Artists across Australia are invited to submit paintings, drawings or prints for the Basil Sellers Art Prize.
Now in its 20th year, the acquisitive $25,000 prize is a celebration of traditional mediums made possible by philanthropist Basil Sellers AM. With entries opening on Monday 15 July, selected work will be exhibited at Moruya's purpose-built basil Sellers Exhibition Centre from Saturday 6 December 2024 to Sunday 2 February 2025.
Eurobodalla Council's coordinator of creative arts development Indi Carmichael says the Basil Sellers Art Prize is spearheading new trends that are building better relationships between artists and galleries.
"Artists are investing substantial amounts of time, energy and money to enter art prizes," Ms Carmichael says.
"Ours is an exhibition space with artists and art-lovers at its heart, and this exhibition very much supports artists' values and principles. We've simplified the entry process and rid it of restrictions that conflict with the reality of being a creative practitioner in Australia."
Local artists remain front and centre of the Basil Sellers Art Prize, which is a national prize with local beginnings. Ms Carmichael says the exhibition also includes the $5,000 Eurobodalla Prize for an outstanding local entry.
"That said, we'd love to see a local take out the major $25,000 award. Even more wonderful would be a winning artist who has come up through our Little Sellers Art Prize and Arts Scholarship program," she says.
The vision for the Basil Sellers Art Prize is simple; present great art while creating a positive experience for everyone participating.
"For artists this means we don't need your CV or proof of professional status – we assess your work on merit. We explain where your entry fee gets spent, we pay promptly for sold work, maybe we can assist with courier costs and while submitted work must be recent, we don't demand exclusivity," Ms Carmichael said.
"Submissions close Friday 27 September with the exhibition opening and winners announcement on Friday 6 December."
Ms Carmichael says it is important to realise that art prizes are so much more than the final exhibition.
"People don't realise how much of our effort focuses on work that doesn't make the final show but does help us recognise national trends in ideas, gauge cultural developments, and earmark for the future extraordinary artists doing amazing work," she says.
