Frequently Asked Questions
WHEN IS MUSEUM OPEN?
Soft opening of Sand City Museum was in December 2013. Officially is opened 22nd of January 2014 as Open Air & Sand Sculpture Museum, one & only in Africa and Middle East.
HOW DID WE MAKE SAND SCULPTURE?
Our sculptures are made with sand and water only, we don`t use glue. Water is “the glue" that holds the sand together, so you want to have an easily accessible source. The key is how the sand is packed.
WHAT TOOLS DO THE SCULPTORS USE?
The sculptors use a variety of tools ranging from trowels of all sizes, through to things that you might find in your kitchen drawer at home! They all use a plastic tube, like a large drinking straw, to gently blow away the grains of sand as they carve.
DO THE SCULPTORS START FROM THE TOP OR THE BOTTOM?
The sand is compacted firmly into wooden forms to create the general shape and size of the sculpture. They use these layers to climb to the top; they remove the wooden formwork from around the top layer and start carving. When they have finished the top layer, they move down to the next, and so on.
WHERE DOES THE SAND COME FROM?
We always use a local supplier for our sand.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO make A SAND SCULPTURE?
The size and the number of sculptors play a big part in determining how long it takes to build a sculpture. Sand sculptures can take anywhere from a couple of days for a small sculpture or about 6 tones to a month for sculptures that weigh in at a couple of thousand tones. The event in Frankston this year features 3,500 tons of sand and will take 18 sculptors almost three weeks to complete.
WHERE DO THE SCULPTORS COME FROM?
Sculptors came from 15 different countries, 30 artist make and finished our master piece for 7 months.
HOW DO THE SCULPTORS LEARN THEIR CRAFT?
Sculptors come from varied backgrounds that include fine arts, architecture and design. However, most sculptures learn their craft on-the-job by participating in teams at sand sculpting displays around the world and honing their skills. Once they have reached a high level of skill they are able to compete in championship events that are held around the world.