SWAP | Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prize

What kind of art can be submitted?

• Artworks and design objects submitted to SWAP must relate to environment, sustainability or waste themes and be made from used or recovered waste materials 
• Works can be two or three dimensional. They can be an artwork such as a sculpture, assemblage, collage or textile piece, or a functional object you can wear or use. 
• Works must be no larger than 150cm in height, width or depth. This includes the frame or any other display devices. 
• Three-dimensional works can be free standing or wall mounted. If wall mounted, they cannot exceed 20kg in weight. 
• New (non-waste) products can only be used for assembling the work, including for binding, bonding and adhering. 
• All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor and created within two years prior to 26 July 2026. Artworks and design objects previously exhibited in other prizes and exhibitions are still eligible. 
• For cultural sensitivity reasons, artworks that contain certain unauthorised use of indigenous symbols, motifs or styles are not eligible. 
• Works that are considered offensive will not be selected. Council reserves the right to refuse to exhibit artwork that does not align to Council’s community values 
• A maximum of two entries may be submitted per person. 

Who can apply?

• All entrants must either live, work, study or play in the City of Ryde.
• Entrants must be 10 years and older

Council has created educational resources and videos to help you create your entries. There’s also tips on writing an artist statement and photographing your artworks.

Open Category

Winner $1,500 / Second prize $500
Open to people aged 18 years and over as at 26 July 2026

Youth Category

Winner $750 / Second Prize $250
Open to people aged 14 to 17 years as at 26 July 2026

Junior Category

Winner $300 / Second Prize $150
Open to people aged 10 to 13 years as at 26 July 2026

Schools Participation Award

Primary School Winner $250 / High School Winner $250* 
Awarded to the primary school and high school with the highest number of entries (maximum two entries per person). 

*Please note your school must be within the City of Ryde LGA to be eligible for this prize. 

Functional Award

Winner $500 / Second Prize $250
Judged from across all categories. Awarded to the design object which best uses reclaimed waste materials to form a functional piece.

People’s Choice Award

Junior Winner $100 / Youth Winner $100 / Open Winner $100
Open to all applicants who are selected for the exhibition in any category. Audiences will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite artwork or design object in the exhibition.

All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor and created within 2 years prior to Sunday 26 July 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

All entrants must either live, work, study or play in the City of Ryde. City of Ryde staff, Councillors and those employed or volunteering on the SWAP 2026 project are eligible to apply and be selected for exhibition but are not eligible to win any of the Prizes, with the exception of the People’s Choice Award. 

APPLICATION ASSISTANCE

To register your interest in gaining assistance to complete your application form, please call 9952 8222 or email CoR.SWAP@gmail.com. 

EXHIBITION

It is anticipated that around 80 artworks and design objects will be selected for exhibition at See Street Gallery, Meadowbank TAFE from Friday 4 to Saturday 19 September 2026. 

The selected artworks will also be able to be viewed online via a virtual tour on Council’s website from Friday 4 to Sunday 20 September 2026. Exhibition curator Nick Vickers and the students from the Cert IV Arts Administration course at Meadowbank TAFE will curate and install the exhibition. 

All works selected for the exhibition must remain on display in See Street Gallery, Meadowbank TAFE until after the conclusion of the exhibition. 

SECURITY, LIABILITY AND INSURANCE 

Artists and designers exhibit at their own risk. Insurance for the submitted works is the artist’s responsibility. The City of Ryde and See Street Gallery, The Northern Sydney Institute – part of TAFE NSW will exercise reasonable care with all works selected for exhibition but will not be responsible for loss or damage to the work while in their custody, during transit or on exhibition. 

SELECTING AND JUDGING

Artworks and design objects to be exhibited will be selected by the City of Ryde SWAP Project Team based on adherence with the entry criteria, environmental messaging and artistic merit. Artists and designers selected for the exhibition will be notified between Thursday 30 July - Friday 31 July 2026. 

The winners of the Open, Youth, Junior and Functional categories will be chosen by a panel of three independent expert judges. The winner of the Schools Participation Award will be determined by the school with the most entries. Please note that the school must be located within the City of Ryde LGA to be eligible for this prize. The winners will be announced at the official opening night and awards ceremony on Thursday 3 September 2026 between 6.00pm and 8.00pm at See Street Gallery, Meadowbank TAFE and published on Council’s website. 

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be determined by the entry with the highest number of votes cast by the public. The winner of this award will be published on Council’s website after the conclusion of the exhibition on Wednesday 23 September 2026. 

The City of Ryde reserves the right to change the judges without notification to the entrants. 

DELIVERY OF ARTWORKS

Selected works are to be delivered to See Street Gallery, Meadowbank TAFE on:

• Thursday 13 August 2026, 10am-6pm  
• Friday 14 August 2026, 10am-4pm 
• Saturday 15 August 2026 10am-4pm

Two-dimensional work must be ready for hanging with D-rings secured to the back, wire is not accepted. Three-dimensional works that are to hang must have a suitable hook or feature to hang the work from. Plinths will be provided for small artworks, but designers must supply their own mannequins. Works that contain multiple parts must be accompanied by instructions for display. 

The position and placement of artworks and design objects within the gallery is at the discretion of the curator. 

All queries related to artwork drop off are to be managed by the curator. 

COPYRIGHT AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Artists and designers own the copyright of their work and licence the City of Ryde to use the submitted images and take photographs of the exhibition that can be used for the exhibition catalogue, publicity, press releases and other promotion in print or on the City of Ryde website for the 2026 and future Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prizes.

DE-INSTALLATION

Artworks and design objects selected for the exhibition must be picked up in person with photo ID or receipt of entry on:

• Monday 21 September 2026, 10am-6pm  
• Wednesday 23 September 2026, 10am-4pm

Collection of works by other parties requires arrangement with the curator prior to Friday 18 September 2026. 

Works that are not collected by Wednesday 23 September 2026 may be disposed of. 

All queries related to artwork collection are to be managed by the curator. 

SALE OF ARTWORKS

Any sales will be made directly between the artist and the buyer. Sold artworks cannot be removed from the exhibition until after it closes on Saturday 19 September 2026. City of Ryde and Meadowbank TAFE do not take any responsibility for facilitating the sale of SWAP artworks. 

Artists and designers own the copyright of their work and licence the City of Ryde to use the submitted images and take photographs of the exhibition that can be used for the exhibition catalogue, publicity, press releases and other promotion in print or on the City of Ryde website for the 2026 and future Sustainable Waste 2 Art Prizes.

INTERPRETATION OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS 

In the event of a dispute regarding the interpretation of these terms and conditions, the decision of the City of Ryde shall be binding on all parties.