By Holly Thompson
Local governments offered to fund the now-cancelled Sculpture by the Sea event if the location was moved from Cottesloe to a different beach, state ministers have claimed.
West Australian Premier Roger Cook said his government had doubled its allocated funding and he had met with organisers in recent years to discuss ways to make the event, which transforms Cottesloe beach for 230,000 visitors over 18 days in March each year, financially viable.
‘The Boab’ at Cottesloe 2021. Credit: Getty Images
Creative Australia – the federal arts funding agency – should be “held accountable for the decisions they make”, Cook said when questioned on whether the body should release its reasoning for ceasing to contribute.
“I don’t have line of sight as to who’s to blame in relation to this, but we’ll continue to work with Sculpture by the Sea because it’s an event that everyone loves,” he said.
But Cook also said there had been alternative funding available, and he had suggested organisers should consider staging the event at a different location to gain that funding.
Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said “significantly more grant funding” had been on offer from local councils outside Cottesloe, but the suggestion of moving the event was rejected.
“I think that’s something that could have been looked at … I think that discussion should be open,” Saffioti said.
“I’m disappointed that some of the corporate sponsorship has dropped away.”
Town of Cottesloe Mayor Lorraine Young told Radio 6PR on Tuesday that the Town had supported the event for 20 years and even formalised support through an ongoing funding arrangement a few years ago to give organisers more certainty, as well as providing “a load” of in-kind support.
“Our staff bend over backwards to make sure that we do everything that we can to make the event a success,” she said.
Organisers earlier expressed their dismay at the cessation of federal support. They said it was one of Perth’s largest, longest running and most beloved public events, a major free exhibition that transformed Cottesloe beach into a temporary world-class sculpture park, accessible to everyone.
Chen Wen Ling, ‘Red Memory Smile’, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2011.Credit: Viviane Dalles
But significant costs were associated.
Over the 20 years of the event, 596 artists from 44 countries have participated.
“Exhibiting artists collectively contribute approximately $1 million towards the costs of displaying their sculptures, with 50 per cent of the artists not recovering any of their costs from sculpture sales or the artist awards or subsidies,” organisers said in a statement.
“Nevertheless, a very large number of artists from WA and around the world are in full support of the exhibition and the unique opportunity it provides sculptors.”
WA artists have written to the federal arts minister asking for intervention.
Denise Pepper, a Perth-based artist who has exhibited at the event 10 times since 2009, said it had been a “game-changer” in her career.
WA artist Dr Jon Tarry said the lack of funding “felt like a funeral”.
“We can’t believe it’s happening and how anyone responsible for the public arts in Australia could let this happen. Sculpture by the Sea is what every city in the world would love to have,” he said.
Liberal candidate for Cottesloe Sandra Brewer said she had been in contact with the Sculpture by the Sea team over the past few months as they worked to secure a sponsor.
“I’m hopeful that a last-minute appeal for assistance might prove successful,” she said.
“At a time when many in our community are struggling with cost-of-living pressures, community events like Sculpture by the Sea offer an accessible way to enjoy a family day out and engage with the arts.
“I’m saddened that so many people will now be denied that opportunity.”
This is not the first time the organisers of Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe have been forced to consider pausing the exhibition but, unlike in previous years, no solution has been found.
Private donors rescued the event in 2019.
Jarrod Taylor, ‘Structural Wave’, Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2021.Credit: Richard Watson
In 2020, only public donations matched by billionaire Andrew Forrest allowed the show to go on, and it was forced to close three days early because of the pandemic.
State sponsorships only represent about 20 per cent of the $2.2 million the event costs annually. Private donors and sales commissions each contribute another 20 per cent and corporate donors 10 per cent, with other smaller income streams making up the rest.
In 2021 Tourism Western Australia stepped in, with three years of funding.
Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea David Handley said he hoped the federal government would enable the exhibition to return in 2026.
“As Sculpture by the Sea Cottesloe grew in response to the large number of visitors, the interest from artists around the world and the scale of the sculptures, so did the costs to stage each exhibition,” Handley said.
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