• THE Capital Arts Patrons Organisation’s annual gala auction raised close to $60,000 towards CAPO’s program of financial assistance to artists through awards and fellowships.

• THE CAT Awards have announced more than 270 nominations for their mini-Oscars, to be held at Llewellyn Hall in February… and the Spanish Embassy has set up a new website to promote its culture and arts at www.spainculture.org.au

• DR Gene Sherman has been appointed as deputy chair of the National Portrait Gallery board, following her previous term as a board member.
Dr Sherman was director of Sherman Galleries for 21 years, and is the chair and executive director of Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, a Sherman family philanthropic enterprise. She is also a board member for the Bundanoon Trust, the Powerhouse Museum and National Gallery of Australia Foundation.

• MEANTIME, it’s art for arts sake at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, where a fine exhibition celebrates the work of desert artist Yulyurlu Lorna Fencer Napurrurla, until December 18.

• THE same goes for College Express 2011 exhibition, which has talented Year 11 and 12 students from seven colleges exploring the world through photography, painting, drawing, ceramics, textiles, and design technology. At Belconnen Arts Centre until December 23.

• EVERYTHING Nothing Projects has monochrome paintings by Louise Blyton, A.D.S. Donaldson, Craig Easton, Robert Jacks, John Nixon, David Sequeira and David Thomas at Level 1, Center Cinema Building until December 17, Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm.

• SUSANNE Ilschner has a new exhibition space at a new restaurant and bar, Soju Girl, in the Melbourne Building, Civic, where established and emerging artists will be able to exhibit their art.

[box] AND there are all those Christmas art sales:

• Thirteen artists are exhibiting handmade objects in a Christmas exhibition and sale at Strathnairn Homestead Gallery in Holt, Friday to Sunday, until December 18.
• Bungendore Wood Works Gallery will be open on Friday nights until 9pm as well as seven days a week, until December 23.

• 

  Alexandra Freeman is selling her Polka Luka handcrafted resin jewellery at The Front Gallery & Café in Lyneham Shops until December 23.
• The Canberra Glassworks has Christmas baubles, bird brooches, vases, goblets, teapots, bowls, platters and sculptures on sale until December 24.
• Beaver Galleries’ popular Christmas exhibition runs seven days a week until December 24.
• There are handcrafted gifts for sale at Watson Arts Centre in Aspinal Street until December 24.
• Finally, “All I want is…” is the name of the beautiful Christmas exhibition of contemporary metal and glass at Bilk gallery in Palmerston Lane Manuka until December 24. [/box]