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Calling Newcastle artists: Design the 2026 Evolution Charity Cup Tee

Evolution Advisers is calling on Newcastle artists and designers to create the official t-shirt for the 2026 Surfest Evolution Charity Cup. Celebrating 40 years of Surfest, this year’s event supports Emma’s Warriors - a local charity founded by leukaemia survivor Emma Walsh - with all funds helping families through tough hospital stays.
A woman wearing an Evolution Charity Cup t-shirt sits on the Merewether Beach steps, looking out at the ocean – promoting the Surfest Evolution Charity Cup artist callout.

Each year, our friends at Evolution Advisers host the Surfest Evolution Charity Cup at Merewether beach – a much-loved community surf event that raises valuable funds for a local cause. To date, they’ve raised over $690,000 for local charities!

In 2026, Evolution is proud to support Emma’s Warriors, founded by local teenager Emma Walsh, a leukaemia survivor who now helps other families with tweens and teens spending time in hospital, providing essential items, financial support, gifts and more to make tough times a little easier.

To celebrate Surfest’s 40th anniversary, Evolution has been given the opportunity to design their own Charity Cup t-shirt, and they’d love to collaborate with a local artist to bring it to life.

The t-shirt will be worn by all Charity Cup competitors and team managers, and available for purchase on the day.

About the opportunity:

  1. The selected artist will be paid for their involvement.
  2. Artwork will be printed in one colour on the back of the official 2026 Evolution Charity Cup t-shirt.
  3. The original artwork will also be auctioned off on the day of the Evolution Cup.
  4. Artists are invited to submit 3 samples of previous work (no new artwork required at this stage).
  5. Final artwork will be due by the end of December 2025.
  6. Artists of all kinds – illustrators, graphic designers or mixed media artists – are welcome to apply, particularly those whose work reflects themes of community, charity and local spirit.

For more details or to express your interest, please email: charitycup@evolutionadvisers.com.au

Let’s celebrate 40 years of Surfest with creativity, community and heart, and help raise funds for Emma’s Warriors along the way.

Words: Hannah Mills

Photography: Supplied

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