Adult Open
All artists regardless of age, experience, or professional status may enter this category. You will be judged alongside professional and emerging professional painters.

Adult Non-Professional
For artists over 18 years of age who prefer to be judged among hobbyists, beginners, and intermediate painters rather than professionals. This is a supportive and encouraging category for developing artists.

Youth / Junior Artists (Quick Draw Only)
Youth and junior artists are welcome to participate in the Quick Draw event. They are not judged in the main Open or Non-Professional competitions.
Youth = Under Age 13 Junior = Age 14-18

Check Your Registration Details
We’ve had a few questions about ticket types and categories, so here’s how to read your ticket:

• Under “Price”
  This shows the type of ticket you purchased, for example:
  • Festival Adult – Open or Non-Professional
  • Quick Draw Adult
  • Quick Draw Youth/Junior
• Under “Category”
  This confirms the category you selected when registering (e.g. Adult Open (Including Professional)).
• Under “Section”
  This shows what you’re registered for:
  Full Festival (Pre-Festival Paint Out + Festival Weekend + Quick Draw), or
  Quick Draw only

If you think you’ve selected the wrong category, just email us and we can update it before the festival begins.

We understand that the current fuel situation is impacting travel plans for some artists, particularly those travelling long distances to Canberra.

As outlined in our Terms & Conditions, festival registrations are non-refundable. This policy is consistent with other Australian plein air events, including Plein Air Down Under, and is essential to ensure the festival can proceed as planned. As a small not-for-profit outdoor event, we rely on confirmed registrations to deliver venues, logistics, and prize funding. Allowing cancellations in response to changing external conditions would place the viability of the festival at risk.

• Canberra Airport to the CBD is approx. 12 minutes
• Most painting locations have ample free parking, but some festival days will require carpooling due to limited space.
• Uber and taxis readily available

Please note there are major works underway on Commonwealth Avenue Bridge during the festival. Traffic has been reduced to fewer lanes, with both directions sharing one side of the bridge, which may cause congestion—particularly during peak times. As most festival locations are south of the lake, this will mainly impact those staying on the north side. Please allow extra travel time and be aware of possible detours and reduced speed limits. For updates, visit:
https://www.nca.gov.au/media-centre/consider-your-commute-major-changes-start-week-across-commonwealth-avenue-bridge

A few key tips to avoid issues at the airport:

• Pack in checked luggage (not carry-on)
• Don’t call them “oil paints” — say artist pigments or artist colours
• Tighten lids + seal in a plastic bag
• Include a printed SDS/MSDS with your materials
• Avoid solvents buy locally instead

It’s not just what you pack — it’s how you present it.
Here is a detailed guide to packing paints.

All registered artists are invited to join our private Facebook group a central point for pre-festival connection. Use it for viewing artists updates, carpooling & travel coordination, connecting with other artists before arriving.

Join the Capital Plein Air Attendees Forum

Go to MERCH page HERE!

SOLVENT, TSHIRTS, APRONS

Pick up your order at the CaPA Tent

MORE ON FRAMING PAGE

All works entered for award judging must be framed (or in a mat board for works on paper) and hangable.

We recommend planning ahead by deciding on the panel or canvas sizes you intend to use during the festival, and bringing frames to suit those sizes.

Frames can also be ordered in advance through Framing Doctor for collection at the festival. You can view frame options, pricing, and ordering details via the link.

http://www.capitalpleinair.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Festival-Framing-2026.pdf Updated 8/4/2026

Wet wall artwork is not required to be framed. It will be presented on shelving, pinned to a board for water media, or lay flat on a table.

The festival has been designed with flexibility in mind. You’re welcome to attend as many days as you like, there’s no requirement to be there every day. Please come and go in a way that suits your schedule and energy. If you can only attend for part of the week, you’re very welcome to join for the days that suit you.

While the Festival Weekend is the main public-facing event in central locations, the pre-festival paint-outs offer additional time to explore outer locations, build your body of work, and allow for weather flexibility. They’re especially useful for artists arriving early or travelling from further away who would like time to settle in and paint.

Volunteers will be on-site each day from 8am to 4pm, and you’re free to arrive and leave at any time during those hours. If you choose to continue painting after 4pm, please note that this is at your own discretion, as volunteers and first aid support will no longer be on-site.

Our location partners are expecting all festival participants to be wearing their lanyard so they can be easily identified as part of the event.

Optional partner lanyards will also be available if you entered their name at registration. Partners are not required to wear theirs, but it’s helpful if they’re regularly on site with you. The main requirement is that all artists who are painting wear their lanyard.

When youfirst arrive at the festival—regardless of which day you begin—you’ll need to check in with the volunteer team at the registration tent.

FIRST CHECK-IN: At this first check-in, you’ll receive your field guide, lanyard (which must be worn on location), and other key information. You’ll also have your painting surfaces (boards, canvases, or paper) stamped with the Capital Plein Air stamp.

EARLY CHECK-IN: An optional early check-in and stamping session will be available for those wishing to get started quickly on Monday:
The Dock Restaurant, 7/81 Giles Streets, Kingston
Sunday, April 19 | 2pm – 5pm – Park in front of Fitters Workshop and walk over.

STAMPING BOARDS
Only stamped surfaces are eligible for judging and exhibition. All surfaces must be completely blank at the time of stamping (a single-colour ground is acceptable).

There is no limit to the number of surfaces you can have stamped. Additional stamping will be available throughout the week at the Volunteer Tent as needed.

Watercolour Artists
Paper can be stamped close to the edge so the mark will sit neatly under a mat board.

If you are using a glued watercolour block, each sheet must be stamped individually. We recommend preparing two boards or sheets in advance so both can be stamped before you begin. When you move on to a fresh sheet, simply return to the Volunteer Tent for stamping.