Indigenous Sculptor Support Program Announcement

Photo of Sharyn Egan courtesy of the Artist.

Sculpture by the Sea is pleased to announce the Packer Family Foundation and Crown Resorts Foundation’s significant philanthropic donation to establish an Indigenous Sculptor Support Program for Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, including inviting Sharyn Egan, a leading Indigenous Sculptor from Perth, to exhibit at Cottesloe Beach this year from 4 – 20 March 2016.

The Packer Family and Crown Resorts Foundation’s support of the Indigenous Sculptor Support Program for 2016 and 2017 has three components that aim to facilitate the exhibition of sculptures by Indigenous Artists in the annual exhibition now and into the future:

• The Invited Indigenous Artist Program provides $10,000 towards the artist’s cost of fabrication, materials, freight and other costs such as travel and accommodation if they live outside Perth to exhibit in Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe each year;
• The Indigenous Employment and Vocational Training Program with funds to employ an arts worker to work during the exhibition period as a staff member in one of the exhibitions many roles including the Schools Education Program, Site Office, ‘Sculpture Inside’ gallery or as a member of the Site Crew. This year one member of the Site Crew has been employed with funds provided by the foundations; and
• An Outreach Program to a remote Indigenous Community for which the options are currently being explored.

Importantly the support of the Crown Resorts Foundation and the Packer Family Foundation also contributes in a major way to the costs of staging Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe as a major free to the public event for the people of Perth and its visitors.

‘Congratulations to Sharyn Egan who we are excited to exhibit,’ says David Handley, Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea. ‘We have always wanted to include opportunities tailored for Indigenous Australians in our exhibitions but have lacked a supporter to provide the funds. The Crown Resorts Foundation and Packer Family Foundations considered our proposal and were very enthusiastic, working with us to develop a program that would immediately benefit a number of Artists and people working in the Arts while having more far reaching aims.’

‘The Crown Resorts and Packer Family Foundations are pleased to be associated with Sculpture by the Sea’ says Barry Felstead, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Australian Resorts. ‘Making art more accessible for as many people as possible and providing opportunities for Indigenous Australians are two of our key priorities, and this partnership facilitates both. We are delighted that Indigenous artist, Sharyn Egan has accepted the invitation to exhibit this year and that she will be actively working on her sculpture over the first weekend of the exhibition: this will enhance what is already an iconic public event. We are also delighted that under the Indigenous Employment and Vocational Training Program, one member of the Site Crew has been employed to work on the exhibition: I have no doubt this will be an invaluable experience for them both’.

Sharyn Egan, who is Nyoongar Yorga (Aboriginal Woman of the South West), will make her work from woven natural materials, with Sharyn working on the first weekend of the exhibition. In this way visitors will be able to see Sharyn at work on her sculpture.

“I am thrilled to be invited to exhibit in Sculpture by the Sea this year, as it gives me a chance to make larger work and have it experienced by a wider and appreciative public, in what is a lovely outdoor venue,” says Sharyn Egan. “I am happy to acknowledge the important support of the Packer family and the Crown Resorts Foundation – their work is very important in encouraging the local and national community of professional sculptors.”