David Doyle (NSW), ‘Kaaku-Kaakulinya Eternal Sentinels’, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2026. Photo Charlotte Curd
This year, in addition to continuing the NRMA Insurance Artist Subsidy and NRMA Insurance School Education Program, the partnership will support the launch of the NRMA Insurance Indigenous Artist Program, providing $20,000 to an Indigenous artist to create and present an ambitious new sculpture at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi.
The inaugural recipient, David Doyle, is a Barkindji and Malyangapa artist based in Broken Hill, NSW. His practice is grounded in intergenerational knowledge and explores relationships between Country, identity and cultural continuity. Doyle’s sculpture ‘Kaaku-Kaakulinyа: Eternal Sentinels’ explores protection, resilience and continual presence through two shield forms. Created in cast iron and steel, the work is installed on Tamarama beach looking out to sea..
In addition, four artists Matt Calvert (TAS), Koichi Ishino (NSW | Japan), Sonia Payes (VIC), and Lu Yuanliang (China) will each receive $5,000 through the NRMA Insurance Artist Subsidy, assisting with the material costs of creating, transporting and exhibiting their work.
Together, these initiatives provide $40,000 in direct support to five artists participating in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, doubling NRMA Insurance’s direct support of the exhibiting artists.
Sculpture by the Sea is also delighted the NRMA Insurance School Education Program will return in 2026, providing free or highly subsidised artist-led sculpture making workshops and tours for 2,000 school students from across greater metropolitan Sydney and regional NSW.
Artists and experienced Sculpture by the Sea educators incorporate collaborative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths) hands on learning to create experiences that extend beyond the classroom, allowing students to explore making sculpture, developing creative responses to the exhibition. Since the School Education Program began at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi in 2004 over 42,500 students have participated.
In addition, the exhibition attracts an estimated additional 8,000–10,000 students from Sydney and regional NSW each year who come on school excursions, demonstrating the reach of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi as a place for young people to learn and experience art in the environment.
NRMA Insurance Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Emily Roberts said:
“NRMA Insurance is delighted to be returning as a major partner of the iconic Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi exhibition in 2026.
“We’re proud to grow our partnership in its second year, helping support artists, students and the broader community experience the joy, inspiration and creativity of this much-loved event.
“Our support of the inaugural NRMA Insurance Indigenous Artist Program, provides an important avenue to help ensure First Nations storytelling is celebrated, understood and elevated in Australia’s arts and culture scene.”
Sculpture by the Sea Founding CEO & Artistic Director David Handley said: “We are delighted NRMA Insurance has joined us for a second year as a major partner, doubling its commitment to artists and continuing support for the NRMA Insurance School Education Program. This support makes a real difference to artists and helps us continue to stage Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi as a free to the public event for all to enjoy.”