With more than 500 entries from across the region the Art Show features plenty of local and big name artists.

Uralla Rotary Club member Jan Kaehler said the organisation for the event began in November last year.

"We pick up art from Tamworth, Wauchope, Glen Innes, Inverell, Guyra, we've even had an entry from Western Australia this year," she said.

"There's nearly 300 painting being dropped off today and we've been putting up paintings for three days just with whoever can come and help."

A number of artworks have come from galleries in Sydney and all works are reasonably priced.

For the first time the event will feature a Young Artist award, voted in by attendants of the exhibition.

There will also be the annual People's Choice award for the open section.

"We have about 16 young entries between age 14 and 25," Ms Kaehler said.

“We decided to do this for the first time to celebrate our 40^th year.

"Everybody who votes on the people’s choice has their name put into a hat and if they're drawn they win $100."

Uralla Rotary Club collects 25 per cent of the commission from each artwork sold and uses this money to fund a number of community initiatives.

Ms Kaehler said the money is mainly used to help out the local schools.

"It gets used for helping all the schools in the local area, we also help young people go overseas on exchange, send it overseas for aid, it goes to Rotary International to help them as well," she said.

"We also have the polio program where we're helping to eliminate polio, there's so many different things."

Uralla Rotary Club member Dick Kaehler said the organisation was a great charity to support as the majority of the revenue raised went straight to the causes where it was most needed.

“92 per cent of our money goes to the people who need it, you won’t find that with many other charities,” he said.

The event will be catered by hospitality students from Uralla Central School.

The Rotary Art Show opens Friday March 24 from 6:30pm.

It will be opened by Peter Phillips, with entertainment provided by Peter Stanley.

Cost is $20, wine and nibbles included.