Townsville's premier foreshore will come alive this weekend as the highly anticipated art festival Ephemera returns to The Strand on Saturday.
The biennial event will give visitors to the waterfront precinct the chance to explore this year's 'trace-less' theme in a living open-air gallery from this Saturday through to Sunday 3 August 2025.
The public art festival is drawing a stronger focus on sustainability this year, with artists homing in on their connection to Country, the creative use of materials in their works and their environmental impact.
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said Ephemera was without doubt one of Townsville's most loved events, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to The Strand.
"It's hard to imagine a better place to be than exploring innovative artwork on The Strand during a stunning Townsville winter," Cr Greaney said.
"Ephemera is Townsville's love letter to art. Our city becomes the home of some of the best in Australian and international public art for two weeks, showcasing the strength of our city's reputation as the art and event capital of Northern Australia."
This year's prize structure includes a $10,000 Artistic Excellence Award, $1,000 each for the People's Choice Award and the Environmental Advocate Award and the new $1,000 Young Artistic Excellence Award.
Cr Greaney said she was particularly excited to see the works created by Townsville's young artists from Northern Beaches State High School, St Patrick's College Townsville, Carinity Education Shalom, Townsville Grammar School and Ryan Catholic College.
"The new competitive category for young artists and school groups is giving Townsville's youngest creatives the opportunity to challenge themselves on a professional stage," she said.
"Fostering homegrown creative talent is so important to entice young artists to continue their creative practice right here in Townsville as they progress in the years to come.
"This includes for our younger visitors, who can get involved by following along with a free Education Kit during their visit to see Ephemera."
This year also includes some exciting new additions to Ephemera, including Bulana: First Nations Projection, located on Strand Beach. This night-time beach projection features works by five First Nations artists - all are local or have strong ties to Saltwater Country. Bulana will be visible each evening from sundown. The artworks are brought to life with a soundscape by Natalia Mann's The Sonic Earth.
The festival will also include artwork by the internationally acclaimed artistic duo Allora & Calzadilla. The Puerto Rican artists have remade a version of their work Chalk. Visitors are invited to interact with life-sized and truly ephemeral chalks during daylight hours.
Visitors can vote for the wilson/ryan/grose Lawyers People's Choice Award by visiting the Ephemera website or by heading to the Ephemera information booth to cast their vote in the Marble Run. Voting closes at 11:59pm on Friday 1 August 2025.
Ephemera is open to the public until Sunday 3 August 2025.
