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The annual Canberra Potters Members’ Exhibition is Canberra’s major ceramic exhibition of the year. The exhibition presents a selection of works created by some of our 800+ members over the past 12 months, demonstrating trends in contemporary ceramics and the infinite breadth of current ceramic arts practice. The exhibition recognises outstanding potters in our community through the awarding of a number of prizes made possible through the support of the Canberra Potters Society Board as well as exhibition sponsors including Walker Ceramics, Keane Ceramics, Northcote Pottery Supplies, The Australian Ceramics Association, Craft + Design Canberra and The Curatoreum.

All Canberra Potters Members are encouraged to enter the exhibition. Other than the Doug Alexander Award, all members and are eligible for all other applicable awards, regardless of the length their membership has been held. A one-off entry fee of $35 must be paid on application. For more details see Further Information below and Terms and Conditions in the Entry Form.

This year the Awards include:

• Best Overall – Doug Alexander Memorial Award: A $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Canberra Potters. Entrants wishing to be considered for the 2026 Doug Alexander Award must have maintained a financial membership for a minimum of 6 months prior to the last delivery day, that is you must have had an active membership prior to May 2026. The Doug Alexander Award may not be won by the same person in two consecutive years.
• Wheel-Throwing Award: Exhibits incorporating both wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques may be considered for this award but the majority of the work must be wheel-thrown.
• Hand-Building Award: Exhibits incorporating both hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques may be considered for this award but the majority of the work must be hand-built.
• Surface Decoration Award
• Sculpture Award
• Emerging Artist Awards: for this exhibition, an Emerging Artist is defined as a person who has recently (within the past 5 years) commenced their practice and/or has recently graduated from a tertiary institution. Emerging artists will also be considered for other eligible awards.
• Merit Awards
• People’s Choice Award

Key dates:

• Entry Forms due: 11.59pm Sunday 20 September 2026
• Entries due: Drop off during shop business hours Saturday 26 September to Wednesday 30 September. Must be boxed and labelled. Shop business hours are Tuesday to Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday + Sunday 10am-2pm.
• Exhibition Preview and Awards Presentation: Thursday 8 October 6-7.30pm
• Exhibition dates: 9 October to 1 November 2026
• Unsold items: To be collected from Canberra Potters during business hours between Sunday 1 November and Tuesday 3 November 2026, unless other arrangements are made in advance. Unfortunately, due to incoming exhibitions we do not have the capacity to store works. If no arrangement has been made with Canberra Potters Management and the exhibit remains uncollected by COB Tuesday 3 November 2026, the piece/s will be moved to the kiln shed veranda for the artist to collect at any time.

Further information:

• Entrants must be current members of Canberra Potters at the time of the exhibition and delivery.
• All entries submitted must be the original work of the exhibitor, have been completed in the 12 months preceding the exhibition, and must not have been exhibited in a previous Canberra Potters Annual Members’ Exhibition.
• Up to two entries may be submitted. Any group entry must be priced as a group, i.e. the components of the group may not be for individual sale.
• Photographs of the work being entered are NOT required for the application form.
• Entry forms must be submitted by 11.59pm Sunday 20 September 2026. No late entries will be accepted.
• Entries must be delivered well packed, in a closed box, labelled on the outside of the box with your name and the number of entries enclosed. Note: your box will be kept for when you collect your work at the end of the exhibition period.
• The exhibition is a selected exhibition; all selected entries will remain on display for the duration of the exhibition.
• A commission (inc. GST) of 40% will be retained by Canberra Potters for all exhibits sold.

Members are welcome to apply to be included in the exhibition at the form below. Applications open until Sunday 20 September

History of the Doug Alexander Memorial Award

Each year since 1990, Canberra Potters have awarded the Doug Alexander Award to an exceptional ceramicist in our annual Members’ Exhibition. The award is presented in celebration and honour of Doug Alexander who was resident potter at Cuppacumbalong Arts and Craft Centre at Tharwa from 1976 to 1981 – brought short by his untimely death.

Doug Alexander made a huge contribution to the development of functional ceramics in Australia and, when he moved to Canberra, Doug Alexander’s experience and knowledge was an integral part of increasing interest within the local community and elevating Canberra as a pottery destination. The non-acquisitive $5,000 cash prize is proudly sponsored by Canberra Potters.

The exhibition will be opened by guest judge (to be announced shortly) at a free Preview event 6.00pm Thursday 8 October 2026.

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You must be logged into your Membership profile to complete an entry form. If you are having difficulty logging in, contact us at admin@canberrapotters.com.au.