Castaways Finalists Announced

The 16th Castaways will run from Saturday 26 October until Sunday 3 November. It will comprise three exhibitions: the Main Exhibition on Rockingham Foreshore, the Schools Exhibition on adjacent Churchill Park, and the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition at Rockingham Arts Centre, a short stroll from the beach.

Mayor Deb Hamblin said the City had received entries from WA artists of all levels, emerging and professional, including artists from Rockingham and the Perth metropolitan area, to Broome and Geraldton in the north, and Narrogin and Bridgetown in the south.

Castaways is an iconic and unique cultural event which attracts thousands of visitors to Rockingham eager to view the pairing of sculpture with environmental messages, a subject particularly relevant to our times, 

The selection panel has chosen 31 finalists for the Main Exhibition, 26 finalists for the Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition and 9 local Rockingham schools to be included in the Castaways Schools Exhibition.

Curator Lyn Di Ciero said the selection process had been exhaustive and that being selected as a finalist in Castaways could be life-changing for artists, particularly emerging artists.

“A virtual cornucopia of repurposed materials is being used by Castaways artists in 2024 to create innovative and thought-provoking sculpture, including dried grass, a 1960s kitchen Mixmaster, chip packaging, coffee grounds, aluminium wine bottle lids and street sweeper brushes”, Ms Di Ciero said

This year artists are vying for $27,000 in non-acquisitive prizes:

$10,000 Alcoa Major Award$5,000 Innovation Award$5,000 Capral Aluminium Sustainability Award$2,500 Maquette and Small Sculpture Award$2,000 City of Rockingham Local Resident Award$500 Alcoa Primary School Award$500 Secondary School Award$1,000 Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Awards – Main Exhibition$500 Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Award – Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition$250 Fremantle Ports People’s Choice Award – Schools Exhibition

The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Saturday 26 October.

Alcoa’s Kwinana Refinery Manager David Feast said the company loved supporting this event each year and seeing its end product in the sculptures.

“Aluminium is already vital to our everyday life and will play an even bigger role in going forward as the world tackles climate change. It’s essential for things like electric vehicles, new energy generation and energy storage.

“Good luck to all the artists and thanks to the team who bring this fantastic community event together,” Mr Feast said.

The City gratefully acknowledges the support of returning sponsors Alcoa and Fremantle Ports, and first-time sponsor Capral Aluminium.

2024 Finalists

Main Exhibition: Sean Adamas, Richard Aitken, Stuart Bryce, Sheryl Chant, Moira Court, John Dakin, Stephanie De Biasi, Tom de Munk-Kerkmeer, Paul Fontanini, Claire Garcia-Webb, Damien Gavillet, Richard Hammer, Terrance Humble, Cath Inman, Joan Johnson, Amanda Kirk, Rene Lehner, Rachael Lemon, Scott Michell, Marite Norris, Kim Perrier, Kelly Robbins, Garry Robson, Ed Stafford, Liliana Stafford, Kyle Sutton, Nicholas Thompson, Ben Veljacich, Mike Walmsley, Andrew Wilmott and Erica Zaino.

Maquette and Small Sculpture Exhibition: Gary Aitken, Lesley Barrett, Amanda Benn, Sherri Brown, Sheryl Chant, Carol Clitheroe, Tom de Munk-Kerkmeer, Lisa Dymond, John Eden, Sky Edwards, Linda Fardoe, Paul Fontanini, Sam Huxtable, Cath Inman, Janice O’Meara, Eleanor Pease, Margaret Rothery, Robin Scantlebury, Valerie Schönjahn, Emily Smith, Linda De Passey, Ed Stafford, Liliana Stafford, Nicole Steenhof, Carmen Tyrer and Chris Winspear.

Schools Exhibition: Bungaree Primary, Charthouse Primary School, Endeavour Schools, Living Waters Lutheran College (Primary), Living Waters Lutheran College (Secondary),  Ridge View Secondary College, Rockingham Beach Education Support Centre, Settlers Primary School and South Coast Baptist College.