The Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber will host the inaugural Sculpture on Clyde exhibition and competition, from August 25 to September 3.

Sculpture on Clyde spokeswoman Maggie Brennan said with $30,000 in prize money – $20,000 for the main prize – they competition was expected to attract high quality work from sculptors across the country.

Ms Brennan said the competition would leave an ongoing legacy.

“The winning prize will be kept by the chamber and placed on permanent display along the foreshore,” she said.

“Over the years we will end up with sculptures all over town.”

The chamber has already kick-started the initiative with the purchase of Buoyancy, a work by Eden artists Jess Graham which won the Lake Light Sculpture competition at Jindabyne, in April.

“We hope it will be installed by the time our competition opens,” Ms Brennan said.

She said there were big plans for the future.

“We hope it will grow into a major attraction – In the future we could have Vivid style events,” Ms Brennan said.

“We are having an opening party and all the Bay restaurants can come on board and open up for the week.”

Ms Brennan said the short time frame meant sculptors might have to hunt out their favourites works, rather than create new ones from scratch, for this year’s competition.

“There are categories for the smaller sculptures as well as the larger ones, and all sizes were eligible for the main prize,” she said.

“The competition will be curated; entrants will need to send in a picture with the entry form for a work to be accepted. The work will be displayed along the foreshore and the Murra Mia Walkway.

More information: Sculpture on Clyde