Ephemera Outdoor Sculpture Festival – Coming Soon!

The Canefields Ephemera, now in its seventh year, has become a highly anticipated event in Home Hill, showcasing the creativity of local and state artists. Set against the picturesque Lloyd Mann Gardens, this outdoor sculpture festival transforms the park into an open-air gallery, allowing visitors to explore striking installations both day and night. This year’s exhibition builds on the success of previous festivals, continuing to attract artists from across Queensland and the local region.

Organised by the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce, the three-week festival runs alongside the Harvest Festival, which celebrates community, art, and culture in the region. The sculptures in Ephemera are temporary, encouraging visitors to appreciate them in the moment before they are taken down at the festival’s conclusion. The concept of "ephemera" reflects the transient nature of the works, creating a sense of urgency to experience them before they disappear.

A standout feature of the festival is its open invitation to artists of all backgrounds, from professionals to community groups and schools. This inclusivity has contributed to the event’s growing popularity, allowing a diverse range of creative voices to be seen and heard. Artists can compete for two major prizes: the $1,500 Open Prize and the $500 People’s Choice Award, the latter determined by public votes through the Harvest Festival’s Facebook page.

Only ten exhibits will be eligible for the prize money, but artists who are not competing are still welcome to display their work. Each of the top ten finalists will receive a $300 artist’s fee to help cover costs, with half paid upfront and the remainder awarded after installation and judging.

To qualify for the artist’s fee, participants must submit a completed entry form along with a drawing, photograph, or other reference material for their proposed exhibit. Only original artworks that have not been publicly displayed before will be considered. Judging criteria will focus on factors including size, visual appeal, originality, and the effort involved in creating each piece. Artists are encouraged to use recycled materials and to think about how their work will interact with the natural surroundings of Lloyd Mann Gardens.

With the sculptures exposed to Home Hill's tropical climate, artists must also account for environmental challenges such as wind and rain, as well as health and safety considerations.

Uli Liessmann’s ‘Peace’ won the Judge’s Choice Award at Ephemera 2023
Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

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