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CAW is for Everyone!

Currently located in the M16 Artspace in Griffith, the Canberra Art Workshop (CAW) is a thriving studio hub that welcomes all artists, from beginners to practicing professionals. All have a genuine passion for art and learning. 

Originally known as the Canberra Art Club (from 1948), it became a registered association in 1975, changing its name to Canberra Art Workshop Inc. In recent years, CAW has emerged as one of Canberra’s leading arts organisations attracting a broad range of participants to its varied activities and exhibitions. Since mid-2025 CAW has also run courses and workshops in our studio at the Belconnen Arts Centre.

CAW conducts a busy events program including self-directed art groups, tutored courses, workshops led by art professionals and its annual exhibitions. These exhibitions feature high quality paintings, prints and drawings and the occasional sculpture.

Red Circle

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Canberra Art Workshop
M16 Artspace
21 Blaxland Crescent Griffith ACT 2603
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Become a member now and receive access to art groups, discounts on courses and workshops, the option to showcase work in a biannual exhibition, and receive regular newsletters.

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1948

Canberra Art Club

1950

Canberra University

OUR HISTORY

OUR ORIGINAL BUILDING

FLASHBACK

Flashback

How CAW exhibited in 1954.

Each ‘On Show’ exhibition by CAW makes history in its own ways.
As it happens, one of CAW’s friends, Dr Alan Jones, has been researching Canberra’s art societies.
We are grateful to Alan for discovering in the National Library the room sheet for our fifth annual exhibition in 1954.
Back then, Canberra Art Workshop was called the Canberra Art Club.
The 1954 exhibition included ‘hero’ paintings by three of the then modernist gods of the Sydney art scene, Roland Wakelin, Margo Lewers and Jean Bellette.
They provided six of the 75 paintings in the show (look at the prices!)
Our 1954 exhibition was turbocharged by including these ‘big name’ contemporary artists to boost visitor numbers.
And, nationally-known art personalities were directly involved with our organisation in other ways at that time.
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Seven Decades of Art Activism

Over the decades, Canberra Art Workshop (back when we were called the Canberra Art Club) has been active in lobbying for the creation of the national capital’s major visual arts institutions.
Artists from around Australia have been associated with Canberra Art Workshop — including household names like Max Meldrum, John Coburn, Clifton Pugh, John Brack and Lloyd Rees.
It’s worth having a look at where Canberra Art Workshop came from and what we’ve achieved.
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