Capital Arts Patrons' Organisation

14/06/2026

Last year, we caught up with previous grant recipient Kevin Bradley. Kevin is a luthier, a maker of stringed instruments. From his Canberra-based workshop, he crafts mandolins, Irish bouzoukis, octave mandolins and guitars.

Kevin received the 2024 Workplace Research Associates Award, which helped him purchase a CNC router to support the construction of his instruments. The new equipment has enabled greater experimentation and precision, helping to further enhance the quality of his work.

Stay tuned, our grants program is returning this year and applications will open in the coming months 🎉

Video by Andrew Sikorski

07/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Sollis this week. Our past President Penny Jurkiewicz who knew Michael has written a few words in his memory:

Michael Sollis was one of a kind.

He was the 2021 CAPO Fellow, where he further developed his Southern Sky project, bringing together artists to respond to the question, “What do the stars mean to you?” His work reflected a deep curiosity and a strong commitment to collaboration across artforms and communities.

He was a consummate musician, responsible for founding and developing the Griffyn Ensemble, which comprised, among others, Susan Ellis who was a previous CAPO Board member and as the founder and president of the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra.

When diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 35, he didn’t let this stop him. He was heavily involved with Musica Viva Australia, as Artistic Director of Education from 2016 to 2022, and for the last 2 years was co-Artistic Director of the National Folk Festival.

He even branched into a form of sculpture with one of his pieces commissioned by the University of Canberra and at the time of his passing, had just finished a mammoth project for a ‘creative bush walk’ in Ginninderra.

We extend our sympathy and respect to his wife Kiri and their two young sons, Bryn and Lyle.

Image 1: Portrait by Keith Saunders.

Image 2: Karen Quinlan AM presenting Michael with his CAPO Fellowship award in 2021. Photo: Hilary Wardhaugh.

13/02/2026

Stunning work!

Andrew Totman is an American-born, Sydney-based printmaker presenting a large, luxuriously glowing exhibition of non-figurative prints at Belco Arts. In…

11/02/2026

It's that time of year again 🥂 Board member + Volunteer EOIs are now open!

CAPO has been supporting Canberra and region artists for over 40 years through its annual grant program and art auction.

We are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation, as a board member or volunteer. We're specifically looking for skills in sponsorship, marketing, exhibition management and event coordination.

Sound like you? Send us a message or email letting us know you're keen and we'll let you know the next steps about how to get involved 🥳

Images: 2023 art auction + 2024 launch photos by

18/12/2025

As we close out the year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us.

Your generosity and enthusiasm made this year’s grants round and art auction a success.

We can't wait to do it all again next year! For now, we leave you with this quick recap of our Art Auction event 🥳

14/12/2025

Congratulations to our finalists and winner of the CAPO-CIT Award!

🏅 Finalist: Heather Hodgson (Photography)
🏅 Finalist: Rosalie Ryan (Visual Arts) .ryan.art
🏆 Winner: Eliott June O’Dowd (Visual Arts) .june.art

The finalists and winner were presented with their certificates at the .visualart exhibition held at on Thursday night.

As part of the grant, the winner will receive a mentorship opportunity, supporting the next stage of their creative practice 🎨✨

Well done to all involved.

13/11/2025

CONGRATULATIONS | Capital Arts Patrons’ Organisation (CAPO) announced the winners of 24 awards in its 42nd annual Grants round at the CAPO Awards Night, held on Saturday 18th October at Belconnen Arts Centre.
Congratulations to all involved, and in particular the recipients of the 2025 CAPO Fellowship Lucy Irvine, the Craft + Design Canberra Outstanding Practice Award winner Julie Ryder, and the Craft + Design Canberra Emerging Artist Award winner Lisa Jose.
The awards were presented by CAPO Patron, Genevieve Jacobs and the awards’
respective sponsors. The CAPO Awards provide financial and in-kind support for a range of new arts projects by emerging and established artists. The CAPO
Fellowship has a value of up to $15 000 and is funded through the sale of donated art and business items at the annual fundraiser and auction, held this year at Belconnen Arts Centre on the same night.
CAPO’s most prestigious award, the 2025 CAPO Fellowship was presented by
CAPO Patron, Genevieve Jacobs, to Lucy Irvine (Accredited Professional Member of Craft + Design Canberra), a Canberra-based artist, educator, and researcher whose work brings together sculpture, textiles, design, and architecture. Lucy plans to use the Fellowship to innovate new weaving systems and sculptural forms during a residency in Budapest and to bring this new work to a Canberran audience.
The Craft + Design Canberra Outstanding Practice Award was given to Julie Ryder (Accredited Professional Member of Craft + Design Canberra) to undertake an arts residency and create a new body of work for a solo exhibition at Tuggeranong Arts Centre in 2026.
The Craft + Design Canberra Emerging Artist Award went to Lisa Jose (Maker Member of Craft + Design Canberra) who will use the award towards ‘Thirty-Six Views of Canberra’, a series of woodblock prints inspired by Hokusai that pays homage to the cultural and natural beauty of our city.
Other awards and winners are as follows.
Rosalie Gascoigne Memorial Award | Lisa Sammut
Megalo Print Studio Residency | Steven Mark Holland
Robert Foster Memorial Award | Phoebe Porter (Accredited Professional Member, Craft + Design Canberra)
Tall Foundation Award | Fenja T. Ringl
Shaw and Partners Award | Tom Buckland
Waldren Constructions General Award | Al Munro (Maker Member, Craft + Design Canberra)
Michele Black Memorial Award - Creations Manuka | Jessika
Spencer (Maker Member, Craft + Design Canberra)
Capital Chemist Award | Mio Kuhnen
MPS People Security Risk Management Performance Award | Sarah Stewart + Nick Delatovic
All Insure Emerging Artist Awards | Adelaide Worcester, Olivia Kidston (Maker Member, Craft + Design Canberra) + Sophia Childs
Doubleshot Deakin Award | Sophia Cai
Canberra Weekly Award | Lynne Flemons (Maker Member, Craft + Design Canberra)
Home.by Holly Award | Cassandra Dove
Radford & Co Sculpture Award | Emeirely Nucifora-Ryan
PhotoAccess Award | Ria Tierney
Cook Creative Writing Prize | Samuel Townsend
Boris Property Emerging Artist Award | Fi Peel
Canberra Museum and Gallery Photography Award | Sari Sutton
Image | Genevieve Jacobs and Lucy Irvine at the CAPO Awards Night | Photography by Art Atelier Photography

02/11/2025

Our auction may be over, but the exhibition is still open at until 30 Nov.

Explore works by Canberra’s leading artists, and yes, some pieces are still available to purchase via the CAPO website. https://www.capitalartspatronsorganisation.org/auction

We've also got a couple upcoming public programs:

📍 2pm Sat 15 Nov – Artist talk by members

📍 2pm Sat 29 Nov – Artist talks with , , .mark & Steven Holland + a workshop with .artlife.

Register via the Belco Arts website https://www.belcoarts.com.au/2025-capo/

Photos

28/10/2025