EPHEMERA 2025: Trace-less

Townsville City Council acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, Bindal, Gugu Badhun and Nywaigi as the Traditional Owners of this land. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders – past and present – and all future generations.

Ephemera is the North’s leading temporary public art festival. Now in its 13th iteration, this beloved and highly anticipated biennial event attracts local, national and international audiences to Townsville-Gurambilbarra’s iconic location, The Strand.

Ephemera 2025 invites artists to think again about the ephemeral, and to make artworks that ‘trace less’. Artists may take a more thoughtful approach to making artwork on Country, use ephemeral materials or spark conversation and awareness of environmental impact. Artists are encouraged to explore everything from artwork concepts to materials when considering these themes

This year, Ephemera introduces a new competitive category for young artists and school groups alongside the celebrated open competitive category! 

Selected competitive works will be on display along Townsville’s picturesque 2km beachfront – The Strand – from 19 July to 3 August 2025. These will be exhibited alongside a selection of invited public artworks.  

Artists are invited to complete this online application to submit artwork concepts for

Ephemera 2025, entries close 10am Tuesday, 5 November 2024.

Entries close: 10am Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Successful applicants notified: Thursday 28 November 2024

Behind the scene video and Catalogue Images: 10am Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Compulsory WHS Induction: prior to Tuesday 1 April 2025

Installation Dates: Monday 14 July – midday Friday 18 July 2025

Artist Meet and Greet: Friday 18 July 2025

Judging: Friday 18 July 2025

Exhibition Dates: Saturday 19 July – Sunday 3 August 2025

Opening Evening: Saturday 19 July 2025

Artist Walking Tour: Saturday 19 July 2025

Demount: Monday 4 August 2025

AWARDS AND SUBSIDIES INCLUDE:

• $10,000 Artistic Excellence Award
• $1,000 Young Artistic Excellence Award
• $1,000 Environmental Advocate Award
• $1,000 People’s Choice Award
• $5,000 Artist Fee* payable to successful Open Artist Category entries
• $500 Artist Fee* payable to successful Young Artist Category entries

*Artist Fee is intended to support Artist/s in the creation and exhibition of their works, however, is not intended to cover all costs incurred by the Artist/s.

In developing proposals, Artists are asked to consider:

• The site along The Strand, Townsville- Gurambilbarra, for which the work is intended
• The scale of the artwork, with large-scale works strongly encouraged
• How the work will be viewed 24/7 (including during day and night-time hours)
• Themes and materials that support the theme “Trace-less”

• Within this application, Artists must select their artwork to be eligible for the open Artist competitive category or the Young Artist competitive category.
• Ephemera 2025 Young Artist Category is open to all artists and groups where participating artists are aged 18 years or under. The Young Artist competitive category is also open to primary and secondary school-aged learning institutions and primary and secondary school-aged organisations. Assistance in creating and installing Artworks can be provided by the school and organisation.
• Successful Young Artist Category applicants will be granted a $500 Artist Fee to support them in creating their work and vie for the $1,000 Young Artistic Excellence Award. (conditions apply, please refer to T&C's).
• Ephemera 2025 Open Artist Category is open to all local, interstate and international artists and community group entries.
• Successful Open Artist Category applications will be granted a $5,000 Artist Fee to support them in creating their work and vie for the $10,000 Artistic Excellence Award (conditions apply, please refer to T&C's).
• All successful applications are in the running for the $1,000 People’s Choice Award and the $1,000 Environmental Advocate Award.
• Townsville City Council will award up to 20 successful open category applications and up to 6 successful young artist category applicants to compete in Ephemera 2025

Only applications submitted online will be permitted. No hard-copy applications will be accepted. Entry is in accordance with and is deemed acceptance of the Terms and Conditions and the Entrant (Artist) is bound by and shall perform and observe all obligations upon the Artist pursuant to these conditions. Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.

If your application is successful, it will then form the contractual agreement between the Artist and Townsville City Council, ABN 44 741 992 072, and both parties will be bound by the terms included.

Please read the full Terms and Conditions prior to submitting.

To develop a strong, clear, and concise application, please make sure to consider the following:

• How does your work respond to the specific site?
• How does your work relate to the theme “Trace-less”?
• How will your work be displayed and viewed both day and night?
• Have you considered how the public will interact with your work?
• Due to the sub-tropical climate of Townsville, we tend to experience strong winds and rain along The Strand, have you taken these environmental factors into consideration when planning your artwork?
• How will you secure your sculpture without causing permanent damage to the natural environment?
• What skills are required to complete your work? Will you need to arrange additional help?
• Do you have the ability to complete the proposed work on time if selected?
• Can you easily transport, install, and demount your work?
• Have you considered costs associated with transporting your work?
• What are the potential health and safety aspects of your work? What issues may arise and can you mitigate them?

Ephemera is organised by Townsville City Council and programs are assisted by a volunteer task force.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before beginning your application.

If you have any questions while completing your application form, you can contact Perc Tucker Regional Gallery by phone on (07) 4727 9011 or via email at galleries@townsville.qld.gov.au

Townsville City Council collects and manages personal information in the course of performing its activities, functions and duties. We respect the privacy of the personal information held by us. The way in which Council manages personal information is governed by the Information Privacy Act 2009 (Qld). We are collecting your personal information in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and Local Government Regulations 2012 for the purpose of administering Townsville City Council’s Ephemera 2025. Generally, we will not disclose your organisational / personal information outside of council unless we are required to do so by law, or unless you have given us your consent to such disclosure. However, in performing the above functions, we may need to disclose your personal information to external Selection Panel members engaged by Council.

By entering this competition, you consent to Council displaying your Artist Name, Artist Statement and Artwork Details, on promotional materials both physical and online.

For further information about how we manage your personal information please see our Information Privacy Policy.