The South Canterbury Eco Centre is excited to bring back Junk to Funk 2026 in collaboration with Enviro NZ and Crow’s Nest!
Get creative, think sustainably, and transform unwanted materials into something incredible. Whether it’s wearable art, functional creations, sculptures, or imaginative school projects – this is your chance to show what can happen when creativity meets reuse.
We welcome entries from preschoolers through to experienced adult creators.
Event Dates
Sunday 19th July
Online entries close if not already at capacity!
Friday 31 July
Entry Drop Off 12:00pm – 5:30pm Entries delivered to the Eco Centre
Judging will occur Friday evening or Saturday.
Sunday 2 August 2026
Public Exhibition & People’s Choice Voting 10:00am – 2:00pm
Come along to view the creations and vote for your favourite!
- Gold coin entry – Funds raised will go towards the Eco Centre playground project.
- People’s Choice voting – be in to win a Raptor Experience for voting!
- Prizegiving for entrants at 2:10pm
Competition Categories
Preschool / ECE – Upcycled Wall Art *NEW category!
- Free entry
- Entry to be displayed on the wall
- Certificate for every entry
- No judged prizes – far too hard to judge! 🙂
Guidelines
- Roughly A3 size or smaller
- Group/collaborative creations welcome (can be bigger than A3 if a large group collaboration e.g. an ECE entrt)
- Entries will be displayed on our green wall in the Junk to Funk display area
- Please clearly label with:
- child’s name
- ECE name (if relevant)
- age
Primary School – Junk to Funk
Years 1 – 8
Entry Fee: $5
Prizes
1st — $50 Prezzy Card sponsored by Enviro NZ
2nd — $30 Crow’s Nest voucher
Recognition Awards (x3) TBC
Guidelines
- Anything Junk to Funk: e.g. Funktional or upcycled art
- No bigger than a bedside cabinet
- Entries will be displayed on tables or floor spaces as appropriate. If your entry is designed to be wall-mounted, please provide a stand if possible. If not, we’ll work with you to find the best display solution when you drop off your creation.
- Read entry requirements for storytelling below
High School – Junk to Funk
Years 9 – 13
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes
1st – $100 Prezzy Card sponsored by Enviro NZ
2nd – $100 Timaru Booksellers voucher
3rd – $50 Crow’s Nest voucher
Message for Year 9 – 13 — > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myrRFerM0uE
Guidelines
- Anything Junk to Funk: e.g. Funktional or upcycled art
- No bigger than a bedside cabinet
- Entries will be displayed on tables or floor spaces as appropriate. If your entry is designed to be wall-mounted, please provide a stand if possible. If not, we’ll work with you to find the best display solution when you drop off your creation.
- Read entry requirements for storytelling below
Adults – Funktional or Upcycled Art
2 categories – Funktional or Upcycled Art
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Prizes for each category
1st – $150 Prezzy Card sponsored by Enviro NZ
2nd – $100 Timaru Sewing Centre voucher
3rd – $70 Crow’s Nest voucher
Guidelines
- Choose one of the 2 categories – Funktional or Upcycled Art
- No bigger than a bedside cabinet
- Entries will be displayed on tables or floor spaces as appropriate. If your entry is designed to be wall-mounted, please provide a stand if possible. If not, we’ll work with you to find the best display solution when you drop off your creation.
- Read entry requirements for storytelling below
People’s Choice Award
This is voted for by the public during our Public Exhibition (yes entrants can vote)
Winner – $100 Prezzy Card sponsored by Enviro NZ
Public Voting Prize Draw – Raptor Experience
Entry Requirements
Each entry should include a short blurb telling us things like:
- what materials were used
- where they came from
- your inspiration
- how you transformed them
Optional extras:
- before and after photos
- progress photos
These stories help visitors and judges understand the creative process and environmental impact behind your work.
Judging criteria is in the entry form – link below.
How to Enter – please note there will be limited entries
- Fill out the entry form here by Sunday 19th July. We will close category entries if we are at capacity before this date.
- Pay via this page – scroll down (any issues with payment working please don’t hesitate to get in contact!)
Check out 2025’s entries for inspiration here
Junk to Funk Free Holiday Activity
Details here
A huge shout out to our amazing event sponsors helping make Junk to Funk 2026 possible!
If you are interested in supporting this event we would love to hear from you:
- helping host the event
- volunteering behind the scenes
- assisting with marketing or promotion
- sponsoring prizes or materials
- supporting creative sustainability in our community
- support with our Junk to Funk holiday activity
Please get in touch with the Eco Centre to be part of Junk to Funk 2026
Contact Alice – admin@scecocentre.org.nz or 0273228177