Sculpture by the Sea marks three decades of free outdoor art

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 20:32 · Archive

Sculpture by the Sea, billed as the world's biggest free outdoor sculpture exhibition, opens its 30th-anniversary show in Sydney on Friday with 100 artworks.

Sculpture by the Sea opens its 30th-anniversary exhibition on Friday along the clifftops of Sydney's Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, featuring 100 artworks and expecting to attract about 450,000 visitors.

The event was founded by David Handley in 1997 with a bank account of $100 and was run entirely by volunteers from his lounge room. It is now billed as the world's biggest free outdoor sculpture show. The exhibition runs until November 2.

The organisation has faced funding challenges and rising production costs. In late 2025, it made a last-minute appeal for $200,000 to ensure the event could go ahead, with donors and NRMA Insurance stepping in as a major sponsor. Among the exhibitors is Barkindji and Malyangapa artist David Doyle, based in Broken Hill, who received $20,000 as part of a new program encouraging Indigenous artists to participate. Sculpture by the Sea's Perth iteration will be held on Cottesloe Beach in March.

How it is being reported

• Sculpture by the Sea marks 30 years of outdoor artBilled as the world's biggest free outdoor sculpture show, Sculpture by the Sea returns to Sydney's beachfront to mark 30 years in business.Perth Now · 15 Oct, 20:01
• Sculpture by the Sea marks 30 years of outdoor artBilled as the world's biggest free outdoor sculpture show, Sculpture by the Sea returns to Sydney's beachfront to mark 30 years in business.The West Australian · 15 Oct, 20:01

In this story: David Handley · David Doyle · Sculpture by the Sea · NRMA Insurance · Sydney · Bondi · Tamarama · Broken Hill

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