WHEN Alison Mooney started running seasonal group art exhibitions in a space above the former Metro Cafe in Railway St five years ago, she had no idea it would turn into a career generator for scores of local artists.

Metro Artist Run Space (MARS) was soon attracting artists and visitors keen to see innovations like live artist battles and some of the most inspiring life drawing subjects the city had ever seen.

The founding director of MARS also became a founding director of TheGRID: Hybrid Arts Collective when it opened and was finally able to offer a permanent space for a huge range of exhibitions from artists both local and further flung.

Ms Mooney said this year would be the final hurrah for MARS in its current format, but it was off to a huge start with the opening of Artists From Mars at Brisbane's Powerhouse.

The show is part of the 2 High Festival, an annual exhibition and networking event aimed at artists, administrators and festival workers.

It opens at the Powerhouse tonight at 6pm and the official festival runs from Friday through to Sunday from noon until midnight each day.

To find out more about the festival or buy tickets visit 2highfestival.com.au.

Exhibiting artists

• Alison Mooney
• Joanna Kambourian
• Benedict Clark
• Maryika Welter
• Mirika Guffin
• Mitchell Hickey
• Brad Marsellos
• Charlie Waters
• Grace Dewar
• Catherine Parker
• Josh Rufford
• Sissi Hue
• Fiona Cockfield
• Elysha Rei
• Zach Lawry
• Gary Winfield
• Craig Seibel
• Belinda Sinclair
• Kate Lund
• Bec Stanley
• Ruth Cadioli
• Alice Weinthal
• Alex Stalling
• Hannah Maddock
• Veronique Sirianni
• Bronte Naylor
• Margo Isaac
• Jesse Wright
• Twolaks Dale
• Mundi Danish Quapoor