SmART competition now open

Transform trash into treasure at SmART Ballarat.  

SmART (Sustainably Made Art from Recycled Trash) is an art competition with a difference — the artwork must be made from used or recycled materials.  

The City of Ballarat will host the competition in conjunction with Ballarat Youth Services as part of National Recycling Week.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the SmART competition is designed to help the community reimagine the role of waste.  
 
“What we previously considered ‘trash’ can instead be a resource or something beautiful,” he said. 
 
“The competition aligns with the City of Ballarat’s progress towards a circular economy, the goal of which is to maximise value at each point in a product’s life and divert materials away from landfill.” 

Competition categories include:  

• SmART Open, for ages 18 and above.  
• SmART Youth, for ages 13 to 17. 
• SmART Young, for children up to 12 years. 

Prizes range from $20 to $450. Award-winning entries will be on display at the Ballarat Visitor Centre from 15 November to 18 November. 

Registrations have now opened and will close on Friday 4 November at 5pm. 

Competition entries must not be more than 150 centimetres in width or depth, and three-dimensional works can be free-standing or wall-mounted. Original products may only be used for assembling the work, binding, bonding or adhering paint.  

Art pieces can be submitted at the Ballarat Showgrounds Main Pavilion on Tuesday 8 November and Wednesday 9 November, from 4pm to 5pm. City of Ballarat staff will be available to collect art pieces.  

All pieces will be displayed at the Ballarat Show from Friday 11 November to Sunday 13 November from 9.30am to 4pm, where City of Ballarat staff and Ballarat Youth Group members will be assisting. Winners will be announced on Thursday 10 November. The people’s choice award will be announced on Sunday 13 November.  

Register for the SmART competition here.