Sydney & Perth may play host to the famous annual outdoor Sculpture by the Sea exhibitions but did you know the Canberra region is currently host to our very own spring outdoor sculpture festival? And it is magnificent!

Set in the rolling hills of the historic National Trust property, ‘Cooma Cottage’ in Yass,  Sculpture in the Paddock allows visitors to wander through the grounds and interact with the installations at their own pace at a truly unique event. Featuring a variety of sculptures that are fun, whimsical and sympathetic to the landscape, the festival boasts work from both local & interstate sculptors of national and international standing.

Sculpture in the Paddock’ allows visitors to interact with the installations

Why Yass?

Sculpture in the Paddock was conceived by local sculptors Al Phemister and Duncan Waugh as part of the 2013 YASSarts arts weekend.

Part of the impetus behind the project was the fact that the Yass Valley boasts an unusually high proportion of sculptors. Veteran sculptor Rosemary Madigan, whose work features in state gallery collections; Michael le Grand, past head of Sculpture at ANU; Wendy Teakel, current head of Sculpture at ANU; David Jenz and Phil Spelman, whose work can be found in public spaces throughout Canberra and beyond, and Lee Tunks who runs ‘Man of Steel’ a company that specializes in contemporary architectural and sculptural metalwork – to name just a few. On top of this, the town of Yass boasts no less than four sculptures by iconic Australian sculptor, the late Tom Bass.

The hope is to now develop the project and to include a scholarship program for young up and coming sculptors in the region.

Sculpture in the Paddock

What you need to know

This is the last weekend of the festival!

When: 16 September – 8 October 2017 – open 10am-4pm

Where: Cooma Cottage, 756 Yass Valley Way, Yass.

More information: www.sculptureinthepaddock.com.au