2026 Canberra Potters Members Exhibition

9 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER 2026
Opening Preview: 6pm Thursday 8 October

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 inexhaustible breadth of ceramic arts practice. The works featured use different clays, and a wide variety of making, decorating and firing techniques to create works that are unique in form, texture and colour.

Canberra Potters membership includes people at all levels of practice, from internationally regarded ceramic artists to emerging practitioners and dedicated makers, passionate about the ongoing development of their practice.

A number of prizes are awarded each year, made possible through the support of the Canberra Potters Society Board and the generosity of exhibition sponsors including Walker Ceramics, Keane Ceramics, Northcote Pottery Supplies, The Australian Ceramics Association (TACA), Craft + Design Canberra and The Curatoreum.

This year the Awards include:

  • Doug Alexander Memorial Award – $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Canberra Potters
  • Cesco Award for Wheel Throwing – sponsored by Walker Ceramics
  • Keane Ceramics Award for Handbuilding – sponsored by Keane Ceramics
  • Brian Privett Award for Surface Decoration – sponsored by Walker Ceramics
  • Northcote Sculpture Award – sponsored by Northcote Pottery Supplies
  • Keane Ceramics Emerging Artist Award – sponsored by Keane Ceramics
  • TACA Merit Award – sponsored by The Australian Ceramics Association
  • TACA Emerging Artist Award – sponsored by The Australian Ceramics Association
  • People’s Choice Award – sponsored by The Curatoreum

The exhibition will be opened by guest judge and renowned Canberra based ceramicist, Dr Patsy Hely, at a free Preview event 6pm Thursday 8 October 2026. All welcome!

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.

Image: Canberra Potters Members Exhibition, 2025

Canberra Potters and Watson Arts Centre acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land where we meet and work, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people and other First Nations people who are connected with this land. We celebrate and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of the ACT and region. This is Aboriginal land. Always was always will be.