CAPITAL PLEIN AIR

CAPITAL PLEIN AIR (CaPA) – TERMS & CONDITIONS

These Terms and Conditions govern participation in the Capital Plein Air Festival (“the Festival”). Registration for the Festival constitutes full acceptance of these terms.

1. DEFINITIONS

  • Festival: Capital Plein Air (CaPA), including all pre-festival paint-outs, workshops, competitions, exhibitions and associated events.
  • Festival Program: The annually published schedule containing dates, times, and locations for all Festival activities.
  • Festival Footprint: All designated government and private properties where Festival activities are permitted.
  • Registered Artist: An individual who has purchased a full Festival Registration.
    Registration in the Quick Draw alone does not constitute a full Festival Registration.

2. REGISTRATION INCLUSIONS

A full Festival Registration includes:

  • Eligibility to purchase and attend workshops (additional fees apply).
  • Permission to paint within all designated Festival Footprint locations during the pre-festival paint-outs and the Festival weekend, in accordance with location permits.
  • Maps and painting profiles for all officially designated locations.
  • Requirement to display the issued Festival lanyard at all times while painting at Festival locations.
  • Free or designated artist parking at selected Festival sites (availability varies by location).
  • Eligibility to display and sell up to two artworks on the Pre-Festival Paint-Out Wet Wall (subject to stamping).
  • Eligibility to enter up to two artworks in the Capital Plein Air Art Awards (Open and Non-Professional categories).
  • Participation in the 2-Hour Quick Draw competition held each Festival Sunday.
  • Free entry to artist demonstrations, presentations, and social/networking events as listed in the Festival Program.

Location Access & Permits

Festival permits grant exclusive access to Registered Artists for painting and workshop participation within the Festival Footprint.
Painting at these locations without full Festival Registration is prohibited under the permissions granted by property owners.

3. WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

Workshop Eligibility

  • Workshops are available exclusively to Registered Artists.
  • Quick Draw-only registration does not qualify participants to attend workshops.
  • If a workshop is purchased without a valid Festival Registration, the participant will be notified and must complete their registration within five (5) days. Failure to do so will result in cancellation and refund of the workshop booking, and the place may be offered to someone on the waiting list.

Workshops form part of the Festival’s licensed program. CaPA obtains permits and permissions for all workshop and painting sites, each with agreed entry conditions. To comply with these requirements, only fully Registered Artists may attend workshops, all of which are held on-location within the Festival Footprint.

4. ART AWARDS ELIGIBILITY & SALES

Wet Wall Display

Artists may submit up to two stamped artworks created during pre-festival paint-outs for display and sale on the Wet Wall. Framing is optional but recommended.

Capital Plein Air Art Awards

Artists may enter up to two stamped artworks into the Awards, subject to the following conditions:

Artwork Eligibility Requirements

  • Stamping Requirement: Only blank substrates stamped by Festival staff are eligible. Stamping times and locations are listed in the annual Festival Program, including an optional early check-in period.
  • En Plein Air Rule: All works must be created outdoors, without studio touch-ups. Only original artworks created within Festival dates and at locations inside the Festival Footprint are eligible.
  • Photographic Proof: Artists must photograph the finished artwork in front of the scene where it was painted and provide the image if requested by judges.
  • Workshop Exclusion: Artworks created during workshops are not eligible for awards or sales.
  • Eligible Media: Two-dimensional painted works only (no sculpture or photography).
  • Art Eligibility for Judging – Style & Connection to Place
  • Capital Plein Air welcomes a range of styles, including expressive and abstracted interpretations of the landscape. All works must be created from direct observation at an official festival location, and retain a clear, identifiable connection to that location. Works that are purely conceptual, studio-derived, or lack a recognisable connection to a real place experienced during the festival are not eligible. Final determination rests with the event organisers and judges.
  • Presentation Requirements:
    • Oils on panel/canvas must be framed to prevent wet-paint contact.
    • Acrylic works may be submitted unframed if dry, on stretched canvas, with appropriate hanging wire.
    • Watercolour/Gouache must be submitted in a mat board.
    • All works must have secure hanging mechanisms (D-rings, hooks or wire).
    • Works that do not meet basic presentation or safety standards may be declined at the organisers’ discretion.

Award Categories

  • Open (Acquisitional) — Open to all artists.
  • Non-Professional — For artists aged 18+ who identify as non-professional.
  • Youth — For artists aged under 18 (parent/guardian consent required).

Submission & Display

  • Artwork submission deadlines are listed in the Festival Program (typically Festival Saturday).
  • Submitted works must remain on display until after the Awards Ceremony on Festival Sunday.

Commission & Payment

  • A 25% commission applies to all artworks sold during the Festival, including off-the-easel sales.
  • Artists must notify organisers immediately upon making an off-easel sale.
  • Payments (minus commission) are processed within 30 days by bank transfer.
  • Unsold works must be collected by the artist; unclaimed works may be donated to charity.

5. CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

Festival Registration

Festival Registration fees are non-refundable.

Workshop Fees

  • Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the workshop: 20% processing fee.
  • Cancellations made within 30 days: no refund, but the participant may transfer their place to another Registered Artist (20% transfer fee applies).
  • All transfers must be arranged and confirmed in writing.
  • If a workshop is rescheduled or cancelled due to instructor illness, unsafe weather, or other force majeure, organisers will offer an alternative session or provide a refund if no alternative is available.

6. ARTWORK SALES

Artists may sell works created during the Festival through:

  • The Wet Wall display
  • The Capital Plein Air Art Awards exhibition
  • Off-the-easel at Festival locations

All sales — including private transactions — are subject to the 25% commission and must be reported to organisers.

7. PHOTOGRAPHY & MARKETING CONSENT

By participating, artists grant CaPA permission to photograph them and their artworks, and to use such images for promotional and marketing purposes in print and digital media.

8. LIABILITY FOR ARTWORK

CaPA will take reasonable care with artworks, but is not liable for damage, theft, or loss at any stage of the Festival, including during display, transport or storage.
Artists are encouraged to arrange their own insurance.

9. CODE OF CONDUCT & RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR

Participants must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully towards organisers, volunteers, fellow artists, property owners and the public.

Unacceptable behaviour — including harassment, discrimination, or disruption — may result in removal from the Festival without refund.

Artists must:

  • Keep painting locations clean
  • Respect private property and access restrictions
  • Avoid paint spills or actions that may permanently damage surfaces
  • Never dispose of paint water or solvents on-site

10. JUDGING DECISIONS

All judging decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

CaPA Directors and Board members are not eligible to enter award categories but may sell work via the Wet Wall, off-the-easel, and may participate in the People’s Choice award.

11. SAFETY & RISK

Artists are responsible for their own safety during all Festival activities.

  • A First Aid officer is present during core Festival hours (as listed in the Festival Program).
  • Artists painting outside these hours do so at their own risk.
  • Participants must prepare appropriately for outdoor conditions, including sun protection, suitable clothing, weather preparation and secure setup of equipment (easels, umbrellas, tripods, chairs).
  • Youth participants must be supervised by a parent/guardian at all times.

CaPA is not responsible for injuries, accidents, illnesses, or property damage incurred by participants.

12. GENERAL CONDITIONS

Updates will be published on the Festival website and apply immediately to future Festivals.

Artists are responsible for their own transportation, accommodation, materials and personal equipment.

The Festival reserves the right to amend these Terms & Conditions at any time.