Cottesloe Beach will become an open-air art gallery in March, after Tourism WA extended Sculpture by the Sea’s funding for the next three years.
Cottesloe Beach will become an open-air art gallery in March, after Tourism WA extended Sculpture by the Sea’s funding for the next three years.
In previous years, Sculpture by the Sea has struggled to secure funding to cover operating costs.
Sculpture by the Sea founding director David Handley said the continued support from Tourism WA was tremendous for the event.
“Without the TWA sponsorship it would be all but impossible to raise the more than $2 million needed to stage the exhibition,” he said.
“Our other sponsors, private donors, JobKeeper and the $5 donations on entry made by so many people last year, we ask everyone to please consider donating again this year, will make the exhibition possible.
“In particular, we ask the public to donate to our welcome teams on arrival, so that we can cover the artists' installation costs.”
The government said it could not disclose the amount of funding it was giving Sculpture by the Sea.
Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said the government’s contribution and donations from sponsors had allowed the event to continue.
“The exhibition attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year, with many sharing the coastline and sculptures on social media, giving WA great exposure as we rebuild tourism in this state,” he said.
While it has been a successful event for the past 16 years, it has regularly struggled to gain sponsorship to cover its costs.
The not-for-profit organisation received last-minute support from Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting in 2014, and Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2018.
Last year, the organisation announced that, due to a significant decline in corporate sponsorship and state government funding, it was asking everyone who visited the exhibition to donate $5 on entry and $10 for families.
Minderoo Foundation offered to match the public contributions by visitors up to $150,000.
The 2021 event will run from March 5 to March 22.
It will feature a large-scale, four-metre-wide piece Laminae by New Zealand sculptor Chris Booth, who is the featured international artist for the 2021 event.
Seventy sculptures from local, national and international artists will be on show over the 18-day event, which is one of the largest outdoor sculpture exhibitions in the world.
