2026 Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar Competition
Photo: "Winter Sunrise at Urquhart Bluff" by Caroline Lawrey. The 2026 People's Choice Cover Winner.
The Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar Competition gives artists from across Surf Coast Shire an opportunity to submit an artwork for exhibition and inclusion in a free publication available to the general public.
About the Competition
The exhibition at Anglesea Art Space showed 117 artworks. Judges picked 12 to appear in the calendar, and a 13th was chosen for the cover through the People’s Choice Award, with votes from visitors at the exhibition and online. The event highlighted the talent and creativity of local artists.
Each selected artist receives a $300 cash prize and have their work professionally presented in the 2026 calendar.
View the 2026 winners
Congratulations to the following artists selected for the 2026 Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar.
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‘Shipwreck Trail’ by Alisha Lyon
Medium: Acrylic on primed paper
Artwork description: A fragment of a memory from down the coast.
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‘Clouds in the night sky’ by Archie Sullivan
Medium: Canvas
Artwork description: Archie Sullivan is a 10 year old artist living in Torquay. He is inspired by nature and loves to paint and draw landscapes. This painting is of Cosy Corner, which he was inspired to paint after going for a night walk.
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‘Torquay Surf Beach’ by Doug Banner
Medium: Acrylic
Artwork description: Early morning view across to the surf club painted from sketches and watercolour studies completed on location in March.
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‘Guardian of the Deep’ by Emma Hayward
Medium: Ceramic
Artwork description: Guardian of the Deep is a ceramic whale carrying a lighthouse and cottages on its back. Lit from within, the beacon glows and barnacles sparkle like stars. Inspired by daily ocean dips, it reflects community, ritual, and the guiding light we share through life’s tides.
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‘In the distance’ by Luisa Gioffre-Suzuki
Medium: Acrylic and pencil on canvas
Artwork description: An atmospheric scape that is reminiscent of a memory.
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‘Red Moon’ by Paul Weight
Medium: Acrylic
Artwork description: ‘Red Moon’ is part of the Banksii Series Exhibition held in Anglesea in September 2025 and reflects a deep love of nature, especially Australia's endangered black cockatoos. Red Moon is inspired by the local cockatoo's regular visits to Banksia trees at his home in Anglesea.
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‘A Home Amongst the Gumtrees’ by Penny Skinner
Medium: Watercolour
Artwork description: A pair of magpies circle one another, bound in a feathery dance amongst Australian native flora.
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‘DEEP SEA’ by Peter Day
Medium: Marine tumbled fishing rope and net.
Artwork description: Assemblage of marine debris polymers. Tangled within the halophytes, sand and sea grasses marine nylons colour the camouflaged, making obvious our ways.
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‘Female Superb Wren’ by Peter, Brighton
Medium: Photography
Artwork description: Young female Superb Wren on a Banksia.
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‘Surf Girl Crossing’ by Rosie Crone
Medium: Gouache on 300gsm watercolour paper
Artwork description: A Jan Juc beach house in the late afternoon sun representing off-beach coastal life. The house belongs to a 'girl surfer' and the sign has always caught the artist's eye.
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‘Winter Wonderland’ by Sachi Bridgeford
Medium: Watercolour, Markers, fine liner, pencil
Artwork description: ‘Winter Wonderland' is a richly layered reef-scape inspired by the tidal rock pools of Bells Beach. Native seaweeds and local marine species are intricately depicted, showcasing the remarkable biodiversity found within these small yet complex ecosystems.
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‘Spring Renewal’ by Sarah More
Medium: Acrylic on watercolour paper on plywood
Artwork description: Even in a forgotten backyard, new life finds sustenance under a dripping tap.
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People's Choice Winner
‘Winter Sunrise at Urquhart Bluff’ by Caroline Lawrey
Medium:Oil
Artwork description: The beauty of a cool winter morning - enhanced by a sunrise that warmed the heart and radiated breath taking colours
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Where to Collect a Calendar
Calendars will be available to collect from 8 December at the following locations:
Anglesea Post Office
Ph: 5263 1399
99 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea.
Anglesea Visitor Information Centre
Ph: 1300 614 219
Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea.
Email: torquayvic@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
Anglesea Art House
Ph: 0466 160 824
Anglesea Recreation Reserve - Part, 23 Cameron Rd, Anglesea.
Anglesea Art Space
2/103 Great Ocean Rd, Anglesea.
Email: artsteam@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
Aireys Inlet Post Office
Ph: 13 13 18
Shop 1/44 Great Ocean Rd, Aireys Inlet.
Deans Marsh Community House
Ph: 5236 3388
Email: cottage@deansmarsh.org.au
10 Pennyroyal Valley Rd, Deans Marsh.
Open Tues–Thurs, 9am–3:30pm.
Lorne Visitor Information Centre
Ph: 1300 891 152
15 Mountjoy Parade, Lorne.
Moriac General Store
Ph: 5266 1229
561 Cape Otway Rd, Moriac.
Torquay Visitor Information Centre
Ph: (03) 5261 4219
Surf City Plaza, 77 Beach Rd, Torquay.
Winchelsea Community House
Ph: 5267 2028
28 Hesse Street, Winchelsea.
Monday–Friday, 9am–2pm
Civic Customer Service
Ph: (03) 5261 0600 or 1300 610 600
1 Merrijig Drive (PO Box 350), Torquay.
Email: info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
2026: The Final Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar
After more than 25 years, the 2026 edition of the Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar will be the last. This decision reflects the evolving needs of our community and allows the Arts Team to invest in new, flexible and inclusive programs.
For further information, please contact the Surf Coast Shire Arts Team via email artsteam@surfcoast.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5261 0600.