Remagine Art Prize

Theme – Built to Expire

The 2026 Remagine Art Prize theme is Built to Expire. The theme is an opportunity for artists to explore the highly problematic situation where many of the goods we now buy are literally built to expire. They are designed and manufactured to have a limited life-span. In other words, specifically designed with built in obsolescence.

Just about everything, from cars to phones or toasters is not built to last anymore. This equates to more replacement costs, more resource extraction, more energy used, more emissions, more transport and packaging required and more waste created. The life-cycle of these products is highly problematic and simply not sustainable.

A generation or two ago, many large durable goods were designed to be easily repaired, often by replacing a small component. Now in many items when a small component fails, the entire item must be replaced. Some examples include car parts, TVs, washing machines, dryers, or dishwashers. Who remembers their parents toaster that lasted their whole marriage, or even just the bread knife that was still sharp and still cutting soft bread easily 30 years later.

Built to Expire will deconstruct these perverse anomalies.

Key dates

• Call for Entries Opens: Monday, 12 January 2026
• Call for Entries Closes: Thursday, 19 March 2026 at 4pm
• Opening Night: Friday, 15 May 2026
• Exhibition Dates: Friday, 15 May – Sunday, 31 May 2026

The Remagine Art Prize finalists' exhibition is held at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby.

For more information please contact

Waste Project Officer
remagine@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Project Partner