Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea is set to generate an estimated $56 million for the city’s economy, but the event almost didn’t happen with organisers thanking a last-minute donor at the launch yesterday.
One of the country’s most popular outdoor arts exhibitions, the sculpture trail follows the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, showcasing more than 100 outdoor sculptures from over 30 countries.
But the globally celebrated event, which runs until November 3, was nearly cancelled before a $200,000 donation from NRMA Insurance secured its future.
Founder David Handley said Sculpture by the Sea’s return came after months of financial uncertainty.
“We saw the financial cliff from two years away,” he said. “It was getting closer and closer, so the fact that we got here — big relief.”
Spanning 2 kilometres of dramatic coastline, the exhibition is free and open to the public, making it one of the most accessible art events in the world. Each year, it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors and generates over $56 million in direct spending for the New South Wales economy, according to Superior Research Group.
Drew McDonald ‘SOMA’
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh described it as “Australia’s longest-running and best-attended cultural event — and the world’s largest free sculpture exhibition”.
Among this year’s standout contributors is Australian sculptor April Pine, whose work “explores themes of family, movement, and emotional tension”. Her sculpture, made of tall, abstracted figures, represents a father, mother, and child — each standing separately, yet deeply connected.
“They exist as independent volumes, but they’re connected,” Pine said. “There’s a common thread running through them. It talks about balance — the tension that exists in that balance — almost like sails on the water. They look effortless, but they’re not.”
April Pine’s work ‘Sway’
Pine is known for creating elegant, human-like forms that suggest motion and presence. Her work often responds to the exhibition’s natural surroundings — the sea, the wind, and the ever-changing light.
She said one of the great things about Sculpture by the Sea is “you rarely get the opportunity to exhibit in a location like this. It’s just phenomenal.”
Returning Japanese artist Keizo Ushio also marks a major milestone this year, exhibiting for the 25th time with his signature stone sculptures.
Main image by Georgina Diamond.
