Waste 2 Art 2026:
Shrink Your Footprint
Information for Students -Teachers - Community Groups and Artists
Waste 2 Art is a community art exhibition and competition that celebrates creative reuse. Artists, schools and community groups are invited to create artworks using recycled and reused waste materials that would otherwise go to landfill.
The program aims to challenge the way we think about waste and inspire people to rethink everyday materials through creativity, education and sustainability.
Participants from across the NetWaste region take part each year, beginning with local exhibitions in participating council areas before selected works progress to the regional showcase in Broken Hill.
Shrink Your Footprint
The 2026 theme encourages participants to think about the waste they generate and how it impacts the environment.
Artists are encouraged to:-
Look at everyday materials that often end up in landfill
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Reuse difficult-to-recycle materials such as soft plastics, packaging or textiles
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Transform waste into something meaningful or visually striking
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Consider how creative reuse can help reduce environmental impact
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Waste 2 Art is open to residents of participating NetWaste council areas, including:
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Schools and students
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Community groups
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Individual artists
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Professional and emerging artists
Entries can be submitted by individuals, classes, schools or community groups. Downloadable entry forms are available here, or can at collected from the Broken Hill City Art Gallery or GeoCentre. Entries close Friday 8 May, 2026.
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Prizes are awarded across the following categories:
PRIMARY SCHOOL
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2 Dimensional – Poster / Painting / Collage / Drawing | Prize: $100
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3 Dimensional – Sculpture / Installation | Prize: $100
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Functional – Furniture, craftworks or wearable items made from recycled materials | Prize: $100
HIGH SCHOOL
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2 Dimensional – Poster / Painting / Collage / Drawing | Prize: $100
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3 Dimensional – Sculpture / Installation | Prize: $100
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Functional – Furniture, craftworks or wearable items made from recycled materials | Prize: $100
COMMUNITY (Open to non-professional artists)
This category is open to anyone who is not a previous winner or professional artist, allowing community members to enter knowing they are not competing with professional artists or previous winners.
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2 Dimensional – Poster / Painting / Collage / Drawing | Prize: $150
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3 Dimensional – Sculpture / Installation | Prize: $150
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Functional – Furniture, craftworks or wearable items made from recycled materials | Prize: $150
OPEN (Professional artists and previous winners)
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2 Dimensional – Poster / Painting / Collage / Drawing | Prize: $200
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3 Dimensional – Sculpture / Installation | Prize: $200
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Functional – Furniture, craftworks or wearable items made from recycled materials | Prize: $200
ANNUAL WASTE THEME PRIZE
Each year a special prize is awarded to the artwork that best reflects the annual Waste 2 Art theme.
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2026 Theme – “Shrink Your Footprint” | Prize: $500
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To reflect the 2026 theme “Shrink Your Footprint”, all artworks entered into Waste 2 Art must be designed so they can pack down into a standard shoebox or boot box for transport.
This requirement allows winning artworks from across the NetWaste region to be safely transported to Broken Hill for the Regional Waste 2 Art Showcase and Finals.
Entrants are encouraged to think creatively about how their artwork can fold, collapse, disassemble or pack down to fit within the box. When packed for delivery, the artwork must fit completely inside the shoebox.
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All artworks must fit inside a shoebox when packaged.
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Artworks must be primarily made from reused or recycled materials.
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New materials should only be used where structurally necessary (for example glue or fasteners).
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Entries must include an artist statement (maximum 200 words) explaining the materials used and how the work relates to the theme.
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Works must be safe for display (no sharp edges or 240-volt appliances).
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The artwork must be delivered to your local exhibition packed inside the shoebox.
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If selected for the regional exhibition, the work will remain in this box for transport to Broken Hill.
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Artworks may fold, dismantle or pack down creatively to fit inside the box.
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Please include clear instructions for reassembly or installation if your artwork needs to be unpacked or reconstructed for display.
The artwork should not be made from the shoebox itself — instead, the box is simply used as the packaging for transport.
This challenge encourages artists to think about scale, sustainability and clever design, while helping reduce transport impacts across the region.-
The Broken Hill Waste 2 Art local exhibition will be held at the Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre), with winning artworks progressing to the regional showcase later in the year.
Location
Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
Corner Crystal and Bromide Streets
Broken Hill NSW 2880
KEY DATES:
Entries Open
1 April 2026
Entries Close
8 May 2026
Opening Event
30 May 2026
Exhibition Dates
30 May – 17 July 2026
Collection of Artworks
28 – 31 July 2026
Broken Hill 2026
Winning artworks from participating councils will progress to the Waste 2 Art Regional Showcase.
Location
Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
Corner Crystal & Bromide Streets
Broken Hill NSW
Regional Exhibition Dates
10 August – 5 September 2026
Opening Event & Winners Announced
Saturday 15 August 2026, 10:30 am
The regional showcase brings together winning artworks from across the NetWaste region and awards cash prizes across a range of categories.
Regional Prize Highlights
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Scrap Metal Major Prize: $1,500
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Mini Metal Awards: $500 each
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Additional bonus prizes recognising creative use of materials such as:
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Soft plastics
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Textiles
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Toys
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Problematic packaging
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Non-recyclable stationery
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To take part in Waste 2 Art Broken Hill:
1. Create an artwork
Design and create an artwork using reused or recycled materials that responds to the 2026 theme “Shrink Your Footprint.”
2. Download and complete the entry form
Entry forms can be downloaded from this site. Please complete all sections, including your artist statement and details about the materials used.
3. Deliver your artwork
Pack your artwork so it fits inside a shoebox and deliver it with your completed entry form to:
Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum (GeoCentre)
Corner Crystal & Bromide Streets
Broken Hill NSW
Delivery dates:
19 – 22 May 2026
4. Exhibition and judging
Selected artworks will be displayed in the Broken Hill Waste 2 Art exhibition, with judging taking place on 29 May 2026.
5. Regional Showcase
Winning artworks from the Broken Hill exhibition will progress to the Waste 2 Art Regional Showcase in Broken Hill later in 2026.
