Cottesloe Beach Crowd, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2019. Photo: David Dare Parker
These donations will go towards covering the artists’ installation costs and event costs to ensure the survival of Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, which is enjoyed by over 210,000 people each March. If enough funds are raised, artists who have not sold their sculptures will receive assistance with their freight costs, something we have been asking the Federal and State Arts funding bodies to assist with for many years.
Organisers have had to halve the assistance provided to each artist for their heavy equipment costs to install their sculptures to just $1,000, with artists now underwriting even more of the costs of the exhibition that delivers so much to WA and Australia, including over $13M to the WA economy from visiting international and interstate tourists.
Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley said, “We are reaching out to everyone who enjoys visiting Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe to make a modest contribution and help the artists and our not for profit organisation put on this spectacular show. We are very grateful to the Minderoo Foundation for matching public donations and implore our visitors to join in to help support the exhibition that brings so much to Perth.”
In a statement, The Minderoo Foundation said, “We know the WA community loves Sculpture by the Sea and we’re happy to support the generosity of visitors, by matching their contributions. Depending on the response by the public to the matching campaign, Minderoo Foundation’s total contribution to Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe for 2020 will be up to $160,000, [1] a sum that is expected to make a significant difference to the long-term sustainability of the event.
“The exhibition livens up the Cottesloe foreshore, and is a unique opportunity for sculptors and brings all generations into direct contact with creative and thought-provoking works of art from around the world.”
Western Australian sculptor Anne Neil said, “Cottesloe’s Sculpture by the Sea is important for so many, many reasons, one of which is that it is an international exhibition and provides a fantastic opportunity for WA artists to present and showcase their artwork alongside recognised overseas artists. It is a well-respected international event that fosters an appreciation of sculpture as an art form and invites us all – artists and visitors alike – to engage with the art at any level we choose, so we hope the public will join in to help support us financially to bring this unique exhibition to life in WA.”
Fellow Perth sculptor Olga Cironis agreed, “We are so fortunate to have Sculpture by the Sea here in WA at this iconic Cottesloe site. This is an international arts event that attracts many locals from all over the state, country and international visitors, brings culture, creates a safe space for conversation and links us to other ways of seeing and being in the world. Art gives us a mirror to see ourselves more freely. It astounds and shocks me to hear that Sculpture by the Sea is being compromised because funding is scarce. I believe a healthy society is embedded in a culture that knows and includes art in the every day. If we lose this exhibition, we lose a slice of the cake called art and our society will grow hungry.”
We invite all visitors to see our Welcome Teams in the red t-shirts or our information marquees to make your donation. We will give you a red love heart stamp and would like to encourage you to display it prominently to show your support during Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2020 that runs from 6 – 23 March.
THANK YOU!
[1] The Minderoo Foundation has already donated $10,000 to Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe in 2020.