By Sonia Isaacs
THE hinterland’s much loved Wootha Prize is back after it was cut from the hinterland culture calendar in 2025 as collateral damage following the axing of the Maleny Wood Expo.
Barung Landcare president, Barbara Kelly, told GC&M News she was excited to announce that the prestigious prize would now return in 2026.
The move marks a significant new chapter for the organisation and the Sunshine Coast’s artisan timber sector, with the revamped prize promising deeper community involvement.
Ms Kelly said she was excited by Barung’s renewed commitment to the event, describing the return of the prize as “bringing fresh energy, clarity and purpose to Barung’s creative and environmental work”.
She said the organisation had been exploring how to strengthen the event’s vision and impact.
“This is about honouring the Wootha legacy while shaping something that resonates even more deeply with our community and our landscape,” she said.
A major development is the consideration of a new home for the Wootha Prize at Montville’s Montvale Glasshouse. Constructed from recycled bridge and wharf timbers, the venue aligns closely with the prize’s longstanding ethos. “The venue sits so beautifully alongside our recycled timber prize,” Ms Kelly said. “There’s a real synergy between the space and our values of sustainability, craftsmanship and connection to place.”
Collaboration also forms a cornerstone of the refreshed direction. Barung Landcare is currently in discussions with the Montville Woods Gallery and the local Makers Design Fair to coordinate complementary events during the same long weekend, creating a wider artisan timber-themed festival in Montville.
“Each group will run their own event,” Ms Kelly explained, “but by aligning our schedules we can create something truly special, something that celebrates makers, draws people into town and strengthens our collective impact.”
After many years as the centrepiece of the Maleny Wood Expo, the Wootha Prize will stand as a prestigious standalone event in 2026.
The event supported by Sunshine Coast Council, Barung Landcare, and other significant sponsors will run from May 1–4 ,2026.
The prize will maintain its open-themed format, inviting artisans to submit works in Furniture, Sculpture or Tiny Treasures, guided by the ethos “Sustainable by Nature, Beautiful by Design”.
Founded in 2001, the Wootha Prize has built a reputation as a curated national competition.
More than 80 entries were received last year, with long-serving curator Corrie Wright shaping the final exhibition.
The Tiny Treasures category will again allow interstate artists to participate by post.
With three major category awards of $2,500 and a $10,000 main prize, Ms Kelly said the event represents “a powerful celebration of artistry, sustainability and community spirit”.
