TAKING a new direction, the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation staged its 40th anniversary awards ceremony at Government House.

The evening was hosted by Governor-General David Hurley and Mrs Linda Hurley, who wrote a special little ditty canvassing all the terrific things CAPO had done over 40 years, and then had us all singing “You Are My Sunshine” to each other.

It proved an attractive new way of presenting the venerable organisations awards, for not only was it hard to beat Yarralumla in spring, but also it proved fitting way of honouring both the artists who received awards and the sponsors helping them develop their careers.

With grants varying from $500 to $7500, the list was an impressive testament to the ongoing relationship between business organisations, which from CAPO’s inception has joined with artists to support art-makers.

As CAPO president Penny Jurkiewicz told those present, over the past 40 years just under $4 million had been raised in this unique way.

Visual artists were the big winners of the night, with all but two awards going in that direction, reflecting the focus of the CAPO organisers.

The main award of the evening, the CAPO Fellowship, was presented by CAPO patron Bree Pickering from the National Portrait Gallery to digital artist Paul Summerfield, who will collaborate with noted Australian author Isobelle Carmody on a graphic novel.

With a value yet to be determined of up to $15,000, the fellowship will be funded through the sale of donated art and business items at the annual fundraiser and auction, to be held at the Albert Hall on November 10.

The $7500 Mandy Martin Art & Environment Award, went to artist Annika Romeyn to help support her participation in an exhibition at Canberra Contemporary Art Space.

The $5000 Rosalie Gascoigne Memorial Award supported by The Tall Foundation went to artist Elliot Bastianon for the exhibition, “Materiality: but not as we know it”, at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

The other winners are:

• $3000 Robert Foster Memorial Award, Rebecca Selleck;
• $5000 Tall Foundation Award, Alicia Cox;
• $3000 Megalo Residency, Molly Kamenz;
• $2000 Shaw and Partners Award, Brenda Runnegar;
• $2000 Craft + Design Canberra Outstanding Practice Award, glass artist Annette Blair;
• $1000 Home by Holly Award, Jeffrey Sarmiento;
• $2000 Waldren Constructions General Award, Kate Stevens;
• $2000 Michele Black Memorial Award, Josephine Townsend;
• $1500 Capital Chemist Award, Fran Romano;
• $1000 Award, glass artist Nadege Desgenetez;
• $1000 Entice Travel & Performance Awards: Leah Blankendaal and musician Sophie Edwards;
• $1500 Workplace Research Associates Award, Marzena Wasikowska;
• $500 Cook Creative Writing Prize, Linda Chen;
• $1000 Urban Pantry Manuka Emerging Artist Award, Paul Martin;
• $500 All Insure Emerging Artist Awards, Cassandra Dove, Bethany Saab and Nicola Knackstredt;
• $500 Boris Property Emerging Artist Award, Alison Barnes;
• $500 Craft + Design Canberra Emerging Artist Award, Nicola Knackstredt.
• $500 Canberra Museum and Gallery Photography Award, Yasmin Idriss;
• $500 Radford & Co Sculpture Award, Francis Kenna.