artist.

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