After a two year break, Waste to Art — one of the community’s favourite art programs — is back.
“Waste to Art is a very popular program that people look forward to,” said Jessica Moore, Cultural Development Officer. “Each year we are simply blown away by the community interest and the enthusiasm for taking some of our problematic waste and creating amazing artworks.”
Waste to Art is an annual competition and exhibition open to all local residents who reside in the Dubbo local government area (LGA). It showcases creative works made from reused and recyclable waste materials, with each year focusing on a particular material. This year it is ‘soft plastics’.
The aim of the program is to challenge peoples’ perceptions about ‘rubbish’ and to celebrate the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts. ‘Soft plastics’ include anything you can scrunch up in your hand, like plastic bags, chip packets, bread bags, etc.
“Unfortunately the majority of councils across Australia can’t accept soft plastic for recycling via their kerbside collection because it jams the automated sorting machines,” said Ms Moore. “Soft plastics are some of the most pervasive and dangerous forms of waste on the planet, with the very deeply concerning prediction that by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish.”
Waste to Art provides an innovative approach to waste education by inviting individuals, schools and community groups to take up the challenge, and create a new life for materials that would otherwise have been thrown away.
“Instead of ending up in landfill, waste materials can be turned into fantastic and exciting works of art,” said Ms Moore. “The results are always highly imaginative, and thought provoking with the collected artworks celebrating recycling and sustainable living.”
“Waste to Art is such a perfect example of how creative minds can take a problem and start to find a solution. Not only are great artworks being created, but we all learn something that helps us change our waste management behaviour – it’s a ‘win-win’ for the environment.”
With categories for Primary School, Secondary School, Community, Open (including professional artists), Building or Element of Building/Large Sculpture, there is an opportunity for the whole community to become involved in Waste to Art.
Entries are now open until 29 April, 2022. For more information and entry forms, please visit www.westernplainsculturalcentre.org/waste-2-art
