The Union theatre Gallery was full to the brim with artists and art patrons on the night of Friday 7 June as the winners of the Lithgow round of the 2024 Waste 2 Art competition were announced and celebrated. Waste 2 Art showcases creative works made from reused waste materials. The aim is to challenge peoples' perceptions about 'rubbish' and to celebrate the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts. Local artists had the opportunity to address the crowd and share insights on their creative process and their passion for turning waste into art.
Lithgow City Mayor, Maree Statham applauded the event saying, "We have such a strong pool of artistic talent in our community, and it was exciting to see all the creative ways that waste can be repurposed into genuinely beautiful artwork. Congratulations to all the winners and I wish you all the best for the next stage of the competition."
Waste 2 Art provides an innovative approach to waste education and invites individuals, schools, and community groups to take up the challenge and repurpose materials that would otherwise have been thrown away or considered useless.
One of the event organisers, Lithgow City Council's Waste Education and Strategy Officer, Glynnis Nancarrow, highlighted the contribution Waste 2 Art makes to community waste education, saying "The volume of waste generated, particularly through packaging, is often overlooked. Waste 2 Art brings the scale of the waste we generate into focus, which starts an important conversation, all while creating some fantastic artworks."
The winners will now go on to compete in the regional Waste 2 Art competition in Parkes. The works will be on exhibition at the Lithgow Union Theatre Gallery until Thursday 4 July 2024 and the gallery will be open Monday – Thursday 10am - 12 noon.
Waste 2 Art is a Regional NSW community art exhibition and competition open to all residents of the NetWaste region. The NetWaste region has 26 member Councils, including Lithgow, and covers approximately 40% of NSW.
The Regional Waste 2 Art exhibition will be held in Parkes Shire Library, 25 Bogan St, Parkes NSW 2870 from 10 August 2024.
| Prize | Category | Artist | Title |
| 1st prize | Primary School- 3D | Zig Zag Primary | |
| 1st prize | 2D – Open | Michael Green | No where to go |
| Runner up | 2D – Open | Prudence Mogg | Tribal Whispers |
| 1st prize | 2D- Community | Olivia Geraghty | Water Rights |
| 2nd prize | 2D- Community | Clare McAdams | Kitty Litter |
| 1st prize | 3D – Open | Fiona Russel | Autumn Solace |
| Runner up | 3D – Open | Sarah Mitchell | Enlightenment |
| 1st prize | 3D – Community | Olivia Geraghty | Sail Away |
| Runner up | 3D – Community | Bathany Fairbairn | A bit of everything |
| 1st prize | Functional | Kathy Argoulas | Plastic Fly door curtain |
