The Union Theatre came alive last Friday night as the 2025 “Waste 2 Art Awards” were announced, with artists of all ages and abilities gathering to celebrate creativity, sustainability, and community.
This year’s theme, “Toys”, inspired an extraordinary range of artworks, all made from reused or discarded materials. From imaginative preschool sculptures to sophisticated open category pieces, the exhibition showcased how everyday items destined for landfill can be transformed into thoughtful, playful and functional works of art.
Mayor Cassandra Coleman was among those presenting awards on the night and praised the local response to the annual competition.
“Waste 2 Art is an awe-inspiring community art exhibition and competition that motivates us annually to unleash our creativity,” she said. “This year’s theme was Toys, and tonight we celebrated the local award winners, honouring aspiring and professional artists who dared to dream big. The creativity and tenacity of transforming waste into breathtaking pieces of art is truly a testament to human ingenuity and the boundless potential that lies within us. I eagerly anticipate next year’s entries.”
Winners were announced across a number of age groups and artistic categories, including sculpture, mixed media, functional design, and conceptual art. Many entries drew inspiration from environmental concerns, playfully challenging viewers to consider their relationship with waste and consumption.
The Early Learning/Encouragement Award went to Jack and Jill Preschool for “Gugaa”, a vibrant piece that charmed the audience with its colour and character.
Zig Zag Public School took out the Primary School (3D) category for “The Keepers Nest: Collected and Connected”, which combined intricate detail with strong storytelling.
In the community sections, “Worlds of Our Own” by Art Club won the 2D award, Sharon Lewis’ “Dinosaurs Didn’t Read” claimed top spot in the 3D category, and Clare McAdam’s “All in the Jeans” won the Functional Art award.
The Open sections featured some of the evening’s most ambitious works. Fiona Bates, Beth Munro and Helen Munro jointly created “A Fun Day at Plastic Beach”, which won the 2D category. “The Sentinel” by Chris Anderson impressed judges in the 3D category, while “Tip Toys Merry Go Round” by Michael Green was awarded the Open Functional prize.
Special themed awards included “They Be Monsters That Wage War” by Macgregor Ross, which explored the central theme of toys with a dark twist. Fiona Russell received the Waste 2 Art Concept Award for “Buy. Break. Bin. Repeat.”, a thought-provoking piece that challenged the cycle of consumerism.
The evening not only acknowledged individual achievements but also highlighted the importance of waste reduction and environmental education. Through art, the message was clear: what we throw away has value – and often, a second life.
The “Waste 2 Art” exhibition will remain on display at the Union Theatre for the coming weeks, offering the wider community the opportunity to see the winning works up close.
For organisers, participants and guests, the night was a celebration of creativity with purpose – a fitting tribute to the power of imagination and the growing movement to turn trash into treasure.
“Waste 2 Art is an awe-inspiring community art exhibition and competition that motivates us annually to unleash our creativity,”
Mayor Cassandra Coleman
