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Ephemera Past

Image credit:  Dominique and Samuel Chen, Dream Palisade, Strand Ephemera Artistic Excellence Award Winner 2019

Strand Ephemera was established in 2001 by Townsville City Council to showcase the talent of regional artists in a national arena.

Today, Ephemera has become one of the largest biennial outdoor sculpture festivals in Northern Australia.

Ephemera is supported by a multitude of engaging public programs and features a selection of curated sculptures of national and international acclaim alongside those vying for the $1,000 People’s Choice Award, $10,000 Artistic Excellent Award and the $90,000 Ephemera Acquisitive Prize.

Ephemera is organised by Townsville City Galleries and assisted by a volunteer task force.

Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures 2021

As a part of the 20th year celebration in 2021, Strand Ephemera was rebranded to Ephemera: Seaside Sculptures and welcomed the inclusion of a new $90,000 Ephemera Acquisitive Prize proudly supported by the Queensland Government.

Staged over nine fabulous days and nights from Saturday 17 July - Sunday 25 July 2021, Ephemera transformed The Strand into a 2-kilometre outdoor seaside sculpture exhibition attracting over 180,000 local, national and international visitors.

Ephemera 2021 showcased 28 artworks by local and nationally renowned artists, including 19 competitive sculptures, four sculptures by invited artists, two school projects, two projection artists and a chalk artist.

Congratulations to:

  • Torin Francis for winning the Artistic Excellence Award for his piece Way.
  • Christopher Trotter for winning the Ephemera Acquisitive Prize for his piece Foreigner.

Read the 2021 Exhibition Catalogue

Previous years

View the list of artists, winners and catalogues since the Strand Ephemera's creation in 2001.