Sculpture by the Sea actively promotes building community by introducing the public to a broad range of sculpture within accessible local settings. Our exhibitions are free to the public and support emerging and established artists from local and international backgrounds.
Our Access and Inclusion Program is always being further developed to ensure people of all ages and abilities can experience sculpture in a beautiful setting. Supporting the active role of individuals with diverse abilities within the community, and as audience members. The program also cultivates partnerships with organisations, schools, and individuals that represent people with disability. Our Tactile Tours Program accommodates for the needs of individuals with vision impairment and other needs regarding sensory processing.
Sculpture by the Sea would like to thank the Australia Council for the Arts, Waverley Council and the AGNSW Access Guides for making the Access and Inclusion Program and Tactile Tours possible.
Come along to meet the exhibiting artists at their sculptures as they share their stories each Saturday and Sunday during the exhibition. Grab a bean bag and relax as the artists and an interpreter discuss the ideas and process behind their sculptures and their journey to the Bondi coastal walk. Check the Sculpture by the Sea App for a schedule of the talks closer to exhibition.
Join us as we launch the exhibition and present the People’s Choice Award at the below dates:
Launch of the Exhibition
Location: Marks Park
Dates: Friday 20 October 2023
Times: 11am – 12pm
Cost: Free of charge
Aqualand Artist Talks
Location: Marks Park and Tamarama
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays during exhibition (20 October – 6 November)
Times: 10am – 12pm and 1pm – 3pm
Cost: Free of charge
Allens People’s Choice Award
Location: Marks Park
Dates: Sunday 5 November 2023
Times: 2pm – 3pm
Cost: Free of charge
Led by a specialist educator, the tour will introduce the exhibition and present a selection of works with a focus on encouraging students use of language to describe subjective and objective responses to the sculptures and the processes involved in their creation.
Location: Marks Park
Dates: Weekdays throughout the exhibition (20 Oct – 6 Nov)
Times: 10.30am -11.30am (60mins)
Cost: $185 (max 15 students in each group)
For subsidised options and tours spoken in other languages please contact [email protected]
Tactile Tours offer people with disabilities a guided tour with an experienced Sculpture by the Sea guide. They are encouraged to interact, respond and engage with a selection of sculptures nominated by both the artist and the Site Manager as being safe to touch. The tours take place in accessible areas in Marks Park.
Location: Marks Park
Dates: Weekdays throughout the exhibition (20 Oct – 6 Nov)
Times: 10am onwards
Cost: Free of charge
Bookings are essential contact [email protected]
Our outreach program Sculptors to Schools is available to schools in greater Sydney throughout the year supporting students with disability and limited access. For more information please visit the link below:
The Sculpture by the Sea Access & Inclusion Program offers large print Exhibition Catalogues on loan from the Catalogue Information Marquees and manual wheelchair loan.
When planning your visit to Sculpture by the Sea, please note that the site is significantly busier and more crowded on Saturdays and Sundays than it is during the week. For people with disability, we recommend visiting midweek. There is limited access to much of the site and we recommend viewing the sculptures in Marks Park. Tamarama is accessible via a steep ramp to two 1/2 hour accessible parking spaces. The parkland area is grassed with pavement along some of the beach.
For more information on bus routes and timetables click here.
The coastal 2 km walk runs from the South end of Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach, and is connected by various walkways and stairs. Visitors are advised that there is little wheelchair access along the full length of the sculpture walk and seating along the pathways is also limited.
Marks Park provides the best access to a large selection of sculptures, the area is mostly flat and grassed. This area is also the designated drop-off and pick-up zone for visitors requiring accessible entrance to the site.
The location of the drop-off area is on the corner of Kenneth Street and Marks Lane. Vehicle owners will then have to seek parking elsewhere, where normal parking restrictions will continue to apply. To drop off and pick up at the designated area you will need to display your disability permit to the traffic controller to enter Fletcher Street.
Please refer to the Waverley Council map for accessible parking spaces in the area. Due to the popularity of the exhibition, access is restricted to Notts Avenue, Fletcher Street, Kenneth Street and Marks Lane from 9am-6pm. You may have to drop off your passengers and drive quite some distance to secure a parking spot. We would advise visitors requiring accessible parking to consider visiting the site during the week, as vehicle access can be more difficult during the weekends.
We have come up with some suggested easy walking routes whereby you can see almost all of the exhibition while avoiding most of the stairs. The blue route indicates a walking tour specifically for those not comfortable with stairs or walking long distances, focusing on Marks Park, where you will also find the ‘Sculpture Inside’ gallery which showcases artists’ smaller works and accessible toilets. The red route indicates a walking tour for those who are comfortable with some stairs, moderate slopes and walking over 1km. You can download the map here.
Accessible Toilets are available in the Marks Park toilet block. There are larger stalls with handrails in both the women’s and men’s toilet blocks. There is an additional single occupancy accessible toilet in the toilet block open from 6am-8:30pm each day the exhibition is open. Visitors requiring a hoist are advised to bring their own.
If you are planning a group tour of the exhibition and require assistance with limited mobility group access, please call the Site Office on +61 2 8399 0233.
For further enquiries, please contact our team:
E: [email protected]
P: (02) 8399 0233