Media release published: 4 December 2025

There were painters, photographers and pot-throwers. Dabblers, dreamers and arts administrators. Creatives of all persuasions met recently at the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre to help draft a new Creative Arts Strategy for the shire.

Eurobodalla Council’s coordinator of creative arts development Indi Carmichael says whether you’re a full-time artist whose worked every day since COVID or that person who once accidentally wandered into a gallery looking for coffee, she wants to know your thoughts.

"Every person wanting a dash of colour and culture in their day should share their perspective and help sketch the vision,” Ms Carmichael says.

“The strategy is more than art for art’s sake. Rather it’s understanding how creativity shapes the shire’s identity, creates connections, and fosters wellbeing. By linking and integrating art and artists with tourism, education and business we're creating something bigger than the summed parts.”

So far, consultation for the draft has included presentations to relevant advisory committees, in-person surveys at markets, shows and forums, an internal Council staff survey, articles in the Arts Canvas newsletter, and several posts on the Bas’ Facebook and Instagram.

An online survey to collect ideas, wish-lists and grumbles can be found on Council’s engagement platform Our Eurobodalla, which also shares additional information and lists contact details for providing more suggestions. Input is accepted until Friday 19 December with the draft Creative Arts Strategy expected to go on public exhibition in April 2026 for further public comment before being presented to councillors for adoption in the middle of next year.

Council’s director of community, arts and recreation services Kathy Arthur says the arts continue to evolve rapidly in Eurobodalla.

“Our last Creative Arts Strategy was written in 2019. Despite the fires, despite COVID, the strategy helped drive a remarkable list of artistic endeavour that has seen Eurobodalla become a thriving creative destination,” Ms Arthur says.

“We're talking things like completion of the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre, performing and creative arts facilities at Bay Pavilions, a Public Art Policy and Public Art Code of Practice, development of a Public Art Strategy, growth of the $50,000 Basil Sellers Art Prize, a budgeted commitment to public art, and a new creative arts volunteer program.”

Ms Arthur says a changing arts landscape needs a dynamic Creative Arts Strategy to provide impetus for fresh possibilities.

“The explosion in public sculpture is a good example,” she says.

“In 2019, we had 13 public sculptures in Eurobodalla – soon there will be 55. We’re not saying that’s only due to the strategy - it's just one, though an important one, of many drivers of artistic change supporting creative work by many individuals and groups.”

The 55 public sculptures include 22 works by international artists Gillie and Marc, donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program. The sculptures are currently being installed at locations across the shire. These are already living up to their promise as community talking points and hotspots for Instagrammers looking to share their Eurobodalla experience. The rollout is expected to be finished by June 2026.

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