Sculpture by the Sea exhibition returns to Perth's Cottesloe Beach after funding battle

Perth's popular beachside exhibit Sculpture by the Sea has returned, after being cancelled last year due to a lack of funding.

The exhibit, now in its 21st year, brings hundreds of thousands of people to Cottesloe Beach to view sculptures from local and international artists.

The event was cancelled in 2025 when federal arts agency Creative Australia cut its funding.

But new grant funding of $750,000 through Austrade, alongside a state government contribution, has revitalised the event, allowing it to run for this year and next.

Galvanising support

The 2026 exhibition features 70 artworks from both Australia and overseas, including 11 from Japan.

Sculpture by the Sea founder and artistic director David Handley said the large-scale outdoor exhibition had attracted over 3.7 million visitors since its inception.

"The Perth public was fantastic in making their voice heard when the exhibition was cancelled," he said.

"That galvanised the political support, it helped us get corporate support, it helped keep the private support."

Mr Handley said while it had been a "challenge" to bring the event back, he was excited to welcome crowds to enjoy new art.

"Each year, Sculpture by the Sea is a new exhibition, we've got 15 artists who've never exhibited ever before with us," he said.

"So every time, the artists transform the beach in a very, very different way."

The essence of the beach

Mr Handley said Australia's beach identity is central to the event's popularity.

"I wish I knew what kept people coming back each year, but I think it's that essence of how Australians love the beach," he said.

"The beach is who and what we are if we live by the coast, and Sculpture by the Sea has become part of modern Australia."

This year's event will showcase five sculptures by artists from India, including Dr Subodh Kerkar, who first started applying to participate in Sculpture by the Sea 21 years ago.

"Initially, my work was not accepted, then it started getting accepted," he said.

"I came quite a few times all the way from India, carrying my sculptures, sending my sculptures, and I really loved it."

This year Dr Kerkar was the Invited International Artist, showcasing a performance installation titled Oceans and Civilisations.

Noongar performance art

Noongar woman Karla Hart was selected as the Invited Aboriginal Artist, leading another performance artwork with a Noongar women's dance group.

Architect Erica Zaino created the sculpture ART or Artificial Real Time, which she said she wanted her piece to raise a question for future generations.

"The question is, where are we heading with the use of artificial intelligence?', she said.

"Basically, the traditional way we think of art is to be individual, to be creative and with this work, I wanted to raise the question for the children of today, where are we going with art?"

Ms Zaino's human figures sculpture includes an augmented reality feature.

"You can come to the beach, scan the QR code, and replicate this work anywhere in the world," she said.

"This is a step forward on how we can use technologies implemented in the art and in the creativity."

The event runs from March 6 to 23.