PERTH.- An estimated 140,000 visitors are set to experience Perth’s largest free outdoor art exhibition when Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe returns for the 6th year to Cottesloe Beach from 4 - 23 March, 2010.

The 2010 exhibition will feature over 60 local, interstate and international artists, transforming Perth's most popular beach into a stunning sculpture park overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Sculpture by the Sea Founding Director, David Handley says “the speed with which the artists and people of Perth have adopted the exhibition as their own shows how natural it is to put sculpture at the beach where it’s easy to enjoy.”

With each exhibition the organisers aim to provide more financial support to the artists and this year, the NAB WA Sculptor's Scholarship has increased to $15,000, and is the most generous sculptor's scholarship or prize in WA.

”Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe is a highlight on the WA Arts calendar because of the opportunity it provides local artists to showcase their outstanding potential to large audiences in a spectacular outdoor setting,” said Andrew Whitechurch, WA General Manager, NAB.

“NAB is delighted to again be sponsoring the NAB Kids’ Choice Prize, awarded to the most popular exhibited sculpture as voted by children attending Sculpture by the Sea. We are also proud to again be supporting the $15,000 NAB WA Sculptor Scholarship, which will be awarded to one outstanding local artist,” said Mr Whitechurch.

Thirty six West Australian artists have been selected to exhibit at Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe by a panel comprised of Janet Holmes a Court, Robert Juniper and exhibition Head Curator Axel Arnott: Nath Allan, Ayad Alqaragholli, Jenny Anderson, Kerrie Argent, Kathy Aspinall, Claire Bailey, Noah Birch, Ryan Cant, Paul Caporn, Tony Davis, Jon Denaro, George Drake-Brockman, Kevin Draper, Daniel Eaton, Louise Elscot, Ron Gomboc, Stuart Green, Miik Green, George Haynes, Peter Hill, John Hutchinson, Tony Jones, Andrew Kay, Darius Kowal, Tim Macfarlane-Reid, Melanie Maclou, Denise Pepper, Holly Pepper, Derek Roach, Jean-March Rivalland, Elizabeth Riley, Olivia Samec, Ken Sealey, Tania Spencer, Ian Young and Peter Phillips.

Sculpture by the Sea is a trans-national series of exhibitions with a sister exhibition held along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in Sydney from 29 October to 15 November 2009.