Batemans Bay will see the return of the full Sculpture for Clyde in 2023 following its six year absence of major works displayed along the Clyde foreshore as was the case in the opening year.
The hallmark event for the Eurobodalla is a 10 day festival of outdoor sculptures on the Batemans Bay Foreshore. The indoor sculptures and student sculpture exhibition will be opposite the Clyde St foreshore in Bridge plaza.
Facing display and approval hurdles following the first year’s successful launch the major pieces of the Event were generously hosted and displayed at the stunning Wilinga Park, to the north of Batemans Bay.
Willinga Park, a world-class equestrian centre at Bawley Point, only half an hour’s drive from Batemans Bay and 25 mins from Ulladulla, is a privately owned facility has international award winning architecture, internationally recognised sculptures and an unsurpassed garden that was generously made available for the Sculpture for Clyde event.
Initially the strained relationship between Council and the event organisers nearly brought the demise of the event however event organisers pushed through the political pettiness and bureaucratic obstacles that sought to take control and kudos, enabling them to present, over successive years, an event that was a major drawcard for the region and delivered legacy pieces to the Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk.
Many observed what could only be considered as intentional marginalising of the event by negative factions from within Council however time has shown their pettiness, and their personal attitudes, has revealed an unfortunate underbelly that is now being addressed by a positive new council keen to rid Council of its toxic past.
In 2023 the outdoor sculptures will be exhibited a short walk from the Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk with its permanent sculptures and nearby seaside cafes overlooking the bay and islands.
To encourage a standard of excellence from sculptors nationally and internationally, the value of prize money is almost $70,000 with the acquisitive prize money of $60,000. A world class Sculpture Trail is in the making.
The Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk on Batemans Bay foreshore is the legacy of the Batemans Bay Sculpture Event.
To date the local Council has done little in the way of support other than rubber stamping the paperwork they require. It is hoped that the new Council recognises the value of the event and formally recognises it as a Hallmark event on a par with the Narooma Oyster Festival and the River of Art so that the event might gain support via the many grants available to assist such hallmark, legacy projects that benefit the community and celebrate a region.
The Eurobodalla Event Strategy 2019-2024 (Event Strategy) supports the development and support of only two hallmark events that showcase the unique qualities of Eurobodalla and meet the key performance indicators within the assessment framework. The Hallmark funding was opened on 4 April 2022 and closed on 17 April 2022.
The selection of the hallmark events for this program is initiated by Council, with a presentation by the event proponent to councillors. The events, in accordance with the Event Strategy, are proposed to be supported for a three-year term.
As a hallmark event, it is anticipated that the event, if recognised, will satisfy Council and meet the following key performance indicators:
• more than 5,000 visitors to the event
• have a minimum of a two-night stay for visitors
• occur in the shoulder/low season
• activate the Eurobodalla destination brand and build positioning of the entire Eurobodalla Shire
• create local pride
• repeat visitors
• activate key infrastructure/spaces throughout Eurobodalla
• offer new and distinctive experiences that activate the brand positioning
• build the capacity of their committee and community.
The Hallmark Event Grant provides the opportunity to contract professional event management support to assist in creative event strategy planning to realise the full potential of the event.
