Waste to Art 2026
COMING SOON
Waste 2 Art is a community art competition hosted by the Broken Hill City Art Gallery in 2026, challenging participants to transform waste and recycled materials into creative artworks.
The program combines sustainability education with creative practice and invites people of all ages and experience levels to rethink “rubbish” and give discarded materials a new life through art.
Waste 2 Art is open to preschool children, primary and high school students, community members and professional artists, with both 2D artworks and 3D sculptures or upcycled objects encouraged.
2026 theme: Fits in a Shoebox
The theme for Waste 2 Art Broken Hill 2026 is Fits in a Shoebox.
All artworks must:
This theme encourages inventive thinking, problem-solving and playful creativity while keeping the focus on reuse and sustainability.
Key dates
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Entries open: 1 April 2026
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Entries close: 8 May 2026
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Exhibition dates: 30 May – 17 July 2026
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Exhibition venue: Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
Entry forms and full conditions of entry will be available online soon.
About the competition
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Categories for preschool, primary school, high school, community and professional artists
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2D artworks and 3D sculptures/upcycled objects
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Judged prizes of $200 per category
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People’s Choice Award of $100 per category
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Selected winning works progress to the regional final in Dubbo
Waste 2 Art Broken Hill consistently generates strong community participation and positive feedback from exhibition audiences.
Sponsorship opportunities
We are currently inviting Far West NSW businesses to support Waste 2 Art Broken Hill 2026 through sponsorship.
Sponsorship directly supports prize categories, exhibition presentation and community participation, and helps ensure the program remains accessible and engaging for all ages.
Sponsorship options are available at:
Sponsors are acknowledged across exhibition signage, promotional material and selected marketing, with higher-tier sponsorships receiving additional recognition.
For full details on sponsorship tiers and acknowledgement levels, click here(PDF, 159KB).
To be included in all marketing material, sponsorships must be finalised by 18 February 2026.
Become a sponsor of Waste 2 Art 2026 by submitting the form below:
Get involved
Whether you’re an artist, a school, a community group or a local business, Waste 2 Art is a fun, creative and meaningful way to get involved in sustainability and the arts in Broken Hill.
More details and information packs will be available soon!
For enquiries about the competition or sponsorship, please contact the Broken Hill City Art Gallery.
About Waste 2 Art (Regional Program)
Waste 2 Art is a regional community art program delivered by NetWaste, engaging communities across the NetWaste region to create artworks made entirely from reused and recyclable waste materials.
Each participating council hosts a local Waste 2 Art competition, with selected winning artworks progressing to a Regional Showcase, which is hosted by a different council each year. In 2026, Broken Hill City Council will host the Waste 2 Art Regional Showcase.
The 2026 regional focus encourages participants to shrink their waste footprint, with all artworks required to pack into a standard shoe or boot box. Any waste material may be used, provided no new materials are introduced.
The 2026 Waste 2 Art Regional Showcase will be held at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre), Corner of Crystal and Bromide Streets, Broken Hill, with the official daytime opening on Saturday 15 August 2026.
Waste 2 Art celebrates creativity, sustainability and community participation by transforming waste into art and raising awareness around waste reduction and reuse.
Learn more about the Waste 2 Art regional program and access resources via NetWaste:
https://www.netwaste.com.au/waste-to-art/