THIS year’s Capital Arts Patrons Organisation grants are now open to applications from members of the ACT arts community, it was announced during a cocktail function at the National Portrait Gallery last night (August 5).

According to CAPO president, Penny Jurkiewicz, through named awards, donations (which last year totalled around $27,000), and proceeds from the annual gala auction, the organisation would be able to help many artists in Canberra and the region.

Jurkiewicz told those present that in the 38 years since its inception, CAPO had raised approximately $3 million and she paid tribute to the donors, the organisers, especially executive officer Marilyn Gray, and all the local businesses who contributed to named awards.

In formally launching the function, National Portrait Gallery director Karen Quinlan said Canberra was lucky to have an organisation like CAPO.

Examples of successes since 1983 were seen in a grant that had allowed the late artist Robert Foster to buy a piece of equipment that launched his career and painter Marie Hagerty, who won an early CAPO award and then in 2018, a larger grant which enable her stage an exhibition in New York.

The annual CAPO gala auction will be held at Canberra Contemporary Art Space on October 30. Bookings for the gala and applications for 2021 awards here.