Funding shortfall threatens Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi
Organisers must raise $200,000 within two weeks to stage the coastal trail; federal funding has been limited and the education program is being cut for Sydney’s exhibition.
The fate of Sculpture by the Sea hangs in the balance three weeks before thousands are set to descend on Bondi Beach, as organisers race to raise a last-minute fund-raising target. The annual outdoor exhibition, staged along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, traditionally draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and claims the title of the world’s largest annual free outdoor sculpture show. This year’s event is planned for mid-October, but organisers say they cannot guarantee a full art trail without essential funding.
Founder David Handley said about $200,000 remains to be raised in the coming two weeks to stage the exhibition in full, with a scaled-down version potentially possible if only half that sum is secured. He attributed the shortfall to a lack of federal government support for public arts funding, a sentiment echoed by local critics and supporters alike. “After nearly 30 years we have given up waiting for Creative Australia to show an interest in Sculpture by the Sea,” Handley said, adding that the organization’s perceived indifference reflects broader trends in how public arts funding is managed in Australia.
Local independent MP Allegra Spender also pointed to funding gaps, noting the shortfall is disappointing but that the community would “step into the breach.” A spokesperson for Creative Australia said the festival has not applied for any recent funding opportunities, including its recent arts project investments program, which closed on September 2. The agency stressed that funding does not automatically renew at the end of a cycle and that organizations must apply through an open and competitive process. Australia’s government export agency, Austrade, has provided a different form of support, awarding a $1.5 million grant to back Sculpture by the Sea events at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia in 2026 and 2027.
The Sydney edition has also cut its education program for students, a staple of the show that typically engages about 2,400 pupils in artist-led tours and sculpture workshops. Handley urged potential donors to contribute to keep the program and the trails alive: “If 100 people or companies each donate $2,000 we can make this year’s exhibition happen.”
Artists themselves invest heavily to participate, with an average outlay of about $15,000 to design, fabricate, ship and install works along the clifftop route, and some pieces from international entrants have already arrived in Australia ahead of the event.
The scale of Sculpture by the Sea’s attendance and its impact on the local arts scene underscores the uncertainty facing the festival. Organisers say they remain hopeful that fans, collectors and local businesses will rally to ensure the Bondi edition goes ahead, while supporters emphasise the broader need for consistent public funding for the arts across Australia. The coming weeks will determine whether the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture show can proceed on its traditional scale or return in a leaner form.