Eurobodalla's River of Art Festival packed full of creativity

A Premier Regional Arts Festival on the South Coast of NSW – Celebrating Art, Place and Community.
At the centre of the Festival, the River of Art Prize takes the spotlight — a prestigious award honouring the creativity of the South Coast and beyond. Finalists’ works are showcased in an exhibition that celebrates excellence and inspires audiences and judges alike.
Artists and makers from across Australia—within and beyond the Eurobodalla region—are invited to enter the annual River of Art Prize, part of Eurobodalla’s unique regional arts festival. In 2025, the Festival celebrates its 21st anniversary.
Finalist works will be exhibited at the historic Mechanics Institute in Moruya, offering a prominent platform for artists to showcase their vision across all mediums—painting, watercolour, mixed media, drawing, sculpture, and photography. The Prize is open to any subject or style, encouraging diverse and original creative expression.
From the finalists the judges select the overall winner, runner up and highly commended works. The judges decisions are final. Shortlisting is decided by the judges on the basis of a digital image of the submitted work, details of which are set out in the application form.
Shortlisted works will appear in the River of Art Prize exhibition which will run over the 11 days of the Festival with the prize announced at the Festival launch held at The Mechanics Institute – to which all entrants are invited. The ‘People’s Choice’ is announced at the close of the Festival.
The Committee are thrilled to once again welcome our esteemed judges: Cath Bowdler — artist, arts administrator, curator and academic — and Tony Oates, Director of the Drill Hall Gallery and ANU Art Collection at the Australian National University
Festival Launch, Opening & Art Prize winners announcement
Friday 26th September from 5pm
Exhibition Dates
27 Sep, 2025 – 06 Oct, 2025
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Free event
Mechanics Institute, 13 Page St, Moruya
The First Prize winner will receive $4500 in cash – PLUS
The Basil Sellars Exhibition Centre proudly offers the winning artist a supported solo exhibition at the Mechanics Institute in 2026.
The Second Prize Winner takes home $2,000 cash
The Highly Commended Artist receives $500 cash
And we will present a Peoples Choice Prize
We know, there’s alot to see and do over a large area.
Plan your itinerary through the website where you can search by event type, date and area.
www.riverofart.com.au
