The inaugural Landcare Art Prize showcased the best of the best in art in many forms as a major fund raiser for the Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund.

Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund plan to use the funds raised by the art show in programs that will educate young people, encourage responsible care for our environment, and planting programs to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The opening night saw a record crowd fill the Kernot Community Hall to hear the judge Herman Pekel, who battled holiday traffic to come from Melbourne for the event, make his selection from almost 250 paintings, sculptures and photographs entered by artists from around the state.

And the winners were: Best in Show — Susan Hall; Best Landscape Warren Thompson Award — Leigh Rust; Best Oil/Acrylic — Greer Arnott; Best Watercolour — Maureen Loughran; Best Pastel — Julie Lundgren Coulter; Best Other Medium — Ellen Doherty; Photography award — Penny Chadwick.

The students awards went to Maya Ribeiro-McKinnon for secondary and Greta Bateman for work by a primary student.

The Landcare Network Public Fund thanked their sponsors who made the event possible;

"We would also like to thank Bass Coast Shire Council for providing the Quick Response Grant without which we could not have got the art show up and running," a spokesperson said.

"And we appreciate the following for providing the raffle prizes; Silverwater Resort, Peninsula Hot Springs, J&A Automotive, and Healthguard First Aid Training."

The Landcare Network Public Fund would like to thank their sponsors who made the event possible:

Bass Valley Lions, Alex Scott and Staff, Bass Valley Landcare, Glenville Nominees, 5th Dimensional Global, San Remo and District Bendigo Community Bank, Jordan Crugnale MP, Renee Heath MP, Melina Bath MP, the Thompson Family, Wonthaggi Medical Group, Helen and Peter Norman, Healthguard First Aid Training, Anne Heath Mennell, Yan Tan Tethra, Grantville Pharmacy, Van Steensel Timbers, John Carney, Glendora Tractors, 3 Creeks Landcare, Argyle Farm, Phillip Island Landcare, Icarus Skin Cancer Clinic, Bass Coast Caravan Storage, and David and Maree Trigg.