17 artists are in the running for the 2016 Basil Sellers $100,000 Sport-Art Prize 5 – with the official opening and naming the winner this evening at the Ian Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne.
10 years ago the Basil Sellers Sport-Art Prize was initiated and its success has been recognised that after the three month Melbourne exhibition it has been professionally bundled up and exhibited on the Gold Coast.
Held each two years, the design of the 'Basil Sellers' is not simply a financial boost to struggling artists, rather the philosophy and emphasis has been to provide a leg up for the winning artist in future exhibitions and an 'opening of doors'.
To this end the 'Basil Sellers' has established a profound effect upon the Australian arts community as the prize itself is much more than a title, it encapsulates a whole fresh paradigm which engages the winner on a professional adventure.
Each 'Basil Sellers' official opening see's sporting elites, top artists, supporters, friends and associates home into the Ian Potter Museum of Art as has its been my wife and my privilege - and the background may be of interest.
Basil Sellers Art Prize - Moruya
In 1992 my wife Delma and I had established 'Basil Sellers House' in Moruya on the New South Wales south coast as a respite facility for elite athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Becoming ill with ministry stress in 1999, Heads of Churches released us after 18 years from heading up the Sports and Leisure Ministry (Sports chaplaincy Australia) to a more defined ministry, 'Well-Being Australia".
In this recuperative period I turned to art as I had dabbled for many years. Mr Basil Sellers AM a supporter of our ministries (Australian Cricket Team chaplain for 17 years followed by Life After Cricket) and the athletes respite lodge, recognised a need for an art gallery in the town. The Basil Sellers Art Centre was opened in 2003.
At the opening Basil Sellers announced the 2004 Basil Sellers $10,000 Moruya Art Prize and such was its success, the Eurobodalla Shire Council took it on as a major art centre piece. Now five local Shires' artists compete for this now increased Basil Sellers $15,000 prize. This is held every second year in October.
Basil Sellers Art Prize – Midge Point
When Delma and I initiated the Whitsundays 'Basil Sellers Laguna Quays Respite' cottage in 2011, a facility for missionary respite (which Basil Sellers has since duplicated in Aldinga Beach near Adelaide), again, we noticed there was no art prize in the community although there were many artists.
In 2013 the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize was launched with a $1000 prize as a an annual event, and this year Basil Sellers has increased it to $2000 and again widening the intake to the townships on the Bruce Hwy towards Mackay – Kilojo, Kuttabul and Calen – all 'artie' communities.
The Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize is being held on 30 July, this is next Saturday following the 'Basil Sellers' in Melbourne.
In August or September Basil Sellers travels to Midge Point and hosts the 'finalists' to a luncheon where he views the art and has 15 minutes each with two of the artists (a revolving seating arrangement) over the 90 minute period after which photographs are the order of the day. It's a highlight of the The Point Tavern calender, let alone the local artists.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html