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 again 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 Sculptures Exhibition at the Rockingham Arts Centre.

All three exhibitions will run concurrently from Saturday 23 October – Sunday 31 October.

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

Mentorship opportunities exist for up to four emerging artists developing artworks for the Main Exhibition. Through the selection process, the curator will determine potential candidates.

​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.

How to enter 

Before entering, please ensure you have reviewed the relevant Terms and Conditions below. 

Main Exhibition – Rockingham Foreshore

• Entries close: 4pm Monday 31 May

Enter here

Schools Competition – Churchill Park

• Entries close: 4pm Monday 7 June

Enter here

Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition – Rockingham Arts Centre

• Entries open: 9am Monday 12 April
• Entries close: 4pm Monday 5 July

Awards

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 Voter’s Prize.

Selection process

A panel will select artworks for display 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.

Photo Competition

In 2020, the Castaways Instagram Photo Competition was introduced as a means for visitors to engage with the artworks without contact (for hygiene and health restrictions purposes). Seonaid Farquhar and Marion Oliver were our 2020 winners. Congratulations to Seonaid for her amazing snap of Trogdor the Scrap Dragon (in isolation) and Marion for her creative snap of O Solo Mio. You can check out all the photos by searching #CastawaysRockingham on Instagram or Facebook.