By Helen Musa

The founder and chief organiser of the Canberra Art Fair, artist Margaret Hadfield, may look as if she’s a one-woman band but this is far from the truth.

Postponed from May to October because of uncertainty fuelled by events in the Middle East, the fair will see more than 100 artists from Canberra, interstate and overseas take part.

But Hadfield says the event is as much about building connections in the arts community as it is about selling art.

Following its debut in 2025, the three-day event, privately sponsored by Hadfield’s The Artists Shed and Aarwun Gallery, will return to Exhibition Park, bringing together emerging, self-taught and established artists in a marketplace designed to encourage sales and networking.

While Hadfield is often seen as the driving force behind the event, and is often called the “Boss Lady”, she tells me that this year a dedicated volunteer team has made it a pleasure to stage.

“There are a lovely group,” she says. “Many of them are ex-public servants who have thrown themselves into organising the fair as if they’re still working. They’ve been an enormous help and they have enormous expertise.

“It’s the dream team. I’m doing ads and TV, but others are doing the bookkeeping, social media and design.”

Experience from last year taught them that a slightly cozier venue makes more sense, so they’ve opted for the smaller Quokka Pavilion at EPIC, creating what Hadfield believes will be a more intimate and gallery-like experience.

“The pavilion is totally full,” she reports.

A zigzag layout will maximise wall space for paintings while allowing ample floor space for ceramics, glass and sculpture.

Artists are travelling from as far afield as Malaysia and Sydney, while Brisbane landscape painter Kerry Nobbs is among the many newcomers joining returning exhibitors.

The fair will also feature live music, workshops, demonstrations and food vendors, including coffee, sushi and barbecue caravans.

For Hadfield, the fair’s real value lies in creating opportunities for artists to meet, exchange ideas and support one another.

“The reason we do it is because it needs to be done,” she says.

“It’s a stepping stone for artists to sell, to meet and to get to know each other. That’s been missing from the art scene in Canberra.”

Among the fun events will be a fundraising doodling session by Canberra master of doodleism, Ben Van Eldik, in support of ovarian cancer research.

Committee member Robert Vine says the fair is designed to help more people engage with Canberra’s diverse arts scene.

“You don’t need to consider yourself an art collector to come along,” he says.”

Canberra Art Fair, Quokka Pavilion, EPIC, October 16-18. More at canberraartfair.com.au 

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