The Waste 2 Art community art exhibition and competition is back in 2026 and is challenging the way we look at waste with this year's theme 'Shrink Your Footprint'.
Waste 2 Art offers an innovative approach to waste education by encouraging people to repurpose rubbish into works of art. The aim is to change people's perceptions about waste and celebrate recycling.
Orange City Council's Sustainability Community Committee Chair, Cr David Mallard says this year's theme encourages participants to create art that fits within a shoebox.
"Think small and find uses for waste items which can't be recycled but can be converted into something creative," Cr Mallard said.
"By turning everyday objects headed for landfill into meaningful miniature art, Waste 2 Art shares its waste reduction message in such a unique way, by encouraging the community to showcase their creativity."
"Waste 2 Art appeals to a large cross-section of the community, from aspiring and professional artists to schools and community groups, and is a great way to highlight the amount of waste created by our communities every day."
While Waste 2 Art adopts a theme each year to draw attention to a particular problem, artists don't have to follow the theme if they don't want to.
The competition includes the following categories:
Primary School
- 2 Dimensional
- 3 Dimensional
- Functional - Utilitarian or serves a purpose
Secondary School
- 2 Dimensional
- 3 Dimensional
- Functional - Utilitarian or serves a purpose
Community
- 2 Dimensional
- 3 Dimensional
- Functional - Utilitarian or serves a purpose
Open
- 2 Dimensional
- 3 Dimensional
- Functional - Utilitarian or serves a purpose
Two free community workshops will be held for Orange residents at the Environmental Learning Facility at Orange Showground for interested participants to share ideas about their artworks and receive guidance and advice from local artist Jaq Davis:
- Saturday 2 May, 2-5pm: for children and their parents or carers
- Sunday 3 May 9am -12pm: for families with older children, community groups and other individuals.
