In 2021 more than 35,000 people contemplated art in nature, at the biennial Sculpture in the Garden at the Wollongong Botanic Garden.
The hugely successful event is set to return in March 2023, and we’re calling for artists to submit their Expressions of Interest for the acquisitive art prize and exhibition.
A detailed brief has been uploaded on Council’s website and asks those putting in submissions to consider how their work will transform and activate the Garden, and how the work responds to and enhances the Garden.
Image: Splash by John Fitzmaurice (2021 participant)
“Nestled at the bottom of Mt Keira, the Wollongong Botanic Garden is a beautiful place to visit, and it offers an interesting mix of natural spaces for people to explore,” Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“The Garden has a diverse mix of regular visitors, like families who pop by to see the ducks and water dragons, and university students who walk through the Garden on their way to lectures.
“With more than 500,000 visitors each year, the Sculpture in the Garden event adds an extra layer of engagement and provides people a new experience in this well-loved space.
“While it has so many natural attributes to boast about, the event has seen three works introduced into Botanic Gardens landscape through the acquisitive art prize. They’ve each been so different, but all a real conversation starter.”
Image: Evolve by Laura Nolan (2021 participant)
Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said Council valued creativity and cultural expression, and the prize provided an opportunity for people to explore the Gardens through a different lens.
“I’m really excited to see this opportunity opening up once again to artists and us presenting the challenge for them to develop a concept that would activate and transform the Garden,” he said.
“From the first winning sculpture by Louis Pratt in 2016 with his piece King Coal to Michael Purdy’s Steel City in 2018 and Fatih Semiz’s Curious Dream of an Architect in 2021, we’ve had some really exciting pieces introduced permanently to the greenspace.”
“I look forward to seeing the concepts from this year’s entrants and where in the Garden they propose to locate their sculpture – context is part of the story.”
Image: My Greatest Lament by Mark Cuthbertson (2021 participant)
As part of their Expressions of Interest, artists are being asked to provide an artist statement, to explain how their work will transform and activate the Garden as well as enhancing the site.
“This acquisitive art prize and exhibition is open to artists from around the world with a prize of $30,000. I’m curious to see what an artist can create in response to the site and how that might work into the city’s evolving narrative,” Cr Bradbery said.
“For our broader community, it’s also good to know that this hugely popular event is returning from 18 March – 30 April next year. It’s certainly one to have on the calendar nice and early.”
