Ride the wave to big wins at SCAD Sand Arts Festival 2025

Contest rules

Sand Arts competitions are open to all SCAD students and alumni. Contestants may compete individually or in teams. Work in all categories is judged on creativity of design, quality of craft, and excellence of detail.

Event start: 10 a.m.
Judging: 2 p.m.
Award ceremony: 3:30–4 p.m.

Contestants who arrive early may start their work on the beach as soon as location flags have been placed after 9 a.m. Those who have completed pre-check-in at Herstand Hall and who have received their T-shirts and wristbands may go head directly to their assigned spot. Spots will correspond to the number on contestants' wristbands.

Standby registration

For students who have not registered prior to Friday, May 2, and who chose to compete on the day of, standby registration will take place at the South Beach pier, 10 a.m. to noon. Standby registration closes at noon that day.

Sculpting, location, and materials

Sculpting in the wrong area before time begins may result in contestants being asked to start over in their correct area. Contestants should also work above the tide line. Look for the high tide signs, category area, and category number.

Contestants are responsible for all materials brought to the beach. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages are permitted, and all garbage and materials should be collected, stored, discarded, or removed from the beach by the end of the day.

Contestants may not walk on the sand dunes or disturb the beach grass.

Entries in the Sandcastle, Sand Sculpture, and Sand Relief competitions must contain only sand and seawater. No other materials will be allowed. The use of natural objects found on the beach (e.g., shells, driftwood, seaweed, etc.), as well as the use of color or binding agents, dyes, or supports is expressly prohibited. Students who use prohibited materials will be disqualified and ineligible for prizes.

Judging begins at 2 p.m., however, contestants may continue editing their masterpieces as needed. After the 3:30 p.m. award ceremony, any contestants whose work was not awarded prizes will be asked to participate in the SCAD SERVE Sundown Stomp. During the Sundown Stomp, these contestants will level the sand in their area to return their area of the beach back to its original condition for the preservation of sea turtles and other wildlife.

All winning sculptures must remain on display until 5 p.m. Competition winners will proceed to the pavilion to claim their winning prize.

Content

The festival is a family event. Any artwork that contains nudity, profanity, controversial content, or other content deemed inappropriate by festival officials will be removed. Judges or festival officials may disqualify artists for failure to adhere to any of the above guidelines.

Waivers

Sand Arts Festival contestants and students who wish to take SCAD buses to Tybee Island should complete the trip and transportation waiver. Contestants should also complete the photo and video release form.

Competition categories

Sand categories

Entries in the sandcastle, sculpture, and sand relief competitions must contain only sand and seawater. No other materials will be allowed. The use of other natural objects found on the beach (e.g., shells, driftwood, seaweed, etc.), as well as the use of color or binding agents, dyes, or supports is expressly prohibited. Students that use prohibited materials will be disqualified.

Sandcastle

• Sculpt large-scale works resembling castle architecture

Sand Relief
Relief is a hybrid between drawing and sculptures. These are physically shorter than sand sculptures and are primarily visible from one direction using the ground as the back side.

• May be carved into the beach, modeled on top, or both
• May be representational, abstract, or nonrepresentational
• Must be less than 3 feet tall

Sand Sculpture

• May be representational, abstract, or nonrepresentational
• Must be at least 3 feet tall
• Should be sculpted fully in the ground to be seen from all sides

Air

Contestants in this category may arrive with their work any time between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Friday, May 2. Installation must be completed by 2 p.m. to be considered for judging and awards.

• May include kites, inflatable or flying sculptural forms, and kinetic, wind-powered objects
• Must be self-sufficient and sturdy
• Must not require the use of a generator or electronics for assistance

Human-powered projects that interact with the wind are acceptable

Students requiring transportation for their Air works, should label them "Sand Arts – AIR," with their name, email, and phone number to Wallin Hall basement workspace near the cutting table to be transported by Wednesday, April 30.

Sand Jam (Drawing)

During the Sand Jam on the beach, contestants will draw the events of the SCAD Sand Arts Festival in real time. Judges will watch for expression of mark-making, sense of mass, and technical handling of media and movement.

• Must bring drawing media (e.g., brush pens, markers, felt-tip pens, etc.) and a personal sketchbook for warmups
• Must pick up materials for final piece at the Sand Jam tent during the event
• Must register and check in to participate in the Sand Jam (If you missed the registration deadline and would like to participate, visit the pier at Tybee on the day of the event.)
• Must submit your best sketch and return clipboards to the Sand Jam tent by 2 p.m.

Subject matter and color palette are open. An exhibition of select entries will be held after the festival. For more information, contact professor Steven Roberson at [email protected].

What to bring

• Bucket
• Bug spray
• Carving tools (i.e., putty knife, trowel, spoon, etc.)
• Cheap paint brush
• Pencil and a sketchbook (for Sand Jam)
• Phone to document work
• Picnic lunch and drinking water
• Shovel
• Spray bottle to keep sand wet
• Sunscreen and a hat

Awards and prizes

Contestants may vie for the following, overall awards:

SCAD Student Spirit Award – $3,000
Spring has sprung, and the SCAD Spirit Award celebrates the creativity and pride of our community! This category honors artwork that brings Art the Bee to life, capturing the energy, innovation, and vibrancy of SCAD. Whether Art is buzzing through a bold new world or showcasing school spirit in a fresh way, this award recognizes pieces that embody the heart of the hive. 

SCAD Alumni Spirit Award – $3,000  
This category honors artwork that brings Art the Bee to life, capturing the energy, innovation, and vibrancy of SCAD. Whether Art is buzzing through a bold new world or showcasing school spirit in a fresh way, this award recognizes pieces that embody the heart of the hive.

Best in Show Award – $1,200                
The Best in Show Award will be chosen by a special guest SCAD alum.

SCAD Foundation Studies Student Group Award – $1,000 (winner), $800 (runner-up)
To qualify for this award, groups must meet the following criteria:

• All students in the group must be foundation studies students
• Classes must register using the professor's name at the time of registration
• Groups must consist of at minimum two students or a maximum of 10
• Groups must select "SCAD Foundation Studies Student Group Award" at the time of registration

SCAD ATL Student Award – $1,000
Contestants must be attending courses at the SCAD Atlanta location to qualify for this award. They must also compete for the other category prizes.

Large Group Award (6 or more) – $1,000
To qualify for this award, groups must meet the following criteria:

• All students in the group must not be enrolled in foundation studies courses
• Classes must register using the professor's name at the time of registration
• Groups must contain a minimum of six students or a maximum of 10
• Groups must select "Large Group Award" at the time of registration (this must be selected to register more than six contestants to a group)

Contestants for this award are limited to prizes for this category and for the Best of Show Award.

SCAD Alumni Award – $1,000 (winner), $800 (runner-up)
To qualify for this award, contestants must meet the following criteria:
• Contestant must be a SCAD alum
• Contestant must also compete in one of the official Sand Arts Festival categories below.

Sand Sculpture
Winner – $1,000
Runner-up – $800

Sand Relief
Winner – $1,000
Runner-up – $800

Sandcastle
Winner – $1,000
Runner-up – $800

Air
Winner – $1,000
Runner-up – $800

Sand Jam (Drawing)
Winner – $500
Runner-up – $250

Drawing Minor Sand Jam: $250
ATL Sand Jam: $250
Alumni Sand Jam: $250

Note: Winners of overall awards are not eligible to win these prizes. For more information, contact professor Lisa Rundstrom at [email protected].

View a full list of contest rules and eligibility

SCAD participant pre-check-in

Groups that would like to check-in early may do so 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, May 1 at Herstand Hall's lobby and conference room (Room 111). At pre-check-in, groups will receive their space location, T-shirts, wristbands, and giveaways.

Registrants who have completed pre-check-in may go directly to their space number noted on their wristbands. These numbers will correspond to flags on South Beach after 9 a.m. the day of the event. Contestants who have not completed pre-check-in to receive their wristbands must check in at the South Beach pier the morning of the event.

SCAD student participant check-in

Check-in for all student contestants who have not done pre-check-in will be at the South Beach pavilion on Tybee Island the day of the event. Competing students must be checked in by 10 a.m.

Day-of registration

Students who have completed pre-check-in the day before at Herstand Hall should go directly to the beach and find the flag number denoting corresponding to their wristband number.

Students who would like to register for the standby list the day of the event may do so at the South Beach pier. Students on the standby list are then eligible for any available or unclaimed spaces. Students arriving late may receive open spaces if available.

The event will officially start at 10 a.m., but students who arrive early may start their work on the beach once they have checked in at the South Beach pier and once the location flags are in place after 9 a.m.

Transportation

Transportation to Tybee Island will be offered to all registered contestants and students who would like to assure their place. At registration, select your preferred pickup location: Turner House, Chatham, or Montgomery House.

Buses will run in the morning every 15 minutes until 10:30 a.m., after which they will run every 10 minutes.

Competing students who plan to use SCAD buses as transportation should board a bus between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to arrive on time for the 10 a.m. check-in on Tybee Island.

Students who are not competing but who would like to ride the bus must also complete the trip and transportation liability waiver and the photo and video release form. After completing the waivers, students will receive an email verification for the completed waivers, which will serve as their pass to enter the bus. Non-competing students should consider catching a bus at 10 a.m. or later as they will not need to check in for the event.

All students must show receipt of the waiver to enter buses bound for Tybee Island. Buses will be labeled "Sand Arts" on the route display. Return transportation will be available all day, with multiple buses arriving at 4 p.m., and the final bus will leave Tybee Island at 6 p.m.

View SCAD bus schedule

For more information regarding check-in, email professor Jime Wimmer at [email protected].

Driving directions

• Follow U.S. Highway 80 East (Victory Drive) to Tybee Island.
• Drive approximately 17 miles from East Victory Drive and Abercorn Street to the turn at Butler Avenue on Tybee Island and continue south.
• Park at either lot on the east end of 14th, 15th, and 16th streets. Overflow parking is available at the metered spaces located on Highway 80 (Butler Avenue) and on the adjoining side streets.
• Head for the 15th Street ramp to the beach once you have parked. The competition area is located between 14th Street and Atlantic Avenue, north of the pier.

Parking

For contestants
Students are strongly encouraged to use free SCAD buses or carpool due to limited parking on Tybee Island. You are required to pay for parking. Improper parking may result in your car being ticketed or towed.

For visitors
Visitors may use inexpensive, metered parking on Highway 80 (Butler Avenue). Side street parking is allowed only in metered areas. Contestants and spectators at the SCAD Sand Arts Festival should be always respectful of Tybee Island residents and their homes.

For more information, contact professor Lisa Rundstrom at [email protected].
 

The SCAD Sand Arts Festival started as a foundation studies field trip in the early '90s. It soon became an annual SCAD signature event showcasing the sculpture talents of SCAD students and alumni. Check out these marvelous creations from the previous year.

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