Reconciliation Week and an Alice in Wonderland themed cocktail experience: 20+ things to do this week
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From things to do this Reconciliation Week to a very curious cocktail experience, here’s everything you can’t miss this week in Canberra.
Seven things to do this Reconciliation Week
Reconciliation Day
The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week is, Be Brave. Make Change. It’s a time for all Canberrans to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Designed to promote conversation and foster a deeper understanding of our national story and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, this year’s celebrations will include bush tucker demonstrations, arts, crafts, and storytelling as well as live entertainment, stalls and exhibitions along with a range of free and family-friendly activities on offer throughout the day.
Monday 30 May, 10 am–3 pm | National Arboretum Canberra | events.canberra.com.au
Reconciliation Day Weekend Walks
Join Wiradjuri Man Adam Shipp as he shares his passion for native plants on a walk through the Gardens on Sunday 29 and Monday 30 May. Taking place from 10:30 am, bookings are essential.
Monday 30 May | National Botanic Gardens | Tickets are $10pp via Eventbrite
ANU National Reconciliation Week 2022
Celebrating National Reconciliation Week as a way of cultivating a deeper understanding and respect for Indigenous peoples, histories, and their cultures, the Australian National University will be hosting over 10 events.
From a screening of The Australian Dream (2019) on Monday 30 May from the ANU Film Group, to meeting Tom Keneally (author of A Bloody Good Rant. My passions, memories and demons) and experiencing First Nations history come to life in a tree carving ceremony on Country and on ANU campus grounds by Paul Girrawah House, there’s plenty to do to support Australia’s Reconciliation journey.
Friday 27 May to Thursday 9 June | Australian National University | anu.edu.au
Reconciliation Week at the Gallery
The Aboriginal Memorial, one of the most important works in the National Gallery of Australia’s collections, reopens this Reconciliation Week. Go visit the memorial as local Ngambri and Ngunnawal Custodians with memvers of the Ramingining community and Commissioning Curator Djon Mundine OAM, Bandjalung peoples, sing in The Aboriginal Memorial in it’s new location.
Wednesday 1 June, 10:30 am –11: 30am | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
Indigenous stargazing with Pete Swanton and Brad Tucker
Did you know that First Nations peoples are considered the world’s first astronomers?
Join Indigenous astronomer Pete Swanton and astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker on Fellows Oval to stargaze using telescopes to navigate the skies and learn about Australia’s rich and extensive history of stargazing and how it differs from Western methods that we often used today. In the event of cloudy or bad weather, stargazing will be cancelled, and warm clothing is highly recommended.
Thursday 2 June, 6 pm | Fellows Oval, Fellows Road, ANU Campus Acton | anu.edu.au
Commemorate Reconciliation Week at Australian Parliament House
Join a Yeribee tour about Indigenous peoples’ experiences of Parliament House and enjoy the collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in Parliament House and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Indigenous parliamentarians.
Stop to see the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples and Yirrkala Bark Petitions when you visit the Members’ Hall and see archival photographs, videos, and artworks exploring the impact of the Mabo decision on Australia.
Tours run daily at 9.30am | Australian Parliament House | aph.gov.au
Tasting Australia with Adam Shipp
Take a tour of the National Museum’s Christina and Trevor Kennedy Garden—a living museum of Indigenous food and medicine plants from across Australia—and enjoy the sights and scents of the season as Adam Shipp (Wiradjuri) of Yurbay Consultancies shares his passion for native plants.
Each tour finishes with tea in the garden (weather permitting) and the opportunity to sample some of the flavours found in the Kennedy Garden and around the Canberra region
Monday 30 May | National Museum of Australia | nma.gov.au
What else is on?
Know My Name Artist Party
Want to celebrate the artists of Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now? At this special after dark event at the National Gallery, experience the live premiere of Jo Lloyd’s Archive the archive performance inspired by the life and work of Australian artist, dancer and choreographer Philippa Cullen (1950-1975), dance to tunes by iconic Club Kooky music maker, DJ Gemma, and enjoy cocktails by Archie Rose.
Friday 3 June, 7 pm – 9 pm | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au/events/know-my-name-artist-party
The Alice – An Immersive Cocktail Experience
Fall down the rabbit hole and come along on a 90-minute topsy-turvy journey into the magical realm of Wonderland. Brought to you by the interactive team behind The Wizard’s Den, Beyond Cinema, and A.K Wregg, this immersive cocktail adventure is the tea party to end all tea parties.
Join them for a theatrical, alternate reality experience that will take you down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass! Across 90 minutes you will create two bespoke Wonderland cocktails, solve riddles and challenges just like Alice, devour “Eat Me” cakes and cookies, paint the roses red and much, much more!
Limited tickets are available now!
*Disclaimer – No flamingos will be hurt during the course of this adventure*
01 Jun – 31 Dec | Zoo Bar, London Circuit | Tickets $49.50pp via explorehidden.com
Reception this way: motels – a sentimental journey with Tim Ross
Travel around Australia revisiting your memories of the classic Aussie motel, from family holidays and long road trips to continental breakfasts and mid-century mod-cons.
In a land where the car has provided us with the ultimate freedom to hit the road and explore, it is no surprise that Australians wholeheartedly embraced the American concept of the motel. When motels began springing up in the 1950s, they represented a new, stylish and sophisticated way to travel.
Join National Archives and Tim Ross on a driving holiday through the quintessential Australian experience of staying in a motel. And find out why these images are part of the National Archives’ collection.
This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.
27 May – 4 Sep 2022 | National Archives of Australia | naa.gov.au
German Film Festival 2022
“Herzlich willkommen” movie goers, film aficionados and anyone in Canberra who loves Kino with a German flavour! The German Film Festival is back for 2022 to showcase the best of contemporary German cinema (direct from major festivals in Europe) plus a selection from its German-speaking neighbours, Austria and Switzerland. From comedy to drama, there’s something for everyone.
Get your ticket, take your seats and enjoy the show…
25 May – 19 June | Place Electric Cinema | germanfilmfestival.com.au
21 Forster St
A patch of land. A stretch of sky. Bricks, beams; an open door. What makes a house a home? How can a space hold the stories of so many and do those echoes remain once they are gone?
21 Forster St is a new multidisciplinary theatre work from award-winning company Steps & Holes. Part of The Q’s new Q The Locals program, a new initiative that gives opportunities to artists and theatre makers from the surrounding regions, 21 Forster St focuses on creator Kate Walder’s own relationship with the house, which was owned by her father until his recent passing.
Joining Kate on the creative team is John Shortis OAM, Bungendore local and one-half of the iconic Simpson and Shortis, as well as a host of other Canberra region creatives to bring this hyper-local production to life. This locally inspired story explores our universal relationships to the places we call home.
30 May – 4 June | The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre | theq.net.au
Warped and Twisted
Showcasing the diverse work of Canberra Spinners and Weavers’ members, Warped and Twisted celebrates the art and craft of spinning and weaving in the ACT and surrounds. Unique pieces will be for sale and they will also have local handmade items for sale in the exhibition shop.
3 – 12 June | 70 Maclaurin Cres, Chifley | canberraspinnersandweavers.org.au
Take Heart: Deadly Heart Documentary – Canberra Screening.
Take Heart: Deadly Heart is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 film Take Heart: The Quest to Rid Australasia from Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Take Heart catapulted Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) into national consciousness. In 2022, Take Heart: Deadly Heart is calling on the Commonwealth Government to fund the community-led services that prevent RHD and keep families strong and together. Taking place at Palace Electric Cinemas, the screening will be followed by a Q&A session and a small popcorn is included with every ticket.
Tuesday 31 May | Palace Electric Cinemas, 2 Phillip Law Street, Canberra | Tickets are $19.50pp via Eventbrite
Music for Ukraine
A fundraising concert for the people of Ukraine (featuring Ukrainian folk music and works by Brahms, John Taverner, Valentin Silvestrov and many others) the Canberra International Music Festival (CIMF), Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and the ANU School of Music come together at Llewellyn Hall to make music in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and raise vital funds for humanitarian aid.
All proceeds will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
Tuesday 31 May, 7 pm | Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music | Tickets are $75pp via cso.org.au/event/music-for-ukraine
A Musical Journey to Europe
The Wesley Music Centre is delighted to welcome back after a long COVID-induced absence the very talented pianist Aaron Chew as he performers a program of works by Bach/Busoni, Albeniz, Granados and Schubert. Taking place on Wednesday 1 June, the lunchtime concert includes a program and refreshments.
Wednesday 1st June, 12.40pm – 1.20pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | wesleycanberra.org.au
Ozlit Book Club
“The city was in the same place. But was it the same city?”
In May, the Ozlit Book Club at Muse Canberra will take a dystopian turn with Rhett Davis’ Hovering, winner of the Victorian Premier’s Award for an unpublished manuscript. New members are most welcome but spaces are limited.
Wednesday 1 June, 6:30pm – 8:30pm | Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Ave, Griffith | musecanberra.com.au
she’s on the bill Northern Rivers Flood Relief Concert
A mighty conglomerate of female and non-binary music professionals are banding together for a special Canberra concert where 100 per cent of proceeds will go to the Northern Rivers Flood Relief Fund.
Artists who will represent on Friday June 3 include AYA YVES, Hope Wilkins, Lucy Sugerman, Groovy Daughter, Sam Sly and Fin Geach. Unfortunately, due to lockdowns and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on venues, there hasn’t been a “she’s on the bill” event for almost a year now. The Transit gig will be a comeback with a heart.
Friday June 3, 7pm | Transit Bar, 143 London Circuit Civic | Tickets are $25pp and available here
Holidays for Hope
Looking for the perfect girls getaway? Holidays for Hope, an annual charity weekend hosted by Girls Getaways, is making its debut in Canberra this year. Taking place from Friday 3 June until Sunday 5 June, Girls Getaways invites ladies to join them for a weekend of wining, dining and catching up with friends, all while raising money for Pink Hope.
Including a nights accommodation at either Burbury Hotel or Hotel Realm in Canberra’s buzzing Realm precinct, a sunset cocktail to kickstart your getaway, a welcome canapè night on Friday and a three-course long lunch on Saturday at the stunning Pialligo Estate, as well as plenty of optional add ons, secure your spot now by submitting a booking request via the Girls Getaways website.
Friday 3 – Sunday 5 June | girlsgetaways.com.au/package-search/canberra/holidays-for-hope
Accessible Sports and Recreation Expo
Northside Community Service (NCS) and Woden Community Service (WCS) invite families to be part of this event that aims to boost children of all abilities’ participation in sports and recreation in our community! Held on Friday 3 of June from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at Woden School, Deakin, various inclusive sports and recreation activities will be showcased by local clubs and community groups.
This expo not only encourages children to register with local sports and recreation activities but also allows local clubs to give out information about their activities and to register kids for their programs. It is also an opportunity for children to come and try activities they have never participated in before.
This is a free event, but registration is required.
Friday 3 June | The Woden School, 127 Denison St, Deakin | Register via Eventbrite
Canberra Vietnamese school fundraiser
Come join the Canberra Vietnamese school fundraiser to enjoy some traditional Vietnamese food and drink stalls, live performances and maybe catch magician in action! Taking place at the Majura Community Centre, the entry fee is $10 for adults (free for children under 12) and all funds raised will go into supporting the school.
Saturday 4 June, 4:30pm – 8 pm | 2 Rosevear Place, Dickson| For more information, please contact 0478 636 668 or canberravietschool@gmail.com
Hilary Geddes Parkside Tour
Guitarist and composer Hilary Geddes, winner of Australia’s most prestigious jazz award (the 2021, $20,000 Freedman Fellowship), is joining join forces with Melbourne’s Claire Cross for a unique night at Street Theatre on Saturday 4 June.
This special event for Canberra Street Theatre introduces the two award-winning new generation jazz leaders and powerhouse women and their strikingly distinctive music projects ‘Into Light’ and ‘Parkside’. Sound sculptors creating sonic worlds of their own they draw upon a wide range of artistic and musical influences and a commitment to the role of place in listening and performance that will leave you inspired by what is happening in music now.
Saturday 4 June | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers St | thestreet.org.au
DC Fit Open Day
Everyone has a certain dance or fitness class they’ve always wanted to try—but sometimes the fear of commitment holds us back. Well, swap that fear for gym gear because on Saturday 4 June you’ll be able to try special 30-minute taster sessions of 14 styles of dance and fitness classes for free (and with added goodies!) at DC Fit’s Open Day.
So, what can you look forward to? How about trying the new craze of fitness class Bounce—yep, it’s a workout on a mini-trampoline—or if you’d like to ooze into your weekend you can attend a Limbering session to level up your flexibility. And that’s just the start.
Book as many classes as you like online via the Mindbody App on your smartphone. Download Mindbody then find DC Fit. Classes scheduled on 4 June from 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm are free.
Saturday 4 June, 1 pm – 3 pm | Dance Central Studios, 13-15 Altree Court, Phillip | dance-central.com.au/workshops-and-events/dc-fit-open-day-2022
Guess How Much I Love You
“I love you right up to the moon—and back.”
It’s the story that’s captured the hearts of children and adults for over 25 years, inspiring one of the sweetest ways of saying ‘I love you’. But now the Nutbrown Hares are leaping off the page and coming to the Canberra Theatre Centre to try and measure the unmeasurable in a dazzling new stage adaptation.
Based on the iconic books by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram, Guess How Much I Love You follows the adventure of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare as they try to find the perfect way to express their love for each other while exploring their beautiful natural surroundings.
Brought to life by CDP Kids, the team behind the Australian tours of The Gruffalo, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Spot, parents will be excited to learn that Guess How Much I Love You is not only a fantastic show but it’s also the perfect introduction to theatre for children aged three and up.
Saturday 4 June| Canberra Theater Center | canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/guess-how-much-i-love-you
ArtSound FM: The ArtSound Earfest & Open Day
ArtSound FM, Canberra’s arts and music community radio station, will hold its annual on-air “Radiothon” fundraiser from May 27 to June 5, 2022, culminating in an Open Day on Sunday 5 June. This year’s theme is “ArtSound Earfest” and after two years of bushfires, hailstorm, and Covid-19 lockdowns, ArtSound is appealing to listeners to help replenish its budget so it can continue its work of supporting the ACT’s arts community.
Featuring special programming, the Open Day will have prize drawings for donors and new or renewing members, as well as a “membership special”: 17 months for the price of 12. There will also be musical performances, sausage sizzle, and much else ahead of a drawing for some grand prizes.
Sunday 5 June, 10 am – 2 pm | Crn Manuka Circle & New South Wales Crescent (adjacent to Manuka Oval) | artsound.fm
Dennis Altman – God Save The Queen
Avowed republican Dennis Altman investigates the unexpected durability and potential benefits of constitutional monarchies, in God Save the Queen: The Strange Persistence of Monarchies.
God Save the Queen is the first book to look at constitutional monarchies globally, and is particularly relevant given the pro-democracy movement in Thailand and recent scandals around the British and Spanish royal families. Is monarchy merely a feudal relic that should be abolished, or does the division between ceremonial and actual power act as a brake on authoritarian politicians? And what is the role of monarchy in the independent countries of the Commonwealth that have retained the Queen as head of state?
Join Dennis in his second visit to Muse, in conversation with popular historian and Muse favourite, Frank Bongiorno.
Sunday 5 June, 3 pm – 4pm | Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Ave, Griffith | musecanberra.com.au
Feature Image via facebook.com/thealicecocktails
