The legacy of the exhibition, run by the Batemans Bay Business and Tourism Chamber, is the donation by the first prize winner of their art piece, referred to as the Acquisitive Award.

This year, Dance, by Japanese sculptor Haruyuki Uchida, will join our first acquisition, Buoyansea, by Far South Coast artist Jesse Graham on Beach Road.

Dance is due to be erected on the Clyde River foreshore shortly.

Joining these permanent exhibits will be; Pelicant by Jesse Graham and Portal by John Fitzmaurice.

Both eye-catching sculptures were purchased through donations and crowd funding by the Batemans Bay community.

Pelicant was a popular sculpture at the Sculpture On Clyde event and the only sculpture which people requested to go on the Batemans Bay foreshore.

Members of the public offered donations during the event to support the Pelicant purchase.

Due to the popular reaction to Pelicant the sculpture committee felt it was incumbent on them to facilitate the purchase of Pelicant and also Portal to give the Sculpture on Clyde Walk a boost with three additional sculptures.

The combined value of sculptures is approximately $200,000 though sculptors agreed to a purchase price of just over $100,000 for their use as public art.

The funds raised represent an unprecedented fundraising achievement for public art by a local community.

Eurobodalla Shire Council agreed for the installation of Dance and Portal on council-managed land and Pelicant will be installed at the Batemans Bay Marina.

It is hoped for an official opening of Pelicant on Australia Day, January 26, 2019.

People can view Pelicant now on the rock wall just down from JJ’s at the Marina cafe.

Jesse Graham is listed as a visiting artist and scholar with the Australian National University’s School of Art and Design.

Graham works mostly in sculpture, but also in printmaking.