One of Sydney’s most popular cultural events, Sculpture by the Sea, is at risk of cancellation this year unless organisers can raise an additional $200,000 within the next two weeks.
The outdoor exhibition, scheduled to open on October 17 along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, attracts around 450,000 visitors each year. The not-for-profit organisation behind the event relies on sponsorships and government support to cover costs and pay artists but says it has been unable to secure federal funding for 2024.
Founder David Handley has now appealed directly to the public for financial help to ensure the sculptures can be installed by mid-October. He said even $100,000 would allow a scaled-down version of the exhibition to proceed at South Bondi.
“This exhibition costs $3 million to stage, and we’ve already cut $200,000 from last year’s budget. We’re understaffed and under resourced,” Handley said.
The office of the Federal Arts Minister referred questions to Creative Australia, the government’s arts funding body. A spokesperson said the organisation had not applied for support through its most recent funding programs.
“Creative Australia provides a range of avenues for investment, including multi-year and project-based funding,” the spokesperson said. “Funding does not automatically renew at the end of a cycle. Organisations must apply through an open and competitive process.”
Handley said Sculpture by the Sea did apply for funding in 2023 but was ranked in the bottom third of applicants nationwide. As a result, its federal support dropped from $1 million in 2023 to nothing in 2024.
Unless new funding is secured quickly, the future of one of Sydney’s most iconic public art events remains in doubt.
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