Creativity and sustainability took centre stage at Outback Arts in Coonamble as the 2026 Waste 2 Art competition opened May 15 2026.
The annual program, coordinated through regional councils across western NSW, invited people of all ages to rethink waste and recycling by creating artworks from reused and recyclable materials.
The theme for this year’s entries was ‘Shrink your Footprint.’
The exhibition bought together sculptures and mosaics, wearable art and functional pieces for one of the region’s most colourful community initiatives, highlighting both artistic talent and environmental awareness.
The program is not only about art, but also about starting conversations around waste reduction and sustainability in regional communities.
It shows that items usually destined for landfill can be turned into something creative and meaningful.
There were some amazing innovative pieces on display with local artists using everything from scrap metal and plastic bottles to old machinery parts, cardboard, fabric and household items.
The Theme Winning piece was from Coonamble local Jackie Harris called ‘Life Has No Rewind’ and featured a cassette tape.
“I found the tape at a garage sale and put the rest of it together from stuff I found in cupboards,” Mrs Harris said.
The competition traditionally features a range of categories including open, school, community group and functional art section.
Coonamble Shire Mayor Daniel Keady spoke at the event thanking all the organisers for a job well done.
“In a Net Waste initiative, it is important to use some of our waste creatively and I have even seen a wonderful fish trap for only $150,” he said.
“Congratulations to all who have taken part and put their creative minds to work.”
Outback Arts Executive Director Jamie-Lee Trindall said the Waste to Art idea was not only about making art work out of waste but exhibiting the art work was important also.
“It means that other people will be talking about recycling so it is educating everyone to reduce their waste.”
“The theme for this year was ‘Shrink your Footprint’, and we had a wonderful artist Sarah Rodgers, go on the road and into all the communities in the Outback Arts area to do workshops with kids and Adults.”
“It is a challenge every year to display them because we never know how many we are going to get and it is super fun to unwrap them and see what everyone has done,” she said.
The winning entries head to the regional exhibition and competition, this year hosted by Albert Kersten Mining and Minerals Museum, Broken Hill from August 10 to September 4.
Full Results:
The winner of the Primary School – Two-Dimensional category was Anne Hertel (Coonamble) with ‘Recycled Fashion’.
The Primary School – Three-Dimensional winner was Maliyan Room (Coonamble Public School) with ‘King of the Jungle’.
The Primary School – Functional category was won by Maiden Kelly – (Brewarrina) with ‘Light Flow’.
The High School – Two-Dimensional winner was Takquirah Boney (Coonamble) with her work, ‘The Far Away Blossom Tree’.
The High School – Three-Dimensional category was won by Tom McKeown (Coonamble) with ‘The Rose’.
The winner of the High School – Functional category was Remi Cohen (Coonamble) with her piece, ‘Hops’.
Community – Two-Dimensional was won by Jackie Harris (Coonamble) with ‘Treasured Memories’.
Community – Three-Dimensional went to Linda Moore (Collarenebri) for her piece, ‘Bigibila Book Baby’.
The Community – Functional category was won by Mim McKeown (Coonamble) with ‘Old Time Love’.
The Open – Two Dimensional was won by Anna Kennedy (Coonamble) for ‘salvaged horizon’.
Open – Three Dimensional went to Sarah Rodgers (Coonamble) for her work, ‘Loved and Adored… AKA ‘I Own You’.
The Open – Functional category was won by Rosanne Standfield (Gulargambone) for ‘Sunny Day Wear’
The Curators Award went to Waraba Group (Coonamble Public School) for ‘Emu Puppets’.
The Curators Award also went to Harmony Kelly (Brewarrina) for ‘heArtery’.
The SIMS Metal Award was given to George McKeown –(Coonamble) for his work, ‘The Archer’.
The 2026 Theme Award also went to Jackie Harris for ‘Life Has No Rewind’.