Castaways Sculpture Awards

Castaways Sculpture Exhibition 

Castaways Sculpture Awards is the City’s signature arts and culture event, celebrating 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 2021 will consist of three exhibitions with a prize pool of $26,500 (non-acquisitive). These include the Main Exhibition and Schools Competition displayed at the Rockingham Foreshore; and the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition at the Rockingham Arts Centre.

All three exhibitions will run concurrently from Saturday 23 October – Sunday 31 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 view the sculptures on the sand. This is especially good for people with disability, seniors, and parents using prams.

Castaways Sculpture Awards is presented by the City of Rockingham and in 2021, will again be curated by Lyn DiCiero.

​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.

Awards are presented to one primary and one secondary school for outstanding entries.

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 and Sponsors

Exhibited works will be judged on artistic merit by a panel of industry experts.

Selected winners are judged on demonstrated excellence in concept, vision and design in the following Award categories:

Vote for your favourite sculpture to be in the running to win the $500 Fremantle Ports Voter’s Prize.

Thank you to our sponsors: Alcoa, Water Corporation, Waste Authority and Fremantle Ports.

Artist Talks

Hear from a selection of exhibiting artists about their concepts and creative processes in successfully designing and developing a sculpture of exhibition standard.

No bookings required – please wait at the artists’ artwork before the session time. All Artist Talks are free to attend.

Tactile Tours

People with a disability, friends and family are invited to attend a free Tactile Tour of Castaways Sculpture Awards conducted by DADAA (Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia).

AUSLAN interpretation is available on Thursday.

Bookings are essential. For more information and to book, please contact Jacqueline Homer at DADAA via Jacqueline@dadaa.org.au or 0400 111 018.

How to vote

Vote for the sculpture that you feel made the greatest impact on you. You can vote across all three exhibitions. By voting, you put yourself in the running to win the $500 Fremantle Ports Voter's Prize. Voting is easy and all online.

1. Open your QR Scanner App or Camera App
2. Hold the camera over the QR code in the catalogue
3. Complete the voting form and hit submit.

Voting links will also be available on this page during the exhibition. Submit your online vote by 5pm Monday 1 November. The artist who receives the most votes in the Main Exhibition will receive the $1,000 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award; and the artist who receives the most votes in the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition will receive the $500 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award. The school that receives the most votes will be presented with a trophy. Happy voting.

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 enquiries, such as assisting with how to vote for the People’s Choice Award. Two volunteers are required per shift: daily shifts are 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm. Volunteers can register for any number of shifts, depending on their availability.

Castaways volunteers are well supported; a Volunteer Briefing will be provided on Wednesday evening, 20 October, and all volunteers will be provided with a Castaways Volunteer Manual.

Interested? Read the Volunteer Role Statement document below before applying. To apply, request a Volunteer Application Form from customer@rockingham.wa.gov.au.

Selection process

A panel selected artworks for exhibition based on the following selection criteria:

• originality
• strength of artist’s vision and concept
• clear and detailed concept design
• succinct description of work
• succinct construction and installation information (including sub-surface requirements)
• consideration of public safety and interaction
• thoughtful and creative use of recycled and repurposed components
• experience and past works - emerging artists with little or no experience will be considered on their ability to demonstrate understanding of the above criteria.