The City of Ryde unveiled the winners of this year's Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize (SWAP) at Meadowbank's See Street Gallery on 3 September ahead of a two-week exhibition showcasing many of this year's amazing creations.
With $5,000 in prizes on offer, the competition attracted 103 entries across five categories, and the quality of the artworks left the judges with some very tough decisions.
This year's winners were:
Open Category – Alice Kucera for CANalysed
Youth Category – Annabelle Wennen for Spread the News
Junior Category – Abigail Tecson and Sophie Sutcliffe for Artificial Irreversible
Functional Award – Grace Widders for Revamped
Schools Participation Award – Primary school winner St Kevin's Catholic Primary School, Eastwood; High school winner Ryde Secondary College.
SWAP is an environmental art competition for people aged 10 and over who live, work, study or play in the City of Ryde.
It aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage positive behaviour change using artworks and design objects made from upcycled waste materials as mediums of communication.
City of Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown said SWAP not only provided a wonderful opportunity for Ryde's young creatives to showcase their talent, but it also delivers an important message.
"This environmental art competition celebrates creativity, sustainability, and the inspiring ability to see beauty where others see waste," he said.
"But SWAP is more than just an art competition - it's a powerful reminder that what we discard can still have value, purpose, and a second life as something extraordinary.
"At the City of Ryde, we are committed to promoting sustainable living, the circular economy, waste reduction, biodiversity of our natural habitats, sustainable transport, and resilience in our community."
The free SWAP exhibition can be viewed at See Street Gallery until 19 September from 11.00am-4.00pm Tuesday to Saturday.
A digital exhibition will also take place online until 20 September, after which the People's Choice Award for the Open, Youth and Junior categories will be announced.
For full details, click here
