Art entries make a splash at 2026 Thirroul Seaside Festival
First Prize of $3,000 went to Giulia Corradi, for her abstract piece 'Grounding – breathe with me, merge with me'
An abstract artwork, a view to Mt Keira and an aerial vision of coastal homes were among the winners when Thirroul hosted its 34th Seaside and Arts Festival over the weekend.
The annual celebration is run by the Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club, with support from community sponsors. The weekend encompassed the Art Show at Thirroul Community Centre, the Sunday Seaside Fair at Thirroul Beach Reserve, and Art in the Shops across Thirroul.
The Art Show opened on Friday night, with guest speaker Tanya Van Der Water, CEO of Buckaroo Leatherworks in Bellambi, and the announcement of the Art Prize winners. Despite unseasonably cold and blustery conditions, audiences packed out the Thirroul Community Centre for an evening of art, food, drink, and celebration.
Guest speaker Tanya Van Der Water and flautists from WollCon
Bulli High School students catered the event, serving an array of savoury canapés and desserts, while flautists from the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music performed throughout the evening.
More than 540 artworks were entered into the Art Show in 2026, across categories including the Main Art Prize, Sculpture, Photography, Drawing, Printmaking, Miniatures and more.
This year’s judge was Daniel Mudie Cunningham, director of Wollongong Art Gallery, however, he was unable to attend opening night, so Karen Heffernan, the evening’s MC and a member of the Festival Art Committee, announced the winners.
First Prize of $3,000 went to Giulia Corradi, for her abstract piece Grounding – breathe with me, merge with me. Second Prize was awarded to Paul Baker for his landscape From Keira St to Mt Keira, while Skye Zaracostas won the Ambience of Thirroul Prize for her work View from above.
All agreed that this year’s Art Show was well-curated and well-organised. The opening speeches and prize presentation took place in Thirroul Library, while the exhibition was held across the Community Centre rooms.
“The layout is well-suited to a gallery space,” said Karen Heffernan. “You could go from one room to the next to the next with great comfort. The Library was also excellent because you could fit the entire audience in there comfortably, with great visibility and excellent acoustics.”
All prize winners and sponsors were acknowledged on opening night, and most were there to receive their certificates and have their photographs taken.
Attendees stayed late into the evening, enjoying the atmosphere while contemplating their votes for the People’s Choice prize. “The Art Show just gets better every year,” one audience member commented. “There are some really beautiful pieces in every single room. I wish I could buy more than one!”
L to R: Grounding – breathe with me, merge with me by Giulia Corradi, From Keira St to Mt Keira by Paul Baker and View from above by Skye Zaracostas
Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival 2026 Art Prize Winners
- Main Art 1st Prize: Giulia Corradi, Grounding – breathe with me, merge with me
- Main Art 2nd Prize: Paul Baker, From Keira St to Mt Keira
- Ambience of Thirroul: Skye Zaracostas, View from above
2nd prize winner Paul Baker (at right) with festival sponsor Kane Downie of One Agency
- Sculpture: Tanya Stubbles, Blue Coral
- Drawing: Sharon Moroney, Untitled
- Watercolour: Jack Draper, Giving birth to myself
- Photography: Olga Baldock, Evoking a story
- Printmaking: Alannah Dreise, Meredith – out on the town
- People’s Choice: Sheree Clayden, Kyah - Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Ambience of Thirroul winner Skye Zaracostas with spopnsor Kevin Rowlands of Beaches Hotel
- Miniatures 1st Prize: Karen Crea, Austinmer Rock Pool
- Miniatures 2nd Prize: Oska McCarthy, Chaos in the cafe
- Mini Sculpture: Kate Peacock, Can of sards
- Encouragement Award: Tommy Friday, Saltwater Dreaming
- Handler’s Choice: Malcolm Brown, Still Life with Kitten
- Student Encouragement Awards: Ada Rintoul (1st), Linnea Murray (2nd), Georgia Suttorina (3rd)
Highly Commended
Moira Kirkwood, It was a party but I can’t say when (Main Art); Faith Cunningham, Who will save you (Main Art); Judy Bourke, At my feet (Sculpture); Karen Heffernan, Here dwells remnants of past lives (Drawing); Nonee Walsh, Thirroul Coal Bird (Photography); Lilybeth Mayhew, Walking the Seacliff Bridge (Watercolour); Rosemary Orr, Raven (Printmaking); Lionel King, Anita’s (Ambience of Thirroul); Trine Scott, Bonito (Mini 2D); Sharon Pussell, Untitled (Mini 3D).
