Dedicated to celebrating local and national visual art and contemporary culture, the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre is the Eurobodalla region’s first purpose-built exhibition space. Opened in 2019, ‘the Bas’, which overlooks Moruya’s verdant golf course, has become a Eurobodalla must-see. Here’s why you should put it on your itinerary.
Eurobodalla's premier gallery
It’s Eurobodalla’s premier gallery
Eurobodalla is home to a number of art spaces, but the Bas, which was named for its benefactor, the philanthropist and art collector Basil Sellers AM, is the star draw. The region’s largest exhibition space, the Bas can accommodate a wide range art forms, with up to 10 exhibitions each year complementing its thoughtfully curated permanent collection. It also hosts the region’s top art prize, the Basil Sellers Art Prize (and the Little Sellers Art Prize for budding artists), and provides a permanent home for the Eurobodalla Award, which recognises a local entry into the Basil Sellers Art Prize.
Its exhibitions offer a unique window into the region
Specialising in works that are reflective of the region and its residents, the Bas provides the ultimate introduction to the Eurobodalla Shire via powerful exhibitions such as Untold Eurobodalla (12 December 2020–7 February 2021), which saw photographic artist Lee Grant and writer Amadis Lacheta join forces to document the lesser known stories of community members who contribute to the unique character and spirit of the Eurobodalla Shire, which was recently put to the ultimate test by the Black Summer bushfires and the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bas hosts loads of public programs
On top of hosting a compelling roster of exhibitions throughout the year, around three of which are the result of open calls to local artists, The Bas also offers a range of other opportunities to connect with art, from artist talks to children’s activities. Check out the gallery’s website or Facebook page for upcoming workshops and events.
The Bas also supports a wide range of creative projects around the Eurobodalla Shire via its Bas About Town program. Its Makers and Spaces digital initiative, for example, invites art lovers behind the scenes of the creative spaces that local artists work in. Keep your eyes peeled for public art around the region, too. As part of the Untold Eurobodalla exhibition, enlarged photographic portraits of characters who shared their stories were plastered up on local buildings.
It’s free to visit
All exhibitions at the Bas are free to enjoy around the calendar. Complimentary canapes and drinks on exhibition opening nights offer yet another incentive to drop by, support regional artists, and admire the artistic side of the Eurobodalla region.
It’s a good excuse to explore Moruya
The Bas isn’t the only good reason to schedule a visit to Moruya, a charming rural town nestled on the banks of the beautiful Moruya River in the heart of the Eurobodalla Shire. Heritage buffs will love its buildings dating back to the 1800s, especially the home of a British migrant built in 1875 that now houses the Moruya and District Historical Society Museum. Locals and visitors alike flock to the Tuesday afternoon SAGE Farmers Market and the Saturday Moruya Country Market, both held at Riverside Park, and there is boutique shopping, great coffee, and more to be discovered in Moruya every day of the week.
The Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre is located on the corner of Campbell and Vulcan Streets in Moruya, and is open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday, during exhibition periods only. For more information, visit the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre website.
