Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art Exhibition 2026
Terms and Conditions
About the exhibition
Waste to Art aims to increase the Lake Mac community’s awareness of and engagement in local waste issues including plastic pollution, marine debris, littering and resource consumption by delivering an opportunity for creative exploration and a showcase for local artists.
The project is run by volunteers through the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance, a not for profit association, operating in Lake Macquarie NSW.
Exhibition details
2026 Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition
23 October 2026 – 30 January 2027
The exhibition will be held across two different exhibition spaces at Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries.
Eligibility
Artworks
Artwork entries may be constructed from waste or communicate waste related issues. The artworks may be 3D (sculptural), 2D (imagery) or functional objects (e.g. furniture, wearable items etc).
Artwork specifications
Insurance
Registration process
Artists must complete and submit the registration form at www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/waste-to-art by Saturday 12 September 2026 to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition.
We will confirm if your artwork has been accepted by Friday 25 September, 2026.
The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance reserves the right to curate the exhibition as required and is not compelled to include all artworks received. Inclusion in the exhibition is subject to space available.
Artwork information
Successful artists will need to submit a good quality image of their artwork along with details about their artwork and how it relates to waste, litter or over-consumption.
It is a condition of entering this exhibition that artists give permission for photos of artworks to be used for promotional purposes.
Artwork must be substantially completed, and a photograph and artwork information submitted for consideration in the exhibition, by 5pm Friday 2 October 2026. Information to be emailed to [email protected]
Artwork transport, delivery and collection
Sale of artworks
People's Choice Award
We will encourage exhibition visitors to vote on the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be determined by a popular vote by visitors to the exhibition. Each venue will have two categories: group entry and individual entry.
Summary of key 2026 dates
Waste to Art aims to increase the Lake Mac community’s awareness of and engagement in local waste issues including plastic pollution, marine debris, littering and resource consumption by delivering an opportunity for creative exploration and a showcase for local artists.
The project is run by volunteers through the Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance, a not for profit association, operating in Lake Macquarie NSW.
Exhibition details
2026 Sustainable Neighbourhoods Waste to Art exhibition
23 October 2026 – 30 January 2027
The exhibition will be held across two different exhibition spaces at Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries.
- Launchpad@Swansea, Swansea Centre, 228 Pacific Highway, Swansea
- Launchpad@Charlestown, Charlestown Library, Corner Smith and Ridley Streets, Charlestown
Eligibility
- Registration is free and open to all community members.
- Artworks may be created by an individual or a group.
- Artworks must be original work by the artist(s) and not infringe any copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights or any third party.
- The exhibition is open to community members from across the region, but preference will be given to Lake Macquarie residents if required.
- The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance reserves the right to curate the exhibition as required, and is not compelled to include all artworks registered or received.
- Only artworks that have been registered by the closing date, and confirmed as accepted will be accepted. Artworks will not be accepted if they are unregistered or delivered outside the confirmed drop‑off time frame.
Artworks
Artwork entries may be constructed from waste or communicate waste related issues. The artworks may be 3D (sculptural), 2D (imagery) or functional objects (e.g. furniture, wearable items etc).
- Artworks constructed from waste
These works should be created predominantly from waste items. Waste items are defined as materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Please do not purchase new items in order to construct an artwork. For example, a sculpture made from salvaged plastic bottles would be 'constructed from waste', but a sculpture made from plastic forks which were purchased to make the artwork does not meet the criteria.
Please note natural materials (eg collected driftwood, seashells) are not considered waste materials. Artworks with a significant amount of natural materials will not be accepted. - Artworks with a waste related theme
These works should communicate a message about a waste related issue such as littering or over-consumption. These works can be made from traditional art materials, e.g. a painting, photograph, illustration, collage, and/or waste materials. - Materials and Safety Requirements: Artworks must be constructed from safe, non-hazardous materials and must not pose any risk to community members. Works must be free of hazards such as sharp edges, illegal drugs, medical waste (including needles, packaging, or controlled medications/substances). Artworks must not contain pornographic or adult content, including nudity.
Artwork specifications
- All artworks must occupy a floor or wall area no larger than 1 square metre or equivalent.
- Freestanding works should be no heavier than 20kg. There will be a small amount of space for freestanding artworks at the Swansea and Charlestown Launchpad spaces.
- Hanging artworks should be no heavier than 10kg.
- Hanging artworks must include a device suitable for hanging against a wall (eg. a suitable cord or wire with two flat D-rings on the back of the artwork).
- All artworks must be clean and must not contain dangerous items that could cause injury.
- All artworks must be sturdy so as to avoid risk of collapse or being easily knocked over. Please note that the exhibition spaces are not always directly monitored by staff.
- We cannot accept artworks designed to be suspended from above. All artworks must be designed to hang flat against a wall using a D-ring and the gallery track and hanging wire system, be placed on their base within a lockable glass cabinet, or be presented as free‑standing sculptures
- Mains powered artworks are not permitted due to limited power availability in libraries
- Please consider the space specifications at https://library.lakemac.com.au/Whats-On/Festivals-Exhibitions/LaunchpadLake-Mac-Libraries when designing your artwork.
Insurance
- Launchpad spaces are located within Lake Mac Library buildings. Please note that the exhibition spaces are not always directly monitored by staff.
- The Sustainable Neighbourhoods Alliance accepts no responsibility for artworks that may be damaged during installation or viewing or for any loss or damage that occurs.
- The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance does not hold insurance related to loss or damage of any artworks. Artists are responsible for insuring their artworks against theft or damage during transit and throughout the exhibition.
Registration process
Artists must complete and submit the registration form at www.sustainableneighbourhoods.org.au/waste-to-art by Saturday 12 September 2026 to be considered for inclusion in the exhibition.
We will confirm if your artwork has been accepted by Friday 25 September, 2026.
The Sustainable Neighbourhood Alliance reserves the right to curate the exhibition as required and is not compelled to include all artworks received. Inclusion in the exhibition is subject to space available.
Artwork information
Successful artists will need to submit a good quality image of their artwork along with details about their artwork and how it relates to waste, litter or over-consumption.
- Artist name or group name
- Artwork name
- Materials used
- Size, dimensions and weight
- Artist statement describing the artwork, what inspired it, and how it was created
- Price (optional)
It is a condition of entering this exhibition that artists give permission for photos of artworks to be used for promotional purposes.
Artwork must be substantially completed, and a photograph and artwork information submitted for consideration in the exhibition, by 5pm Friday 2 October 2026. Information to be emailed to [email protected]
Artwork transport, delivery and collection
- Artists must deliver their artworks to the exhibition space during the delivery period during business hours for inclusion in the exhibition. The tentative delivery period will be during the week of 19 October 2026. The timing will be confirmed with successful artists closer to the date.
- Artists must collect their artworks from the exhibition space, during the collection timeframe. Uncollected artworks cannot be stored for collection outside of the collection timeframe.
Sale of artworks
- Artists may choose to offer their artwork for sale. Sale of artworks processed through the POS system at the library will incur a 25% fee as part of the Launchpad@Lake Mac Libraries program which provides free exhibition space and installation support to artists. If you would like to sell your artwork through the Launchpad program, please include your sale price with the artwork information.
- All artworks will need to remain as part of the exhibition for the duration, with artworks being collected by the artists after the end of the exhibition.
People's Choice Award
We will encourage exhibition visitors to vote on the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be determined by a popular vote by visitors to the exhibition. Each venue will have two categories: group entry and individual entry.
Summary of key 2026 dates
- Saturday 12 September, 2026 - Artwork registrations close
- Friday 25 September, 2026 - Artworks acceptance confirmed
- Friday 2 October, 2026- Artwork images and label information submitted.
- Friday 9 October, 2026- Artworks completed and ready.
- Week of 19 October, 2026 TBC - Delivery of artwork to either Swansea or Charlestown location.
- Friday 23 October, 2026 - Opening night at Swansea
- 23 October 2026 - 30 January 2027 - Waste to Art Exhibition
- Saturday 16 January, 2027- Awards morning tea at Charlestown
- Week of 1 February, 2027 TBC - Pick up artworks from Swansea or Charlestown.
