Welcome to Waste As Art 2012

Now in its 13th year, Waste as Art (WAA) encourages residents of the Hunter Valley to turn waste into creative, interesting, inspired, and even crazy art pieces.

It's about using our resources wisely, and showing our community that waste is NOT always waste and that it CAN be a useful resource, and also a source of inspiration.

Venue - What's old is new again

The 13th Waste as Art Exhibition will be the new Newcastle Museum.

More detail will be available closer to the date.

Entry into the 2011 Waste As Art Competition is now closed.

Keep an eye out for the 2012 application forms in the new year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an artist?

NO! This competition is open to everyone and we encourage you to have a go.

How old do I have to be to go in the Open competition?

There is no age limit in the Open category, but the Primary and High School Categories can only be entered by young people, going to school.

Why can't my artwork go in more than one category?

Logistics, logistics, logistics! With nearly 250 entries each year it would take forever to sort artworks if they were able to go into more than one category.  But don't forget you are able to enter a maximum of two pieces in each category; you can enter in all the categories provided you have a separate piece of artwork for each.

Why can't I use seashells and driftwood that I found at the beach?

Waste as Art encourages the transformation of waste into a valuable resource. Seashells and other things picked up from their natural surroundings are not considered waste for the purposes of this competition.

Can I enter artwork that has been in other competitions or exhibitions?

Yes - provided it was created within the past 12 months and that it hasn't been entered in the Waste as Art Competition before ... and of course it must be made of waste and comply with the other conditions!

What if my artwork is bigger than 3.5 cubic metres or longer than 1.5 metres?

Unfortunately due to space constraints, it won't be accepted.

What if I don't get my entry in by June 24 2011?

Start creating an entry for the 2012 Competition! The 24th of June is the final day for entry forms.  But remember that your artwork does NOT need to be finished at this time. You will still have until the 24th of July to finish and deliver your artwork. 

How is the competition judged?

Two judges are invited from the arts community of the Hunter and one from the waste management area. All artworks are given numbers, and are judged without the panel knowing the name of the entrant. Only the title of the artwork, the category into which it is entered and the artists' notes on the creation of the artwork are given to the judges.

Will my artwork be exhibited?

YES!  All artworks entered into the competition are exhibited for a period of 4 weeks at the Hunter Wetlands Centre.

What if my artwork is damaged during the exhibition?

While every care is taken to prevent damage, the organisers will not be responsible for any loss or damage to any of the artworks or materials.