Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Rockingham Youth Centre will be closed for the remainder of this week and all scheduled programs are cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience.
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The Castaways Sculpture Awards 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.
Castaways consists of three exhibitions, the Main Exhibition at Rockingham Foreshore, the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition at the Rockingham Arts Centre and the Schools Exhibition at Rockingham Foreshore, with a total prize pool of $27,000 (non-acquisitive) across ten award categories.
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Castaways 2026
Entries for the 2026 Castaways Sculpture Awards are now closed. Please see below details for each exhibition.
The Castaways exhibition will be on display from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026.
General information
| Award | Selection criteria |
|---|---|
| $10,000 Major Award | Overall excellence in recycled sculpture artwork with a 30% visual aluminium component. |
| $5,000 Innovation Award | Use of repurposed (recycled) materials in an innovative or unexpected way. |
| $5,000 Sustainability Award | Artwork that supports the concept of sustainability in its message. |
| $2,500 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award | Excellence in small scale sculpture, creatively using recycled components. |
| $2,000 City of Rockingham Local Resident Award | Local artist residing in the Rockingham district. |
| $500 Primary School Award | Awarded to the Primary School that demonstrates overall excellence in sculpture through the use of recycled materials in an innovative way. |
| $500 Secondary School Award | Awarded to the Secondary School that demonstrates overall excellence in sculpture through the use of recycled materials in an innovative way. |
| $1,000 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Main Exhibition | Presented to the artist whose work receives the most votes from members of the public. |
| $500 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition | Presented to the artist whose work receives the most votes from members of the public. |
| $250 Fremantle Ports People's Choice Award - Schools Exhibition | Presented to the school whose work receives the most votes from members of the public. |
| Highly Commended | Bonus certificate awarded to artists or schools with highly commended works. |
Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Entries open | Friday 27 February 2026 |
| Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition | Saturday 7 March 2026 |
| Entries close | Thursday 23 April 2026, 4pm |
| Letters of notification sent | By Friday 15 May 2026 |
| Final catalogue image due | Sunday 9 August 2026 |
| Final progress update and images due | Friday 25 September 2026 |
| Artwork installation | Wednesday 21 October 2026 |
| Exhibition opens | Saturday 24 October 2026 |
| Exhibition closes | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Artwork de-installation | Monday 2 November 2026 |
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Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Entries open | Friday 27 February 2026 |
| Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition | Saturday 7 March 2026 |
| Entries close | Thursday 23 April 2026, 4pm |
| Letters of notification sent | By Friday 15 May 2026 |
| Final catalogue image due | Sunday 9 August 2026 |
| Final progress update and images due | Friday 25 September 2026 |
| Artwork delivery | Tuesday 20 October 2026, 8am – 10am |
| Exhibition opens | Saturday 24 October 2026 |
| Exhibition closes | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Artwork collection | Monday 2 November 2026, 2pm – 4pm |
Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Information Session – Schools Exhibition | Thursday 26 February 2026 |
| Entries open | Friday 27 February 2026 |
| Entries close | Thursday 23 April 2026, 4pm |
| Letters of notification sent | By Friday 15 May 2026 |
| Final catalogue image due | Sunday 9 August 2026 |
| Final progress update and images due | Friday 25 September 2026 |
| Artwork installation | Wednesday 21 October 2026 |
| Exhibition opens | Saturday 24 October 2026 |
| Exhibition closes | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Artwork de-installation | Monday 2 November 2026 |
Video resources
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.
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.
Information Webinar – Main Exhibition and Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition
View a recording of the Information Webinar for the Main and Maquette Exhibitions, held on Saturday 7 March 2026.
Presented by Castaways Curator Lyn Di Ciero and the City’s structural engineer, this webinar covers everything you need to know about the competition, including tips and tricks to make your entry stand out and guidance on ways to ensure your artwork is safe, stable and exhibition-ready.
Header image: Kelly Robbins, Chains of Change, 2025.
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