Sculpture For Clyde is back in Batemans Bay and better than ever. And now all categories of the event will be consolidated on the refurbished Clyde River Foreshore. More than 110 Outdoor, Indoor and Student Sculptures will adore the foreshore around a purpose-bought marquee to be set up between the new bridge and The Boatshed.
The 10-day event, commencing May 27, will be SFC’s largest ever, with most of the 110 sculptures for sale. The sculptures arriving from around Australia, and Overseas are unique and provide visitors with a great opportunity to own an original sculpture.
“The entire event is returning to Batemans Bay after facing years of obstacles over the new bridge, fires and Covid,” said organiser and Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce President, David Maclachlan.
“We’re very excited to have everything back together and in the Bay,” he said. “More than $80,000 in prize money has been pledged by local businesses and they too are excited about an event that brings visitors to the area in the shoulder season, as well as providing a fabulous festival of art for locals.”
Thanks to the generosity of SFC’s Patron and sculpture collectors, Terry and Ginette Snow, the last two exhibitions moved to Willinga Park at Bawley Point, and now the path has been cleared to return this wonderful spectacle to the Bay.
Eurobodalla Shire Council and the Public Art Committee have identified a sequence of foreshore positions for the winning sculptures. This year’s Acquisitive Prize will further extend the Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk that stretches from the Batemans Bay Bridge to Corrigan’s Cove.
Duet was the first Acquisitive Prize winner in 2017 and the first sculpture added to the Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk.
Buoyansea by Jesse Graham is now a much loved partof the Batemans Bay landscape. Jesse has new entries in this year's Sculpture For Clyde exhibition.
The event is loved by sculptors because the winner takes home the second highest prize money for a sculpture in Australia - $60,000. In addition, there are prizes for Major, Indoor and Emerging Artists, as well as a People’s Choice Award.
“And we are very pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s Student Sculpture Prize will win $1,000 and a substantial sculpture for their school,” said Student Sculpture organiser, Frances Harmey.
The student sculpture exhibition is a pathway event for emerging sculptors from high schools in the Eurobodalla to exhibit their Art and win serious prize money.
“It’s so gratifying that local businesses have stepped up to provide this money and show their support for young people and their artistic endeavours,” said Ms Harmey. “Won’t it be fabulous when a local young person carves out a career for themselves and perhaps one day wins The Sculpture For Clyde Acquisitive Prize?”
Anyone who’s driven along Beach Road and seen the photos being taken with “Buoyansea” and other sculptures will know that the community has embraced sculpture as an art form and feels the difference it has made to the town – and the region.
The recent foreshore rejuvenation provides the perfect backdrop for this event and organisers are hoping for some of the magical weather we’ve experienced in recent weeks.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the town come alive with these large artworks, and to seeing crowds of locals and visitors happily wandering among them and through our foreshore marquee,” said Mr MacLachlan.
The event will be opened by Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland MP, a strong supporter of the event. We are very grateful for the 50 volunteers who have agreed to supervise and be the friendly face of the event.
