The Western Plains Cultural Centre is brimming with community artworks inspired by waste as part of the annual Waste 2 Art exhibition.
The 2026 Waste 2 Art exhibition is on now until 9 August 2026. The exhibition features 69 artworks from school students, community groups and artists in the Dubbo Region.
The official opening of Waste 2 Art was held on Saturday 9 May at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, where the winners and highly commended of each category were announced.
2026 Waste 2 Art Winners:
- Early Childhood 2D – Preschool Possums – Community Kids Dubbo "How Folklore Starts"
- Early Childhood 3D – Kookaburras JP – Community Kids Dubbo
- Early Childhood Functional – Kookaburra Room – Stepping Stones Early Learning Centre Dubbo
- Primary 2D – Dru Martinez "Help! We are Drowning!"
- Primary 3D – Lola Houghton "Lil Waste Warriors"
- Primary Functional – Rain, Gracie, Tyla, Charlotte, Sansa, Maddie & Willow May "Totally 'Sic' Bag"
- High School 3D – Molly Jones "Our Street"
- High School Functional - Year 9 – Central West Leadership Academy "For the Future Generations"
- Community 2D – Ellen Scott "Wildflowers and Last Days"
- Community 3D – Caroline Tarr "Against the Tide"
- Community Functional – Bernadette Jump "Vases"
- Open 2D – Margaret Lynch "Box Office Wordage"
- Open 3D – Alan Stanger "A Staple Diet"
- Open Functional – Margaret Lynch "All Keyed Up"
"The winners across the various categories were announced at the official opening on Saturday. There were so many great artworks, they definitely made it difficult for the judges to choose the winners," Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Josh Black said.
Waste 2 Art encourages people to reduce, reuse and recycle with a focus on behavioural change about the things people throw away with this year focusing on shrinking your footprint.
"Waste 2 Art is such a great example of how creative people can be with items that are considered rubbish. This year's exhibition is a testament to the creativity and resourcefulness of our community."
"The Waste 2 Art competition is always very popular with this year's competition being no different. We encourage everyone to come and see the creative artworks on exhibition," Clr Black said.
For more information about the Waste 2 Art exhibition, visit www.westernplainsculturalcentre.org/waste2art
