Deciding will be a task for Bendigo Art Gallery director Gordon Morrison, who will judge the 48th Bendigo Rotary Easter Art Show.

Entrants stand to win up to $4000 in prizes. 

Almost 700 paintings have been entered in the show, which has temporarily transformed Bendigo Town Hall into an art gallery.

It opens with a gala launch event and awards ceremony from 7.30pm Thursday and continues throughout the Bendigo Easter Festival.

Winners of the best oil/acrylic, best watercolour and best pastel/drawing categories will be awarded $1500 each. The best in show will win an additional $2500.  Highly commended works in each technical category will receive $500. 

Art show coordinator Brian Figg said this year's show was diverse.

"We have a range of artists from all over Victoria, principally from central Victoria, Geelong and Melbourne," he said.

About 250 artists are exhibiting their work and all are on sale, with prices ranging from $100 to $8500.

Mr Figg said money raised would support the Rotary Club of Bendigo and its initiatives.

Bendigo watercolour artist Terry Jarvis will be the artist in residence during the festival.

Tickets to the gala event are $25 and can be purchased from Bendigo Tourism online or by calling 1800 813 153. Entry during the exhibition is $5 per adult and children can enter for free.