about

After years in the works, the Basil Sellers Exhibitions Centre (the Bas) has become a reality. Eurobodalla’s first purpose-built exhibition space adjoins the Moruya library and came about through Council’s desire to address the growing needs of the shire’s arts community.

The exhibition centre has been named after Basil Sellers AM for his significant contribution to the arts in Eurobodalla. Mr Sellers provided a significant donation for the exhibition centre, and has a passionate commitment to the perpetual growth of the community’s perception, understanding of, and engagement in art. Basil Sellers is also the patron to Council’s Basil Sellers Art Prize and Little Sellers Art Prize.

Overlooking the beautiful vista of the Moruya golf course, the Bas was conceived as a space that would celebrate local and national visual art and contemporary culture. It provides an extraordinary legacy to all those who live or work in and visit Eurobodalla.

Basil Sellers Art Prize

The Basil Sellers Art Prize was founded in 2004 by Basil Sellers AM, businessman, philanthropist and art collector. Through a chance connection to Moruya, Mr Sellers has set up a long and fruitful partnership with the shire that has supported Eurobodalla’s artistic community in a meaningful way.

In 2018 the biennial prize was opened to include artists from NSW and the ACT with the major prize increased to $20,000.

Until 2016 Basil Sellers AM was the sole contributor of the prize. However from 2018, a new award sponsored by Eurobodalla Shire Council was introduced. The Eurobodalla Award of $5000 honours a local entry into the prize and the work acquired for the Council’s permanent collection.

Past winners
2004 – 2016

BSAP past winners include some of the most outstanding artists from the region whose practices traverse a number of mediums.

2004: Sue Christie – Life chaos and everything
2006: Jennifer Hawkins – …and on that day they shall rise up…
2008: Kerry Johns – Lilli Pilli
2010: Stan Squires – Pambula river mouth
2012: Frances Luke – Mossy Point Headland 1
2014: Susan Chancellor – The family lounge
2016: Merryn Sommerville – Ghosts I’ve met