Canberra Art Workshop

A Seven-Decade Arts Institution in Griffith

Canberra Art Workshop started out as the Canberra Art Club back in 1948 and is now one of the longest-running arts organisations in the city. It's based at M16 Artspace in Griffith, ACT 2603, with another space at the Belconnen Arts Centre. The workshop operates as a not-for-profit community organisation and registered charity, run by members and self-funded. What began as a single studio has turned into a working hub that attracts hundreds of artists at all levels, from people just starting out to seasoned professionals. Over more than seventy years, the workshop has been active in Canberra's cultural scene, pushing for the establishment of major national visual arts institutions and putting on exhibitions that brought significant Australian artists to the city.

The organisation grew in step with Canberra itself. The original Canberra Art Club became a registered association in 1975 and changed its name to the Canberra Art Workshop to better reflect what it actually does as a working studio space. Over the decades, major contemporary artists have exhibited there, including Max Meldrum, John Coburn, Clifton Pugh, John Brack and Lloyd Rees. That history still matters today. The workshop balances serious artistic practice with open access for people of all skill levels, which remains central to how it operates.

Contemporary, Traditional and Experimental Art Practices

{"text":"The Canberra Art Workshop takes on painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture across pretty much every style you can think of. Members work in contemporary, abstract, figurative, landscape, portraiture and realist approaches. The exhibition program features quality paintings, prints, drawings and the occasional sculpture, with two major shows each year that give members proper chances to get their work in front of people. Soft pastels, experimental abstraction, life drawing and modern conceptual work all have practitioners here who are keen to connect with others working in their field."}.

The self-directed groups focus on specific disciplines. You can join sessions dedicated to life drawing, pastel, watercolour, portraiture, printmaking and other areas, each one taking proper techniques and traditions seriously. It means artists can really build skill in whatever medium they've chosen while working with others who care about the same stuff. The tutored courses and weekend workshops run by experienced practitioners bring fresh thinking and solid technical grounding to Canberra's art scene.

Active Exhibition Program and Community Events

Two major exhibitions each year attract people looking at both new and established artists. Weekend workshops and formal courses happen regularly, run by tutors with real experience. You can learn portraiture, figure painting, printmaking and other skills, picking up something new or pushing what you've already got. The space functions as a working studio where making art, learning and connecting with other people all happen at once.

Membership opens up the full program: regular art group sessions, discounted courses and workshops, and regular newsletters keeping you posted on exhibitions and events. If you're not sure it's for you, first-timers can pick up a visitor pass for next to nothing and see how you go. By combining personal practice with structured tuition, CAW has become Canberra's main serious hub for visual arts.

Griffith Studio Space and Expanded Belconnen Presence

The main studio sits at M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, a purpose-built facility that works across different disciplines. Being in inner-south Griffith means it's easy to get to from most parts of the city. The space runs life drawing sessions, painting and printmaking workshops, and puts on member shows. In mid-2025 the workshop opened a second location at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, to handle a growing membership and reach more artists on the north side of town.

Both studios are set up for serious practice. The spaces handle various media and techniques, from oil and watercolour painting through to printmaking and life drawing with models, which run under a formal code of conduct. Members work in professional studio settings alongside other committed artists, which builds a real sense of shared purpose. You'll find working artists at all levels at either location, doing their work day to day.

Membership, Support and Getting Started

{"text":"Canberra Art Workshop keeps things simple when new members and visitors want to join. You can get a full membership with access to art groups, course discounts, and exhibition space, or pick up a casual visitor pass if that suits you better. Since a volunteer board runs the place, they've managed to keep fees reasonable without cutting corners on quality. Most people will find a membership level that works for them, with options suited to daily visitors and those who drop by occasionally."}.

For questions about membership, exhibitions, courses and events, email eventscaw@gmail.com or message them on Facebook. The website lists current offerings, fees and how to apply. But honestly, the best thing to do is drop by one of the studios in Griffith or Belconnen and have a look around. You'll meet artists working there, watch group sessions in action, and get a proper sense of whether it fits what you're after. If you're a practising artist after studio space and exhibition chances, a student after real teaching, or just someone who cares about visual arts in Canberra, you'll find a solid, friendly setup focused on making work and growing community.