A sea of sculptures to transform Cottesloe Beach

Returning to Cottesloe Beach for an unprecedented 20 days, Sculpture by the Sea begins today with 62 sculptures from across Australia and overseas on display.

Tourism Minister Liz Constable, who launched the exhibition today, said Sculpture by the Sea had become one of Perth's most popular cultural events since its inception in 2005.

She said about 100,000 people viewed the exhibition last year and organisers were expecting similar, if not more, visitors to Cottesloe Beach this year.

Dr Constable said the sculptures made a positive contribution to the status and profile of Western Australia as a dynamic and vibrant tourism and event destination.

"Arts and cultural events like this are great for tourism because they contribute to the liveliness of a city or region, making it more appealing to visit," she said

"The State Government is very pleased to be supporting Sculpture by the Sea in 2009, through Eventscorp's Arts and Cultural Events Scheme.

"Our funding has had a positive impact on the exhibition, which this year has been extended from 13 to 20 days.  There has been more interstate marketing and promotion and the number of sculptures on display has increased from 54 to 62."

Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the Art Gallery of Western Australia would be extending its Touch Tours for sight-impaired visitors to the exhibition, using $20,000 from the State Government's Disability and Arts Inclusion Initiative.

Mr Day said the tours would give vision-impaired people the chance to access and interact with the exhibition.

"The opportunity for people with vision impairment to experience these sculptures through touch tours demonstrates the State Government is working to ensure art is accessible for everyone," he said.

"We do not need all our senses to enjoy art, but we do need the opportunity of access and these touch tours provide this chance."

The Disability and the Arts Inclusion Initiative is a collaborative program between the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA) and the Disability Services Commission (DSC).

Sculpture by the Sea will run until Tuesday, March 24.  Further details are available at http://www.sculpturebythesea.com  

Tourism Minister's office - 9222 9699

Culture and the Arts Minister - 9213 6600