Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize 2025
The STA Region’s premier Waste to Art exhibition, with $2600 in prizes over three categories.
The WW2A Prize is an annual art exhibition with a deep commitment to reducing the waste going to landfill by inviting Artists to make art from waste materials. The exhibition is a gallery full of creative treasure made from trash complimented by a program of workshops and events.
ENTERIES NOW OPEN UNTIL 11 JULY – enter now
The Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize 2024 has a total prize pool $2600 provided by Wollondilly Shire Council. STA provide the Waste to Art Regional Workshop program.
- OPEN – (18+) $1700 1st Prize $1,000 / 2nd Prize $400 / 3rd Prize $300 Open to STA Region Artists
- Youth (12 -17 YEARS) & (7 – 11 YEARS) $400 4 equal prizes of $100
- WOLLONDILLY COMMUNITY – $500 All entries from Wollondilly artists
All works displayed in the exhibition are part of the STA Peoples’ Choice Award. The winner of which receives an STA Stories from the Studio feature.
$2600 in prize money. Entry is FREE and open to all residents of the STA region (Hilltops, Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Queanbeyan Palerang, Wollondilly, Wingecarribee, and Yass Valley). Maximum two entries per artist (entered in one form).
- Key Dates
- Thu 5 June Entries launch on World Environment Day. ENTERIES NOW OPEN UNTIL 11 JULY – enter now
- Fri 4 July – Wollondilly School Workshops (last day of term)
- 7-11 July – Holiday workshops across the STA region. Check our What’s On for dates as they are announced.
- Fri 11 July – Entries close
- Tues 15 July 10-2pm – Wollondilly Public workshop and late entry opportunity
- Tues 15 July 12-2pm – Selected works delivered to Wollondilly Shire Hall 52 Menangle Street, Picton
- Thurs 17 July 12.30pm-3pm – Official opening celebration
- Fri 18 – Sat 19 10am-2pm – Exhibition open
- Mon 21 July 1pm-4pm – work pick up
Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize is supported by Wollondilly Shire Council & Southern Tablelands Arts.
The Waste to Art regional workshops program is a great way to create a work in the lead up tothe WW2A Prize. Check our what’s on for dates as they are announced.
Tracy Luff, Bare Essentials
Recycled cardboard. 70 x 58 x 48cm
WINNER WW2A Prize 2024
Transforms recycled cardboard into a sculptural corset with a modest skirt, reflecting the urgent issue of textile waste. By repurposing discarded materials into art, this piece highlights the potential for creativity in confronting waste. Just as a corset reshapes the body, this artwork demonstrates how we can reshape waste into something valuable. It challenges our throwaway culture, inspiring a shift towards sustainability and innovative thinking in fashion.
POA
10.30am-2pm Thurs 15 May W2A Workshop at Creative Space Southern Highlands. Create work for an STA Box Gallery in Bowral Library over Winter. Drop in Building 1 Moss Vale TAFE
Mon 7 Jul 10am-1pm
W2A Workshop in Braidwood at the Glasshouse. Presented by STA and the Braidwood Academy of Creative Arts. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT
Tues 8 Jul 11am-1pm
W2A Workshop at the Upcycle Centre Moss Vale
Turn waste into art with at this creative workshop. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT
Wed 9 Jul 1pm-3pm
W2A Workshop at Goulburn Regional Art Gallery
A fun creative workshop for kids 7+ at the fabulous Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Thurs 10 Jul 1pm – 3pm
W2A Workshop at Yass Libary
Turn waste into art with a free workshop. All ages children to be accompanied. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Fri 11 Jul 10.30am-3pm
W2A Workshop with Tracy Luff at Connect@Gunning Station Turn paper & card based waste into art with a free workshop. Suitable for adults & young people 15+. BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW
Tues 15 July 10-2pm W2A Workshop in Picton
Includeds a late entry opportunity. FREE. All ages children to be accompanied. No bookings – SEE YOU THERE, 52 Menangle St, Picton
Textile Waste
The world is in a textile waste crisis and we need creative thinking to help solve the problem
The average Aussie purchases 27kg of new clothing and textiles every year, and discards 23kg into landfill. This contributes to the 6,000kg of clothing and textile waste being discarded into landfill every 10 minutes, putting Australia as the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the US.
We can fix this! We’ve gathered some scary facts and inspiring solutions…
Get Creative with your unwanted textiles
Don’t send it to landfill, your waste textiles can be so many things instead of going to landfill…
Art materials. Make creative works of art and craft from your unwanted clothes and textiles. A quick search online will show you lots of creative ideas to choose from.
Not ready to cut it up?
Pass It On. Donate your unwnated textiles to one of the many charities that operate Op Shops and social programs for people in need. There is sure to be one operating near you. And while the big charities are great, don’t forget your local community run Opportunity Shops.
OpShop.org is a free listing for stores selling goods for community and charitable organisations. The best site we know to find op shops, it’s better than a treasure map.
Fun fact – Rose the Exec Director at STA hasn’t bought a new garment in many years. All her clothes are second hand or made from recycled materials by creative people. True she is never seen in the latest fashions but her look is creative and eco-friendly.
Al Phemister Hope 2023
winner ot the WW2A Prize. Made from waste textiles with members of the community at a creative workshop.
The Wollondilly Waste to Art Prize is an annual Wollondilly Shire Council project delivered in partnership with STA.
Who is helping
- Clean Up Australia have a fab blog entry that’s full of easy tips and things to do. Top 10 ways to reduce fashion waste
- The Australian Government is acting on waste related to clothing textiles by funding the National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme with The Australian Fashion Council. Find out more
- Charitable Recycling Australia is the national network of charitable purpose-driven reuse and recycling enterprises. Find out more.
- Thread Count, a data report intended to inform future waste initiatives in the state.
- ‘Recycle Mate’ app from the EPA – information about your council’s recycling collection system.
- Planet Ark have a great page where you can find local options to recycle your unwanted textiles. This page is an STA favourite, easy to read and packed with cool tips. Panet Ark reuse and recycling.
- Upparel – your unwanted items get a second life through reuse and recycling to help close the loop on textile waste. Check it out
Big Picture Thinking
Be a savvy consumer with the following tips.
- Reduce – Buy less clothes using the money you save to buy items that will last longer. Fast fashion is cheap and very, very nasty. Buy clothes that you like and feel good in rather than the fashion of the day.
- Reuse – In Australia, most clothes are worn an average of just seven times. If you buy clothes you really like you will want to wear them more.
- Recycle – Buy second hand and donate you unwanted textiles (in good condition) for someone else to use.
- Repair – Mend your clothes and wear them for longer. There are heaps of sewing groups and learn to sew options to show ou how. Ask around or serch online.
Get informed
- ABC News. Australia’s fashion waste is a growing problem, but these scientists say they have an answer
- CHOICE – Is Australia waking up to its textile waste problem? There’s no better place than Choice to visit before you buy anything.
- Yahoo News – How to avoid being duped by fast fashion: ‘Designed to fail’
- “Eight Storeys” is commenting on the supply and demand pressures of the fashion industry, drawing on the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh that occurred on April 24th 2013.
- The shirt on your back – The Guardian
- What can old clothes be made into right now? Puzzles, pillows and plastic pellets – The Guardian
Waste to Art Self led Creative activities you can do now at home
Transform waste into art in Al’s magical Yass garden. Finish with a trip to Bargo resource centre.
Waste to Art Assemblage with Freya Jobbins
Make a fabulous work of art out of upcycled plastic toys.
The STA Community Bunting project. Turn your scrap fabric into a community resource. The perfect addition to any event, celebration or gathering. A family friendly creative activity to share.
Make a planter & watering can. Reduce plastic waste through upcycling rubbish into useful objects with Ryan M.
A 
activity.
Need inspiration? Check out the Waste to Art exhibitions from previous years
Waste to Art by Gunning Public School Sept-Oct 2023
Works of art created from waste materials by students at Gunning Public School
Steampunk Waste to Art 2022
At the Steampunk Victoriana Fair at Goulburn Waterworks.
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