Beloved Sydney event Sculpture by the Sea may be relocating from the Bondi coastline that has been its home for 23 years. In its history, this event has showcased and attracted some of the most talented artists and sculptors around the world.
With the Waverley Council having initiated a new footpath around the park, the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world may need to find a new location.
Sculpture by the Sea may be moving to a new location starting 2020 due to the construction of a footpath.
Whilst the event is due to go ahead in late Spring of 2019, it’s estimated that the footpath, due to be completed in September, will reduce the number of sculptures able to be exhibited by at least nine, as well as severely impacting the accessibility of another 12.
However, designers of the new footpath claim that the locations of sculptures exhibited over the last 10 years were taken into account during the designing process and that no sculpture exhibits will be impacted as a result.
The event is by far the council’s strongest source of revenue annually, allowing local hospitality businesses to thrive. Its contribution to the NSW economy over the last 23 years also cannot be overlooked, with tourist intake from the event contributing $38.9 million to the NSW economy.
While a move to another location in NSW would surely see the state economy benefit from keeping the event, it’s hard to see a location as central, world famous and attractive as the current location. Ultimately however, the decision of whether the event will move from this location is up to the organisers, with funding and construction of the new park designs almost complete.
