Perth Beach Sculpture Festival Returns After Public Outcry

When Perth's favorite beach art festival was cancelled last year, the public spoke up so loudly that politicians and sponsors couldn't ignore them.

Sculpture by the Sea has returned to Cottesloe Beach for its 21st year, featuring 70 artworks from Australian and international artists. The beloved event typically draws over 200,000 visitors each March to walk among large-scale sculptures planted right in the sand.

The festival faced cancellation in 2025 when federal arts agency Creative Australia pulled its funding. But the Perth community rallied hard, making their voices heard through public campaigns and advocacy.

"The Perth public was fantastic in making their voice heard when the exhibition was cancelled," said David Handley, the festival's founder and artistic director. "That galvanised the political support, it helped us get corporate support, it helped keep the private support."

Their efforts paid off. New grant funding of $750,000 through Austrade, combined with state government contributions, has secured the event through 2027.

This year's exhibition brings fresh perspectives to the coastline. Fifteen artists are participating for the first time ever, including five sculptors from India and 11 from Japan.

The Ripple Effect

The festival's comeback shows how public advocacy can preserve cultural treasures that bring communities together. Since its inception, Sculpture by the Sea has attracted 3.7 million visitors and featured hundreds of artists from dozens of countries.

Dr. Subodh Kerkar from India waited 21 years to become this year's Invited International Artist. He kept applying, kept creating, and kept showing up. This year, he's presenting a performance installation titled "Oceans and Civilisations."

Noongar woman Karla Hart was selected as the Invited Aboriginal Artist, leading a performance with a Noongar women's dance group that honors traditional culture in a contemporary setting.

Some pieces embrace cutting-edge technology. Architect Erica Zaino created "ART or Artificial Real Time," featuring human figures with an augmented reality component. Visitors can scan a QR code to replicate the sculpture anywhere in the world through their phones.

"The traditional way we think of art is to be individual, to be creative," Zaino said. "With this work, I wanted to raise the question for the children of today, where are we going with art?"

The exhibition runs free and open to the public through March 23, with the beach remaining accessible as usual. The best news: when community voices unite for what matters, they can bring back the art and joy that makes life brighter.