SYDNEY.- Sculpture by the Sea announced that the exhibition plans to return to Bondi this spring after an agreement was reached with Waverley Council to retain the exhibition for the next ten years.
The world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition plans to return to the 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk from 22 October – 8 November, pending any public gathering restrictions remaining in place into late October. Exhibition organisers and Waverley Council have begun discussing contingency plans to postpone the event if the exhibition cannot open on 22 October.
The announcement of a return to Bondi sees applications open for artists from around Australia and internationally to submit works to exhibit at the popular outdoor art exhibition.
Exhibiting artists will be eligible for the $70,000 Aqualand Sculpture Award, the three $30,000 Helen Lempriere Scholarships and two $15,000 Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artist Mentorships.
In making the announcement, the Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley AM said, “This exhibition is about Hope. We hope to be able to stage the exhibition this spring. Like everyone, we hope life in Australia and the world returns, as much as possible, to normal as soon as possible. With many artists asking us if the exhibition is going ahead and wanting to make sculptures to exhibit we have hope for the future and are excited to be planning to stage the exhibition for many thousands of people to enjoy. In the meantime, we hope that everyone stays safe and well.”
Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the license agreement is an important step forward in the future of the world-class sculpture event.
“Waverley Council will continue to monitor what impact COVID-19 measures in NSW will have on public events in the future, but for the meantime, we just want to congratulate Sculpture by the Sea for moving forward in this new chapter,” Mayor Masselos said.
“Our Council has supported this event for the past 23 years, and we look forward to continue to support the event in whatever exciting form it takes.
“Our iconic coastal walk from Bondi to Tamarama Beach and Marks Park community headland park provided a stunning backdrop for so many years and we’d like to see this continue.
“I would like to congratulate Waverley Council officers for negotiating a license that works for both parties and gives artists from around the world the opportunity to continue to showcase their cutting-edge works.
After disagreements in 2019 over the installation of a concrete path around Marks Park, discussions have continued between Sculpture by the Sea and Waverley Council for many months, with both parties thrilled to come to an agreement to see the exhibition return to its home in Bondi. Contrary to some speculation, there has been no financial inducement requested or offered to encourage the exhibition to remain at Bondi.
Waverley Council will widen the ridgeline in Marks Park to enable the installation of large-scale, awe-inspiring sculptures that make Sculpture by the Sea a unique and world-class exhibition, bringing demonstrable and significant cultural, artistic, tourism and economic benefits to the local and wider community.
Sculpture by the Sea is a series of exhibitions presented at Bondi in October and at Cottesloe Beach in Perth in March each year. Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi began in 1997 as a one-day exhibition run by volunteers featuring works by 64 artists and attended by 25,000 visitors. Since then, the event has grown to become the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world featuring numerous esteemed international artists and is enjoyed by approximately 450,000 visitors over three weeks.
