While the COVID-19 pandemic continues and the shire is hit by floods, Eurobodalla Shire artists have kept their hands steady.
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The finalists for the Basil Sellers Art Prize have been announced.
The major prize winner will receive $20,000, with their winning work acquired by philanthropist and art-lover, Basil Sellers.
The 2020 finalists are Jane Louise Aliendi, Robert Berry, Yvonne Boag, Kristone Capistrano, Tristan Chant, Lorna Crane, Nicolette Eisdell, Mirabel Fitzgerald, Steve Fox, Anna Glynn, Victoria Hempstead, Julie Mia Holmes, Janece Huntley, Yvonne Langshaw, Raewyn Lawrence, Libby Moore, Susan Nader, James Needham, Catherine O'Donnell, Veronica O'leary, Steven Thomas, Karyn Thompson, Mark Ward, Simon Welsh, Stuart Whitelaw and Peter Yates.
The shire's artists are also eligible for the council's acquisitive prize of $5,000, which comes with the opportunity for a solo exhibition in the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre in 2021, while the People's Choice Award offers $500.
The prize is open to visual artists from across NSW and the ACT and shire artists can submit two entries.
The winner will be announced on Friday, October 9.
Works of the selected finalists are scheduled to be exhibited at the Bas from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, November 9.
With the gallery doors temporarily closed again this week, the council's arts team has turned its attention online.
The council's coordinator creative arts development Indi Carmichael said 2020 has seen an unprecedented amount of entries, more than doubling those of previous years.
"We are able to showcase a great variety of techniques and mediums in the finalist selection," she said.
"It was really pleasing to see so many Eurobodalla entries and see so many locals selected as finalists. We always knew our artists could perform on a wider stage and we are very excited to see the exhibition in the gallery."
Ms Carmichael said that despite the Bas gallery being closed, the team was committed to the program.
"In the coming weeks, our current and upcoming exhibitions will shift to an online format, with the introduction of online exhibition tours and exhibiting artist profiles available on our website and social media channels," she said.
"We hope to still host exhibitions in our beautiful art space, however moving online will enable the community to get their art-fix anytime, from the comfort of their own home, no matter what the future brings."
Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Liz Innes is looking forward to what is a highlight in the region's calendar.
"This has been such a tough year for our local artists, and I'm so pleased that with the generous support of philanthropist and art-lover Mr Basil Sellers we can help enliven the creative arts industry in the south-east," she said.
"Once again the finalist's works are world class, and I can't wait to see who takes out the major prize."
For more information visit www.thebas.com.au, follow 'Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre' on Facebook, or @thebas on Instagram.
