About this episode

The episode features interviews with the winners of the 2026 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize, discussing their innovative works and the importance of sustainability in art and design.

We interview the winners of the 2026 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize , presented at Manly Art Gallery & Museum in August 2026 . Ceramicist Scott Duncan took out the Art category with his work Choice Quality , a ceramic piece inspired by everyday packaging materials such as fruit box cardboard. Drawing on his experience as a chef, Duncan explores cycles of consumption, waste and renewal through his practice. The work incorporates handmade beads created from recycled waste clay, transforming discarded material into something valuable and enduring. In this episode, Scott discusses what winning the prize means to him, his connection to Manly, and his creative practice at Kil.n.it Studio in Glebe. We also talk about the ideas behind Choice Quality and how his work encourages us to reconsider the materials we use, discard and overlook in everyday life. Scott is represented by Arthouse Gallery in Sydney We speak with Nahum McLean, Ben Styles and Stefan Lie , winners of the Design category at the 2026 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize , about their project Motherboard . Designers, researchers and surfers, the trio work at the Material…

People in this episode

Hosts: Fiona Verity, Julie Nicholson, Gary Seller

Guests: Scott Duncan, Nahum McLean, Ben Styles, Stefan Lie

Topics covered

• environmental art
• design
• sustainability
• ceramics
• waste reduction
• innovation

Keywords

• environmental art
• ceramics
• sustainability
• design innovation
• waste materials
• art prize
• recycling

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Kil.n.it Studio, Arthouse Gallery, Material Ecologies Design Lab, University of Technology Sydney

Books & works: Choice Quality

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