The winners of City of Ryde's 2024 Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize (SWAP) were announced during a glittering Opening Night and Awards ceremony held at Meadowbank's See Street Gallery on Thursday 5 September.
A total of $4,700 in prizes were handed out in five categories, with three People's Choice Awards totalling $300 still to be decided.
This fantastic competition is something Council stages every year to raise awareness of environmental issues and to encourage positive behaviour change using artworks and design objects from upcycled waste materials as mediums of communication.
There were 178 entries to this year's competition, which is a testament not only to SWAP's enduring popularity but also the Ryde community's genuine engagement with sustainability.
Judges Joanne Rijke, Tim Braham and Josephine Bennett were left with some difficult choices such was the high standard of entries, with astonishing levels of imagination and creativity on display.
The winners are:
Junior Category
Winner: Peppa Watson – Zero Waste Hero
Runner Up: Giaan Ch'ng – A New Leaf
Youth Category
Winner: Chelsy-Lee Ordonez De Cross - Disco-Debris
Runner Up: Henrietta Robinson – Cottage of Plenty
Open Category
Winner: Leanne Cowie (pictured, above) – Bowls of Forest Whispers
Runner Up: Victoria Monk – Listen
Functional Award
Winner: Wendy Richards (Open) – Banner Remix/Woven Table Mats
Runner Up: Kiki Margetis (Youth) – Hangers Holding Hope
School Participation Award
Primary School Winner – Putney Public School
High School Winner – Marist Sisters College Woolwich
Around 80 artworks and design objects have been selected for exhibition at See Street Gallery from Friday 6 September to Thursday 19 September 2024 and there is a virtual tour on Council's website from Friday 6 September to Sunday 22 September 2024.
The virtual tour can be seen at: ryde.events/SWAP
City of Ryde's commitment to sustainability
City of Ryde is committed to promoting sustainable living, waste reduction, biodiversity of our natural habitats and resilience in our community.
In response to the growing concerns about increasing waste and environmental pollution, Council is focused on reducing waste to landfill by 20 percent and littering by 25 percent by 2025 to help keep our environment clean.
To support the community in achieving these goals together, we offer engaging and effective behavioural programs like SWAP, which turns waste reduction into an impactful and enjoyable journey.
At a time when reducing waste is more crucial than ever, SWAP offers a creative and engaging way to learn new skills while discovering the artistic potential in items typically discarded.
