Your essential guide to what’s on in Canberra this week!

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE LISTED IN THIS WEEK IN THE CAN? SUBMIT IT HERE BY COB WEDNESDAY PRIOR.

11 THINGS NOT TO MISS 

Credit: Martin Ollman.

Canberra Metro Operations Career Expo

Canberra Metro Operations (CMO) will be hosting a Career Expo where staff will be onsite ready to speak with job seekers and those people interested in pursuing a career in Light Rail.

One of the positions Canberra Metro Operations will be recruiting at the Career Expo will be Customer Service Officer.

As a frontline ‘ambassador’ for Light Rail you will be the direct contact for passengers at stops and on board. If you are passionate about customer service and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, CMO is keen to meet you! This is a great opportunity for those who want a career change, who are looking to get back into the workforce or just want a new challenge doing a job that they can enjoy.

CMO will have information on the types of positions on offer now and in the future and CMO’s General Manager, Operational Manager, Safety Manager, Drivers, HR, Finance Staff, Engineers and Technicians will be on hand to answer any questions.

Canberra Metro Operations is passionate about fostering career pathways and diversifying its workforce and encourage women and Indigenous Australians to apply.

Keen to know more or want a position description for the Customer Service Role? Please email careers@cbrmetro.com.au.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Eastlake Football Club Gungahlin, 51 Hinder Street, Gungahlin.

Make sure to bring your resume. For more information download the brochure.

Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark

An hour-long blast of comedy, Shakespeare and ninjas. Plus zombies!

After winning over everyone who came to see it in 2016, this very cheeky, very clever, utterly irreverent riff on Hamlet – made especially for children – is back for an eagerly anticipated return season. The Listies, maestros of children’s entertainment, have pulled apart Shakespeare’s classic and glued it back together with hilarious costumes, loads of silliness and plenty of interactivity.

Hamlet is already full of things kids love in a good story: ghosts, castles, sword fights, bodily fluids and spooky stuff. Add to the mix some super-sonic gags and expertly timed stage magic unlike anything kids have seen before and you have a brilliantly disguised Shakespearean tragedy for everyone aged five and over.

And that’s not all… expect bonus pillow fights, pirates, ninjas, ninja pirates, aliens, ninja pirate aliens, zombies and a bunch of other hilarious stuff as The Listies take kids and their adults on a fun-filled hour of theatre. The only thing we can be sure of is that everyone dies at the end – including the audience!

Happening Friday 3 August from 6.30 pm at Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic.

More information and tickets here.

Cellar Door

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene.

Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.

Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.

Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.

Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening Saturday 4 August from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.

See the Facebook event for more details.

ANU Naidoc Concert

The ANU Indigenous Department presents a live concert celebrating NAIDOC Week.

Featuring deadly performances from Indigenous women, great food and awesome vibes.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 5 pm at the ANU Pop Up Club, ANU Campus, Acton.

Details and tickets available online.

Orange Winter Fire Festival

The Orange Region, known for its incredible food and wine is excited to launch the first Orange Winter Fire Festival this August, celebrating an authentic winter experience in regional NSW.

The Orange Winter Fire Festival, taking place in Orange and the surrounding villages of Millthorpe, Molong and Carcoar from 3-5 August 2018, aims to showcase why the Orange region is an ideal destination all year round, and in particular what is on offer during the winter months.

On Friday 3 August the festivities will fire up in Millthorpe, turning Pym Street into a winter wonderland of fire drum art, food and wine stalls and entertainment by Smith and Jones, setting the festival alight for the weekend.

There will be a number of bonfire, culinary and entertainment events throughout the region during the weekend, including Wassailing at Canobolas Dance Hall, hosted by See Saw Wines, Canobolas Dance Hall and Small Acres Cyder, who will also be offering mulled cider and apple tarts by the fire at their cellar door. There will be a Fire and Poetry night in Molong, a Sunday lunch in historic Carcoar, a true representation of a country Sunday Roast at The Lord Anson and even an Ancestral Dinner at De Salis Winery.

There will also be three star-gazing experiences available on Saturday night (4 August), each embracing the warmth of fire, delicious food and local wine, however, each offering  a different focus when it comes to astronomy.

Happening 3-5 August at various locations across Orange, New South Wales.

Full event information and tickets available at orangewinterfirefestival.com.au.

Jazz in Concert – Gai Bryant Quintet

The Sydney-based quintet comprises the amazing talents of bassist Nick Henderson, pianist/vibes Ed Goyer, trombonist and trumpeter Danny Carmichael, drummer Alex Hirlian and saxophonist/composer Gai Bryant. This performance will celebrate their work on and passion for Cuban music genres cha cha chá, rumba, guajira, son and Jazz.

The quintet will bring their unique take on these energetic Cuban styles and select jazz standards to the ANU Pop-Up Village.

Happening Wednesday 1 August from 7.30 pm at the ANU Pop-Up Village.

See the website for more information.

THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL – CANBERRA REGION

Indulge in a feast of the senses and join in the fun as The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Each year from June to August more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region showcasing the region’s fresh Black Winter Truffle.

Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles. Learn from the chefs and other truffle experts at a cooking class or demonstration, or pop along to a market and pick up some truffle delights for yourself.

The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival, and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region.

Happening Friday 1 June–Friday 31 August at various locations around Canberra.

Check out the website for more information.

Trivia Tuesdays

Grab your mates, grab a drink and get ready for a good time.

MOLO Live will be hosting trivia every Tuesday – and if that wasn’t good enough, the winners get to ‘pluck a duck’ for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

If your team is the brainiest you stand a chance to win a keg, vouchers from Brodburger, Bentspoke or STA Travel and heaps more!

Happening every Tuesday from 5.30 pm at MOLO Live, in the ANU Pop-Up Village on ANU Campus, Acton

PLAYUP

Discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too! From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

See the website for more information.

Free after museum admission.

Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

16 July from 7-9.30 pm at the ANU Pop Up Village, ANU Campus.

Cost: Free.

So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history

As conceptually thrilling as it is aesthetically rich, So Fine features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history.

Forming part of the Portrait Gallery’s twentieth birthday celebrations, the exhibition enriches the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.

So Fine’s contributing artists – of various ages and backgrounds, and hailing from different parts of Australia – have all created new works for the exhibition. Aside from gender, their common attributes are a meticulous approach to creation, driven by considered, nuanced thinking. Their works are intricate, refined and affecting objects that reconceive events, people and places from Australia’s past.

The artists involved are Shirley Purdie, Linde Ivimey, Bern Emmerichs, Leah King-Smith, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Nicola Dickson, Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling), Fiona McMonagle, Valerie Kirk and Carol McGregor. Charged with these makers’ passionate, intensely individual takes, and incorporating themes from pre-history to the present, So Fine challenges and delights, as well as interrogating the boundaries of contemporary portraiture.

Showing until Monday 1 October at the National Portrait Gallery. See the website for more information.

CHINESE HIGH TEA AT NATURAL NINE, CASINO CANBERRA

Canberra’s only ‘pop Chinese” restaurant, Natural Nine, is holding a weekly Chinese High Tea! Not only does this High Tea bring a delicious Asian twist to the high tea experience, but it also allows you to purchase treat stands rather than pay per head. If you love high teas or modern Asian cooking than this event is a must!

One stand including tea selection for two: $35pp. One stand including Sparkling to begin and tea selection for two: $45pp.

Happening every Friday and Saturday from 2.30pm – 4.30pm at Natural Nine, Casino Canberra.

Bookings required in advance, so to book via 02 6257 7074 or online at casinocanberra.com.au.

FOOD & DRINK

Orange Winter Fire Festival

The Orange Region, known for its incredible food and wine is excited to launch the first Orange Winter Fire Festival this August, celebrating an authentic winter experience in regional NSW.

The Orange Winter Fire Festival, taking place in Orange and the surrounding villages of Millthorpe, Molong and Carcoar from 3-5 August 2018, aims to showcase why the Orange region is an ideal destination all year round, and in particular what is on offer during the winter months.

On Friday 3 August the festivities will fire up in Millthorpe, turning Pym Street into a winter wonderland of fire drum art, food and wine stalls and entertainment by Smith and Jones, setting the festival alight for the weekend.

There will be a number of bonfire, culinary and entertainment events throughout the region during the weekend, including Wassailing at Canobolas Dance Hall, hosted by See Saw Wines, Canobolas Dance Hall and Small Acres Cyder, who will also be offering mulled cider and apple tarts by the fire at their cellar door. There will be a Fire and Poetry night in Molong, a Sunday lunch in historic Carcoar, a true representation of a country Sunday Roast at The Lord Anson and even an Ancestral Dinner at De Salis Winery.

There will also be three star-gazing experiences available on Saturday night (4 August), each embracing the warmth of fire, delicious food and local wine, however, each offering  a different focus when it comes to astronomy.

Happening 3-5 August at various locations across Orange, New South Wales.

Full event information and tickets available at orangewinterfirefestival.com.au.

Cellar Door

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene.

Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.

Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.

Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.

Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening Saturday 4 August from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.

See the Facebook event for more details.

6-COURSE TRUFFLE AND BEER EVENT

This Highgate and Capital Brewing Co collaboration will bring a six-course truffle and beer event, a surprising and delicious combination that will provide the ultimate dining experience.

Leading the charge in the kitchen will be Head Chef Matt Ouwerkerk who has formed a menu around the heavenly flavour and aroma of the truffle, while Capital Brewing Co’s Tim Hill has sought out the perfect brew for each course.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 7pm at Highgate House, Kingston.

Visit the website for bookings and more information.

THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL – CANBERRA REGION

 Indulge in a feast of the senses and join in the fun as The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Each year from June to August more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region showcasing the region’s fresh Black Winter Truffle.

Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles. Learn from the chefs and other truffle experts at a cooking class or demonstration, or pop along to a market and pick up some truffle delights for yourself.

The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival, and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region.

Happening until Friday 31 August at various locations around Canberra.

Check out the website for more information.

CONTENTIOUS CHARACTER FIVE COURSE TRUFFLE DINNER

Blue Frog Truffles and Contentious Character will again work together on delivering an amazing five course truffle dinner with an evening of entertaining delights planned. The night starts in the barrel room to set the scene with a special tasting by their winemaker, and includes talks by Tom and Wayne on their experiences of farming and cooking with Truffles, plus a few contentious surprises are in store.

Happening Saturday 4 August from 6 pm at Contentious Character Vineyard, Norton Road.

See the website for bookings and more information.

TIPSY TEA AT WHITE RABBIT COCKTAIL ROOM

It’s always time for tea at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, Tipsy Tea that is! Kicking off from two every Saturday and Sunday, Tipsy Tea is perfect for those seeking a little adventure.

Tipsy Tea (65 pp), in true White Rabbit style combines classic high tea flare with signature concoctions encouraging the curious to explore their senses. To eat, you are greeted by a 3- tier platter with an array of flavoursome bites including; spiced pork sausage rolls, smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheel sandwiches and semi-dried tomato and caramelised onion tarts. Looking for something a little sweeter? Try the sour rhubarb and marshmallow tarts or the delightful dark chocolate and peanut brownies topped with caramel icing.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 pm at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, 65 Northbourne Avenue, City.

Book your table via info@whiterabbitroom.com.au or on (02) 6257 7779.

BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS @ HIGHBALL

Highball are freeing the mimosa from being a brunch-only drink and taking them for a night out, Cuban style! Head in on Wednesdays for some fresh and fruity bottomless mimosas and share a charcuterie platter.

– Flight Details –
•  $45 per passenger (4 pax minimum)
•  1.5 hours of service
•  Charcuterie platter to share
•  Wednesdays from 4pm

They’re also letting their mimosas out on the weekends so you can catch them 4-7pm on Saturdays and from 2pm on Sundays.

On every Wednesday from 4pm at The Highball Express. Entry is $45pp, min 4 people. Visit the website for more information.

CHINESE HIGH TEA AT NATURAL NINE, CASINO CANBERRA

Canberra’s only ‘pop Chinese” restaurant, Natural Nine, is holding a weekly Chinese High Tea! Not only does this High Tea bring a delicious Asian twist to the high tea experience, but it also allows you to purchase treat stands rather than pay per head. If you love high teas or modern Asian cooking than this event is a must!

One stand including tea selection for two: $35pp. One stand including Sparkling to begin and tea selection for two: $45pp.

Happening every Friday and Saturday from 2.30pm – 4.30pm at Natural Nine, Casino Canberra.

Bookings required in advance, so to book via 02 6257 7074 or online at casinocanberra.com.au.

GARDEN BAR HAPPY HOUR

Select wine, beer, basic spirits, cocktail specials while you enjoy live music from Canberra’s most talented local musicians. Make your Friday happy and relaxing with a various selection of popular drinks.

Happening Friday every week between 5pm – 7pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, inside Hotel Realm 18 National Circuit, Barton.

Cost: $5 wine, beer, spirits.

FRIDAY SOIRÉE AT BUVETTE

Add a little sparkle to your Friday night with Buvette Bistro’s Friday Soirée. Set outdoors in the Parisian-style Buvette Terrace, celebrate the weekend with this exclusive event. Enjoy VIP service with a personal bartender and select your drink of choice from the special cocktail menu, designed exclusively for Friday Soirée.

Sip on a French 75 or a Lychee Torsadée whilst enjoying fresh oysters, charcuterie or a duck liver parfait.

Every Friday from 4pm to 7pm at Buvette, inside the Realm Hotel, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Find more information here.

HIGH TEA ON THE BURBURY TERRACE 

Designed to blend tradition with innovation, the new Burbury High Tea menu also offers signature favourites with freshly- baked scones, strawberry macaron and finger sandwiches.

Burbury Terrace is also proud to introduce a fully-dedicated gluten-free high tea menu. Remaining as innovative as the standard menu, it also includes the traditional sandwiches and indulgent sweets.

$50.00 per person including TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee. $60 per person including a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee.

Available Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4.30pm at Burbury Terrace, Barton. Find more information here.

PETIT FEAST AT BUVETTE

Spoil yourself with a bountiful spread including savouries, charcuterie, cheeses and decadent desserts. Every Saturday at Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar.

It’s not breakfast, it’s not lunch…but it is an indulgent feast for all the senses. The Buvette Petit Feast features freshly made savouries and sweets as well as lavish desserts. In addition to tea and coffee, you can order a Bloody Mary, French Champagne and Rosé.

Available between 11.30am – 2.30pm every Saturday at $65 per guest, including a complimentary glass of Rosé. For $15 guests can add unlimited Mimosas. Buvette is fully licensed and has free parking all weekend, outdoor covered seating and complimentary WiFi.

For bookings, call 02 6163 1818 or email buvette@domahotels.com.au. Find out more at hotelrealm.com.au.

TACO TUESDAY

Your choice of chicken, pork, or beef in a soft shell taco with cabbage, shallots & coriander. Happening every Tuesday from 1pm-5pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

BURGERS & BEERS

A selection of Burgers and tap beer. Happening every Wednesday from 5pm-10pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

PIZZA & PALE ALE THURSDAYS

A selection of housemade Pizza paired with a schooner of James Squire Pale Beer. Happening at  5pm every Thursday at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

MUSIC, STAGE AND THEATRE 

Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark

An hour-long blast of comedy, Shakespeare and ninjas. Plus zombies!

After winning over everyone who came to see it in 2016, this very cheeky, very clever, utterly irreverent riff on Hamlet – made especially for children – is back for an eagerly anticipated return season. The Listies, maestros of children’s entertainment, have pulled apart Shakespeare’s classic and glued it back together with hilarious costumes, loads of silliness and plenty of interactivity.

Hamlet is already full of things kids love in a good story: ghosts, castles, sword fights, bodily fluids and spooky stuff. Add to the mix some super-sonic gags and expertly timed stage magic unlike anything kids have seen before and you have a brilliantly disguised Shakespearean tragedy for everyone aged five and over.

And that’s not all… expect bonus pillow fights, pirates, ninjas, ninja pirates, aliens, ninja pirate aliens, zombies and a bunch of other hilarious stuff as The Listies take kids and their adults on a fun-filled hour of theatre. The only thing we can be sure of is that everyone dies at the end – including the audience!

Happening Friday 3 August from 6.30 pm at Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic.

More information and tickets here.

ANU Naidoc Concert

The ANU Indigenous Department presents a live concert celebrating NAIDOC Week.

Featuring deadly performances from Indigenous women, great food and awesome vibes.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 5 pm at the ANU Pop Up Club, ANU Campus, Acton.

Details and tickets available online.

Jazz in Concert – Gai Bryant Quintet

The Sydney-based quintet comprises the amazing talents of bassist Nick Henderson, pianist/vibes Ed Goyer, trombonist and trumpeter Danny Carmichael, drummer Alex Hirlian and saxophonist/composer Gai Bryant. This performance will celebrate their work on and passion for Cuban music genres cha cha chá, rumba, guajira, son and Jazz.

The quintet will bring their unique take on these energetic Cuban styles and select jazz standards to the ANU Pop-Up Village.

Happening Wednesday 1 August from 7.30 pm at the ANU Pop-Up Village.

See the website for more information.

SUZANNE VEGA THE ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Suzanne Vega has just announced that she will continue her world Anniversary Tour and return to Australia with her full band, for a special run of theatre shows.

Her live performances steer clear of dramatic histrionics, but are emotional experiences, allowing her audience to focus on her masterful storytelling.

Suzanne continues to play sold-out concerts across the globe in some of the world’s best-known venues! She will be performing Solitude Standing and 99.9F in full.

Happening on Wednesday 1 August at 7:30 pm at Canberra Theatre Centre.

Tickets and more information can be found on the website.

XAVIER RUDD

Storm Boy, Xavier Rudd’s highly anticipated ninth studio album, sums up everything fans love about the iconic singer-songwriter. To celebrate its release, Xavier Rudd is playing a select number of Australian dates this August, showcasing a selection of music from Storm Boy and Xavier’s epic back catalogue.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 8pm at UC Refectory. Canberra.

Visit the booking website for tickets and more information.

Trivia Tuesdays

Grab your mates, grab a drink and get ready for a good time.

MOLO Live will be hosting trivia every Tuesday – and if that wasn’t good enough, the winners get to ‘pluck a duck’ for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

If your team is the brainiest you stand a chance to win a keg, vouchers from Brodburger, Bentspoke or STA Travel and heaps more!

Happening every Tuesday from 5.30 pm at MOLO Live, in the ANU Pop-Up Village on ANU Campus, Acton.

CHARITY COMEDY HYPNOTIST NIGHT

 Back by popular demand and the amount of laughs they had last year, Mercure Canberra will putting on a show with Comedy Hypnotist, GerardV! The event is to raise money for AccorHotels Community fund that covers, AMIE, Garvan Research Foundation, Kokoda Youth Foundation and Lifeline.

This family-friendly event will get everyone giggling, so join us for a night of laughs!

Happening Friday 3 August from 5:45 pm at Mercure Canberra, Braddon.

Visit the booking website for tickets and more information. 

COSMO’S MIDNIGHT- WHAT COMES NEXT TOUR

Triple j, Astral People & Maker Agency are pleased to present:Cosmo’s Midnight ‘What Comes Next’ Australian Tour with special guests Genesis Owusu & Mookhi.

It’s been a long time since the group have gone on a headline tour so to celebrate their album release they’ll be heading around Australia this July & August on their biggest tour yet.

Presenting a brand new live show, new instruments, and new visuals.  Plus, they’re taking Genesis Owusu & Mookhi along for the ride too!

Happening Friday 3 August from 8pm at UC Refectory, Bruce.

Visit the website for ticketing and more information.

GREG SCOTT TRIO

The Greg Scott Trio perform on classical guitars to showcase swing, latin, pop and blues music that is all delivered with a creative and improvised spirit.

Happening on Friday 3 August from 6pm at the National Press Club of Australia, Barton.

More information can be found on the event website.

TANGENTS + HARMONY

Tangents ‘New Bodies’ Album Launch, with special guests Harmony.

After an eventful year of touring throughout their native Australia – including runs with labelmates MONO and like-minded pioneers Tortoise – and featuring alongside the work of artist David Hockney at the National Gallery of Victoria, Tangents return with their new album New Bodies, another stylistic detour that continues their rummage through countless varieties of electronics, rock, dub, noise and jazz that defines the group’s acclaimed aesthetic.

Celebrating the release of New Bodies, the group make a stop at The Street Theatre for an intimate evening of beautiful melodies, intricate grooves and exhilarating improvisation.

Tangents are joined for this special night by Melbourne’s dark gospel rockers Harmony. The Australian Music Prize nominated band launch their new album ‘Double Negative’ on Poison City Records and return to The Street and Canberra for the first time since 2014.

After two progressively dour full-lengths (the acclaimed debut and follow up ‘Carpetbombing’) and slew of 7” singles, they lift their gaze and proclaim a love that is potentially even more confronting than the incredibly personal stories of loss they have previously favoured.

Happening on Friday 3 August from 7:30 pm at The Street Theatre, Childers Street.

TURNER BROWN BAND LIVE AT TUGGERANONG ARTS CENTRE

Turner Brown Band are playing for the first time ever in Canberra, only at Tuggeranong Arts Centre!

A Turner Brown Band show is a one of a kind musical explosion of slide guitar infused, gospel-soul, funk-blues tunes that will leave you wanting more.

The band is an Australia/USA musical collaboration between Australian slide guitarist and music producer Dom Turner (Backsliders), and Ohio based ‘Sacred Steel’ vocalist and lap-slide guitar sensation Nikki D Brown.

Catch them for one show only and put a little groove in your soul – limited tickets available.

Happening Friday 3 August at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Greenway.

See the website for ticketing and more information.

INTERNATIONAL BLUES MUSIC DAY 2018

Canberra Blues Society celebrates the 6th annual International Blues Music Day with 12 acts on 2 stages, presenting some of Australia’s best blues outfits, both local and interstate.

Canberra Hot Rod Association will have a fantastic car display and there will also be some great market stalls.

Happening on Saturday 4 August from 1 pm at Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah.

See the website for ticketing and more information.

Wakanda Night at Reload Bar and Games

Reggae Rockas will be presenting Wakanda Night on 3 August at Reload from 9 pm, a night of cos-play and Reggae music. The line-up includes artists from Zimbabwe, Uganda, New Zealand and Australia. Reggae Rockas was formed in 2018 as a collaboration between more established (Ras Kuman) and emerging (Madda Irie) DJs inspired by the Reggae Revival music & social roots movement on the rise in Jamaica.

Through the power of music, Reggae Rockas looks to empower and motivate new and emerging artists while inspiring and educating a growing audience. Our revival of traditional roots reggae stands for love, unity, positivity and truth-seeking: as peaceful revolution and social activism.

The event will raise funds for The Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking, which works to raise awareness of the plight of victims and to build political support to fight the criminals behind trafficking.

More information via Facebook.

KURT VONNEGUT’S HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE

Join with the REP Company as they present Happy Birthday, Wanda June, a play by Kurt Vonnegut. Set in the swinging ’60s – things are not all they seem!

When the great hunter Harold Ryan – missing and presumed dad – returns from Africa after eight years, his wife is aghast and his son is enchanted. But who is Wanda June? Come along and be a part of the reveal!

Happening until Saturday 4 August at Theatre 3, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton.

See the website for ticketing information and times.

CANBERRA OPERA PRESENTS COSI FAN TUTTE

Set in a popular hot spot in Braddon, spoiled sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella run their own café which has been gifted to them by their wealthy father. Cynical Don Alfonso aims prove to their fiancés, Duntroon graduates Guglielmo and Ferrando, that all women are the same and, when put to the test, will not remain faithful to their partners. He makes a bet with the young army officers they cannot refuse. The young men pretend to be deployed overseas then transform themselves into unrecognisable men that try to tempt the young ladies with their affections. Will the temptation prove too great? Add Despina, the girls’; scheming employee, into the mix along with some truly magnificent moustaches, and the stage is set for a hilarious series of mishaps and misunderstandings.

Parental guidance is recommended with this production.

Happening until Sunday 5 August at Belconnen Theatre, Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court, Belconnen. Tickets cost between $30–$35pp.

See the website for more information.

FILM 

GAMMA.CON

GAMMA.CON is a celebration of pop culture in the ACT and Southern NSW.

They have video game, retro, arcade, VR, pinball, esport and indie game free play, tournaments, board games, cosplay, vendors and artists, panels and workshops, wrestling, guests, kids entertainment, face painting, movie, TV and anime screening, comic book artists and much, much more!

GAMMA @Night will run on Saturday 4th August from 6 pm. This over 18 event offers tasty cocktails, stage shows, cospole dancing and mature gaming and screenings!

Happening on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August at EPIC, Exhibition Park in Canberra.

See the website for bookings and more information.

FESTIVALS

Orange Winter Fire Festival

The Orange Region, known for its incredible food and wine is excited to launch the first Orange Winter Fire Festival this August, celebrating an authentic winter experience in regional NSW.

The Orange Winter Fire Festival, taking place in Orange and the surrounding villages of Millthorpe, Molong and Carcoar from 3-5 August 2018, aims to showcase why the Orange region is an ideal destination all year round, and in particular what is on offer during the winter months.

On Friday 3 August the festivities will fire up in Millthorpe, turning Pym Street into a winter wonderland of fire drum art, food and wine stalls and entertainment by Smith and Jones, setting the festival alight for the weekend.

There will be a number of bonfire, culinary and entertainment events throughout the region during the weekend, including Wassailing at Canobolas Dance Hall, hosted by See Saw Wines, Canobolas Dance Hall and Small Acres Cyder, who will also be offering mulled cider and apple tarts by the fire at their cellar door. There will be a Fire and Poetry night in Molong, a Sunday lunch in historic Carcoar, a true representation of a country Sunday Roast at The Lord Anson and even an Ancestral Dinner at De Salis Winery.

There will also be three star-gazing experiences available on Saturday night (4 August), each embracing the warmth of fire, delicious food and local wine, however, each offering  a different focus when it comes to astronomy.

Happening 3-5 August at various locations across Orange, New South Wales.

Full event information and tickets available at orangewinterfirefestival.com.au.

THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL – CANBERRA REGION 

Indulge in a feast of the senses and join in the fun as The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Each year from June to August more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region showcasing the region’s fresh Black Winter Truffle.

Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles. Learn from the chefs and other truffle experts at a cooking class or demonstration, or pop along to a market and pick up some truffle delights for yourself.

The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival, and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region.

Happening Friday 1 June–Friday 31 August at various locations around Canberra.

Check out the website for more information.

MARKETS

Cellar Door

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene.

Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.

Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.

Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.

Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening Saturday 4 August from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.

See the Facebook event for more details.

Hartley Hall Markets

Head along to the Hartley Hall Markets on this Sunday 5 August between 10 am and 3 pm, located at the Hall Village Showground just north of Canberra. You’ll have so much to choose from including unique gifts, artwork, home baked goods, dog/cat beds and treats, plants, jewellery, fresh produce, woodwork, crafts and much more from over 200 stalls.

Enjoy the lovely rustic atmosphere where you will find live music, great food and plenty of entertainment for the children to enjoy such as a petting zoo, pony rides, jumping castle, face painting and a giant slide.

Entry is by gold coin donation or our new Tap and Go donation devise and all of the proceeds from the Hartley Hall Markets are contributed to Hartley Lifecare which provides accommodation, respite, community services and assisted technology to people with physical and complex disabilities living in the ACT and surrounding regions.

SOUTHSIDE FARMERS MARKETS 

Get along to the Southside Farmers Markets every Sunday morning and pick up the finest fruit and vegetables and produce our region has to offer.  There are over 50 stalls made up of farmers and producers who sell their food direct from their farm or kitchen.  Many farmers are out picking their produce the night before the market and you can certainly taste the difference.

Talk to the farmer direct and find out where your food is being grown, how they grow it, and even how they best like to cook it.  Not only do they provide us with fresh food every week but they are a wealth of information on the food that nourishes week in week out.

What’s in season this week?  Annual herbs, beans, peas, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, chillies, corn, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, garlic, onion, radishes, rhubarb, squash, zucchini, melons, stonefruit, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes and more!

Every Sunday from 8.30am to 11 am at Canberra College, 2 Launceston Street, Phillip. Entry is free, visit the website for more information.

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE STALL

Selling fresh, clean, chemical-free vegetables, preserves and baked goods in the Courtyard of 56 Wallace Street, Braidwood every Saturday morning from 8.30am until 12.00 or sold out.

Wynlen House is a small urban micro-farm specialising in offering a broad range of seasonal vegetables all year round.

They also run workshops to show people how to grow vegetables, garlic, and raise small farm animals on a large suburban block and offer slow food events to showcase the benefit and deliciousness of produce grown locally, without chemical inputs and picked fresh.

On every Saturday from 8.30am – 12 pm, at The Courtyard, Braidwood. For more information visit the website.

WORKSHOPS, TOURS & TALKS 

Credit: Martin Ollman.

Canberra Metro Operations Career Expo

Canberra Metro Operations (CMO) will be hosting a Career Expo where staff will be onsite ready to speak with job seekers and those people interested in pursuing a career in Light Rail.

One of the positions Canberra Metro Operations will be recruiting at the Career Expo will be Customer Service Officer.

As a frontline ‘ambassador’ for Light Rail you will be the direct contact for passengers at stops and on board. If you are passionate about customer service and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, CMO is keen to meet you! This is a great opportunity for those who want a career change, who are looking to get back into the workforce or just want a new challenge doing a job that they can enjoy.

CMO will have information on the types of positions on offer now and in the future and CMO’s General Manager, Operational Manager, Safety Manager, Drivers, HR, Finance Staff, Engineers and Technicians will be on hand to answer any questions.

Canberra Metro Operations is passionate about fostering career pathways and diversifying its workforce and encourage women and Indigenous Australians to apply.

Keen to know more or want a position description for the Customer Service Role? Please email careers@cbrmetro.com.au.

Happening Thursday 2 August from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at Eastlake Football Club Gungahlin, 51 Hinder Street, Gungahlin.

Make sure to bring your resume. For more information download the brochure.

Orange Winter Fire Festival Experience Package

Five-star sparkling breakfasts, three festival events, three cellar door visits, two gorgeous historic villages and one AMAZING food and wine weekend.

A carefully curated epicurean adventure from Canberra to Orange to experience the heart-warming Orange Winter Fire Festival and designed to introduce you to the sophisticated cool climate wines of the Orange wine region.

Package includes transfer from Canberra to Orange in a private minibus, with a small group limited to a maximum of 10 guests. It also includes two nights King Room accommodation in a 4.5 star centrally located hotel within walking distance of the town’s main restaurants, cafes and bars.

Silver Compass Tours’ itinerary focus is on immersion in festival events throughout the three days – the food and wine Night Markets in the historic goldrush-era village of Millthorpe on Friday evening; mulled wine & star gazing at a local vineyard, followed by dinner and dancing to a local 1920s jazz & blues band at a Dancehall in an orchard on Saturday evening; and a traditional roast lunch by a fire in the historic village of Carcoar on Sunday. Your hosted packaged experience also includes a boutique wine tasting at a local wine bar; three premium cellar door visits and lunch on Saturday; as well as sparkling breakfasts at local cafes each morning.

Most meals and all wine-tastings are inclusive in the package, except for the Friday evening Night Markets in Millthorpe where we think you’ll enjoy being free to wander the stalls and select your own food, wine, craft beer and cider to taste. Wine is available for purchase with cash for the Saturday evening event.

Cost: $1,207 per person (based on double occupancy). Fabulous Singles Supplement Available.

Happening 3-5 August at various locations across Orange, NSW.

For bookings and more information contact Kelly on 0437 091 503 or click here. 

MACRAME PLANT HANGERS WORKSHOP

Ever considered how Macrame can be used to decorate your home and garden? Come to the Australian National Botanic Gardens’ Macrame Plant Hanger workshop and make your very own plant hanger masterpiece using 100% cotton.

Spaces are limited. Suitable for 15yrs and over. Bookings are essential and close two days prior to event.

Happening Sunday 5 August at 10am and 2pm at the National Botanic Gardens.

See the website for bookings and more information.

STUDIO VISITS- NICOLA DICKSON

The most intimate exchanges in the art world happen during studio visits, and this day is a visit to the studio of Nicola Dickson. Join us for a rare opportunity to speak with Canberra artists from the So Fine exhibition about their practice; see preparatory works for the exhibition; and view new works in progress.

Happening on Sunday 5 August from 2pm at the National Portrait Gallery, Parkes.

See the website for bookings and more information.

BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Discover the stories behind the building on a special tour of Parliament House. Learn how the building’s impressive architecture is symbolic of our national identity and gain a rare view into private areas.

These tours run only on non-sitting days (except Christmas Day and when seasonal tours are running).

We recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour or event for screening and check-in as places are limited to 10 participants. tours operate for 55 mins.

For security purposes, all participants must present photo identification and ticket confirmation to join any behind the scenes tours or events. If you do not have these, you will be unable to participate.

Participants on a paid tour can take advantage of a 10% discount on any purchase from The Parliament Shop on the day of the tour.

Happening until March 2019 at Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Capital Hill.

See the website for more information.

GUIDED TOURS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA

Visiting the National Library of Australia? Take a tour and see a side of the Library most visitors never experience.

Whether this is your first visit or the next of many, you can learn more about the Library and its exhibitions by joining a free guided tour. Tours are offered by trained Volunteer Guides who have a passion for sharing their knowledge of the Library and its collections. Your Guide will welcome the opportunity to introduce you to the National Library, its collections and the stories of Australia.

Treasures Gallery – Daily at 11.30am
Take a tour and come face-to-face with some of the Library’s greatest treasures and Australia’s greatest stories.

Behind The Scenes – Thursdays at 2 pm
Take a tour to visit enormous stacks where the books are stored and learn about strange curiosities in the Library’s collection that have been acquired over more than a century of collecting.

Discover your National Library – Saturdays at 2 pm
Join a Library guide for a journey around the building and discover the stories in the Reading Rooms and public spaces.

Tours running until Thursday 31 May at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

For more detailed information visit the website.

ART FOR LUNCH

Drop into 30-minute weekly talks or creative activities interpreting works of art in the NGA’s collection. Check our website for further details. This event is free but bookings are essential.

Happening every Thursday until November 29 2018 from 12.45pm–1.15pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

STEPPING FORWARD: COMBINING SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH LIGHT EXERCISE

This free group is suitable for women wanting to reconnect socially with other women after domestic violence.

The group gets together each fortnight to go for a relaxed 30-minute walk and catch up at a local café. Guest speakers are invited to join providing information about topics of interest in the group. This group is an open group, making it easy for new members to join throughout the term. This group is organised and run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT.

On fortnightly in Tuggeranong on Wednesday mornings and fortnightly in Gungahlin on Friday mornings, during school terms only. Children not yet at school are welcome to attend.

Complete the online contact form to register.

OUTDOORS

Orange Winter Fire Festival

The Orange Region, known for its incredible food and wine is excited to launch the first Orange Winter Fire Festival this August, celebrating an authentic winter experience in regional NSW.

The Orange Winter Fire Festival, taking place in Orange and the surrounding villages of Millthorpe, Molong and Carcoar from 3-5 August 2018, aims to showcase why the Orange region is an ideal destination all year round, and in particular what is on offer during the winter months.

On Friday 3 August the festivities will fire up in Millthorpe, turning Pym Street into a winter wonderland of fire drum art, food and wine stalls and entertainment by Smith and Jones, setting the festival alight for the weekend.

There will be a number of bonfire, culinary and entertainment events throughout the region during the weekend, including Wassailing at Canobolas Dance Hall, hosted by See Saw Wines, Canobolas Dance Hall and Small Acres Cyder, who will also be offering mulled cider and apple tarts by the fire at their cellar door. There will be a Fire and Poetry night in Molong, a Sunday lunch in historic Carcoar, a true representation of a country Sunday Roast at The Lord Anson and even an Ancestral Dinner at De Salis Winery.

There will also be three star-gazing experiences available on Saturday night (4 August), each embracing the warmth of fire, delicious food and local wine, however, each offering  a different focus when it comes to astronomy.

Happening 3-5 August at various locations across Orange, New South Wales.

Full event information and tickets available at orangewinterfirefestival.com.au.

THE TRUFFLE FESTIVAL – CANBERRA REGION

Indulge in a feast of the senses and join in the fun as The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Each year from June to August more than 250 individual events are held across the Canberra region showcasing the region’s fresh Black Winter Truffle.

Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles. Learn from the chefs and other truffle experts at a cooking class or demonstration, or pop along to a market and pick up some truffle delights for yourself.

The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival, and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region.

Happening until Friday 31 August at various locations around Canberra.

Check out the website for more information.

KIDS 

KIDS HIGH TEA SENSORY PLAY

It is time to get messy!

Take the stress out of your morning while your little one gets lost exploring with their senses at First Edition Canberra!

Your kids will broaden their horizons through sensory perception via play dough, gel, finger painting and many other exciting activities and the best part is we will do the clean up!

Enjoy a fun morning with the kids with the following activities:

– Kids high tea
– Face painting
– Play dough
– Gel fun
– Finger painting
– What’s in the box
– Music and dancing
– And much more!

Mums and dads, put your feet up and enjoy a welcome drink on arrival and some delicious food.

Happening Monday 30 July from 11am-1pm at First Edition Canberra, Northbourne Avenue.

Visit the Eventbrite for tickets and more information.

PLAYUP

Discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too! From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

See the website for more information.

Free after museum admission.

Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Ages 5-12.

Bookings are essential. Register here.

COLOUR

See colour as you’ve never seen it before! Is your yellow the same as mine? How do pixels and paint differ? Turn a blue butterfly green, visit the Room of Missing Colours and hear fascinating stories from people who see colour when they hear music. Discover Colour at Questacon and see the world in a new light!

Showing until 30 September 2018 from 9am-5pm daily at Questacon, Parkes.

LEAP INTO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

Your local library is a treasure trove…not only are there free books and resources, there are regular amazing events! Giggle & Wiggle with your little ones (up to two years) and help them learn through language play using interactive rhymes, songs, games and stories.

Looking to improve your English and make new friends, then head along to your local library for one of the informal English conversation groups. For more events and info check them out here.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Wakanda Night at Reload Bar and Games

Reggae Rockas will be presenting Wakanda Night on 3 August at Reload from 9 pm, a night of cos-play and Reggae music. The line-up includes artists from Zimbabwe, Uganda, New Zealand and Australia. Reggae Rockas was formed in 2018 as a collaboration between more established (Ras Kuman) and emerging (Madda Irie) DJs inspired by the Reggae Revival music & social roots movement on the rise in Jamaica.

Through the power of music, Reggae Rockas looks to empower and motivate new and emerging artists while inspiring and educating a growing audience. Our revival of traditional roots reggae stands for love, unity, positivity and truth-seeking: as peaceful revolution and social activism.

The event will raise funds for The Blue Heart Campaign against Human Trafficking, which works to raise awareness of the plight of victims and to build political support to fight the criminals behind trafficking.

More information via Facebook.

CHARITY COMEDY HYPNOTIST NIGHT

Back by popular demand and the amount of laughs we had last year, Mercure Canberra will putting on a show with Comedy Hypnotist, GerardV! The event is to raise money for AccorHotels Community fund that covers, AMIE, Garvan Research Foundation, Kokoda Youth Foundation and Lifeline.

This family-friendly event will get everyone giggling, so join us for a night of laughs!

Happening Friday 3 August from 5.45 pm at Mercure Canberra, Braddon.

Visit the booking website for tickets and more information.

EXHIBITIONS

Credit: The Girls, Zoe Davis and Linde Ivimey, 2018 by Linde Ivimey. Steel armatures, acrylic resin, cast and natural human, sheep turkey, fox, chicken and snake bones, earth, paper, natural fibre, dyed cotton, dyed and sewn viscera. Courtesy of Linde Ivimey.

So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history

As conceptually thrilling as it is aesthetically rich, So Fine features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history.

Forming part of the Portrait Gallery’s twentieth birthday celebrations, the exhibition enriches the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.

So Fine’s contributing artists – of various ages and backgrounds, and hailing from different parts of Australia – have all created new works for the exhibition. Aside from gender, their common attributes are a meticulous approach to creation, driven by considered, nuanced thinking. Their works are intricate, refined and affecting objects that reconceive events, people and places from Australia’s past.

The artists involved are Shirley Purdie, Linde Ivimey, Bern Emmerichs, Leah King-Smith, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Nicola Dickson, Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling), Fiona McMonagle, Valerie Kirk and Carol McGregor. Charged with these makers’ passionate, intensely individual takes, and incorporating themes from pre-history to the present, So Fine challenges and delights, as well as interrogating the boundaries of contemporary portraiture.

Showing until Monday 1 October at the National Portrait Gallery. See the website for more information.

HOME TO COUNTRY ART EXHIBITION: OFFICIAL OPENING

An exhibition and sale of works by Alice Springs artist, Sarah Brown, and Indigenous artists of Central Australia. Official opening on 29 July at 2pm, exhibition on until 26 August at Kyeema Gallery, Hall. Free entry, all proceeds from sales go to support dialysis centres in remote Indigenous communities.

Find more information on the website.

‘MACROCOSMIA: ELIZABETH KELLY’

Leading glass artist Elizabeth Kelly will present a new body of work developed over the course of a decade; the result of extensive research into organic structures of viruses, cellular life forms, marine invertebrates and pollen grains.

Macrocosmia features a series of large‐scale, free‐standing sculptural works realised through a process of cross‐disciplinary collaboration between the artist, a theoretical astrophysicist and an engineer.

Elizabeth Kelly commenced her career in glass with a two‐year full time factory traineeship in glass blowing in 1985 at the JamFactory in Adelaide. Post training, she undertook studies at the Adelaide Centre for the ARTS, transferring to the Australian National University School of Art to complete a degree in Visual Art. In 1997 Kelly commenced a three‐year contract as Head of Glass Workshop at the JamFactory. In 2003 she established Studio Tangerine in Canberra, a purpose built self‐funded glass design and sculpture studio where she continues to work.

Showing until Saturday 25 August from 10am-5pm at Craft ACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building.

See the website for more information.

MARK MAKING

Mark making will present new work from Australian contemporary jewellery studio, Bench.

Established in 2012, Bench is a collective workspace home to emerging and early career contemporary jewellers Nellie Peoples, Clare Poppi, Andy Lowrie and Katie Stormonth, who together explore and manipulate the crossover between visual art, craft, fashion and design.

Mark making will reflect on the act of leaving or making a mark. From a consumer point of view, jewellery may be collected or gifted to mark a significant moment in time, but from a maker’s point of view, a mark on or represented by a piece of jewellery can be a nuanced consideration. The exhibition will present works that consider different and unique ways that four Bench members interpret the act of mark making.

Showing until Saturday 25 August from 10am-5pm at Craft ACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building.

See the website for more information.

Home To Country Art Exhibition: Official Opening

An exhibition and sale of works by Alice Springs artist, Sarah Brown, and Indigenous artists of Central Australia. Official opening on 29 July at 2pm, exhibition on from 26 July – 26 August at Kyeema Gallery, Hall. Free entry, all proceeds from sales go to support dialysis centres in remote Indigenous communities.

Find more information on the website.

HEADHUNT!

Explore, connect, create. A new interactive Gallery experience for visitors aged 7 to 15 (and their adults!) The experience encourages kids to take the lead and explore the Gallery, look closely at the portraits that intrigue them, and delve into artistic elements as well as the stories of the people depicted. Weekends and school holidays.

Showing until Sunday 26 August from 10 am-4 pm at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

NGA PLAY: KELLIE O’DEMPSEY: THE NEVER-ENDING LINE

Kellie O’Dempsey invites you into her living sketchbook, an immersive space of moving marks and dancing lines. Digital projections collide with traditional drawing in a series of dynamic and colourful experiences and creative opportunities.

Contribute to the unique drawing journey as you follow the never ending line to shadow puppets, 3D drawing constructions and live animation before getting into the drawing rink for an immersive drawing experience. The never-ending line investigates drawing as a way of collaboration and transformation and features sound elements composed by Michael Dick.

Showing until Sunday 28 October from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes, Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

CRAFTING THE HOUSE IN THE HILL: ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN IN THE BUILDING OF AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT HOUSE

During the 30th anniversary year of Australian Parliament House, this exhibition reveals the stories behind some of the building’s major art and design commissions and explores how these works connect Australia’s most intriguing public building with its first people, landscape, creative spirit and the principles of democracy.

In their winning design scheme for Australian Parliament House, Mitchell / Giurgola & Thorp Architects envisaged a structure of national significance that was sensitively located within a regional landscape. The guiding design themes of land, place and identity are carefully mapped into the building’s architecture, surrounding landscaping and works of art commissioned from some of Australia’s finest practitioners in ceramics, glass, painting, sculpture, textiles and wood.

In partnership with Australian Parliament House and the National Archives of Australia.

Happening until Sunday 4 November at the Canberra Museum and Gallery,
Cnr London Circuit and Civic Square, City.

See the website for more information.

NGA PLAY: KELLIE O’DEMPSEY: THE NEVER-ENDING LINE

Kellie O’Dempsey invites you into her living sketchbook, an immersive space of moving marks and dancing lines. Digital projections collide with traditional drawing in a series of dynamic and colourful experiences and creative opportunities.

Contribute to the unique drawing journey as you follow the never ending line to shadow puppets, 3D drawing constructions and live animation before getting into the drawing rink for an immersive drawing experience. The never-ending line investigates drawing as a way of collaboration and transformation and features sound elements composed by Michael Dick.

Showing until Sunday 28 October from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes, Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

STUDIES WITH LIGHT: WORKS IN GLASS BY KIRSTIE REA AND LUCY PALMER

Canberra based artists Kirstie Rea and Lucy Palmer use glass for its transparency, fragility and optics, each exploring the concepts of seeing light and capturing a fleeting moment. In their upcoming exhibition the artists showcase their exceptional skill in their medium while further investigating their shared fascination with light.

Rea creates sculptural and photographic works that bring together her extensive technical glass making skills. The interplay of photographic imagery and layers of textured glass creates a feeling of gentle movement, capturing a moment in time, acting as a reminder of the motion of the body as it passes through the landscape, breathing in the surroundings.

Palmer creates small sculptural, coloured lens-like works which capture the light and quite literally change before your eyes as you move around. The interaction of glass and light compels the viewer to see the physical object and the refracted light that is created. These interactions are playful, mesmerising or delicate depending on the time of day or type of light.

Happening until Sunday 12 August at Suki and Hugh Gallery, 38A Gibraltar Street, Bungendore, NSW.

Check out the website for more details.

PICASSO THE VOLLARD SUITE

Pablo Picasso’s Vollard Suite is regarded as one of the greatest print suites ever made, and perhaps the most enigmatic and famous of the twentieth century. The National Gallery of Australia is one of the few cultural institutions in the world to hold the complete set of 100 engraved prints.

Pablo Picasso’s trip to the great cultural and artistic centres of Rome, Naples and Florence had a profound effect on the course of his work during the 1920s and 1930s, a period that saw him embrace classical and mythological themes and imagery, culminating in the one hundred etchings in the Vollard suite 1930–37.

Picasso aligned his creativity and sexuality with the mythical figure of the Minotaur, memorialising his connection to ‘the untameable beast’ in The Vollard Suite. This collection provides intimate insight into the mind of the 20th century’s most celebrated and influential modern artist, capturing his reflections on ambition, immortality, fallibility, vitality, and obsession.

Showing until Monday 24 September at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information. 

A TALE OF TWO VILLAGES – AN EXHIBITION

A Tale of Two Villages tells the story of the Hall-Ginninderra district from Aboriginal times, through the early pioneer farming settlement at Palmerville and then Ginninderra, to the establishment of the village of Hall from 1881.

Happening from Saturday 21 April.

See the website for more information at the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall.

FREE EXHIBITIONS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Parliament House we are running a jam-packed program of events, including two free exhibitions.

Design in a decade – The Design in a Decade – The 1980s

Step back in time with the Parliament House Art Collection as we revisit the 1980’s. Bold colours and geometric shapes abound in celebration of a rich decade in Australian art, craft and design.

Location: Exhibition area, level 1.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

This collection exhibition draws attention to portraits of Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural themes. The portraits attest to the facility of photographic portraiture to convey compelling psychological depth.

Happening until Friday 7 September 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

1968: CHANGING TIMES

Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll…and a missing prime minister.

1968 was momentous. A time of tumultuous world events, including the Vietnam War and the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.

At home in Australia, we struggled with the fallout from the December 1967 disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt and growing unrest about conscription for overseas military service.

From Hendrix’s blistering solos and far-out fashions to a swinging counter-culture, there was a strong sense that the world was rapidly changing. Where were we headed?

The opening of the National Library’s lakeside building in Canberra in August 1968 was a moment of national pride and achievement in the midst of this turbulent time.

Revisit the 1960s as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the building’s opening, and reflect on what was happening in the world, in Australia and in Canberra at the time.

Showing until Sunday 12 August at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

ART DECO

Comprised entirely of works selected from the National Gallery of Australia’s collection, Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian vitalism, capturing Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture, and technology.

In the 1920s, Australian artists rebelled against the austerity of World War I to create images of an abundant nation filled with strong, youthful figures, capturing the vitalism of a nation reborn.

Technological advancements and urbanisation influenced the emergence of Art Deco: a new aesthetic in art, architecture, design and fashion.

Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian Vitalism, including Rayner Hoff’s architectural frieze Deluge – stampede of the lower gods 1927, Jean Broome-Norton’s Abundance 1934 and Napier Waller’s painting, I’ll put a girdle round about the earth 1933, which captures Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture and technology. 

Showing until Monday 31 December 2018, 7 days from 10am-5pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

For more information, see the website.

DEEDS NOT WORDS: THE BESSIE RISCHBIETH COLLECTION

National Library of Australia is proudly representing the opportunity to see the collection of Bessie Rischbieth, a prominent figure in Australian and international feminism.

During her stay in England in 1913, Bessie Rischbieth witnessed the whirlwind of the suffragettes’ struggle for the right to vote, which was then at its height.

Fascinated by the charisma of the suffragettes and their militant actions, she gathered memorabilia of the movement, building a collection of photographs, pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, suffrage periodicals, postcards and correspondence. She continued to grow the collection for the remainder of her life.

Rischbieth bequeathed this ‘living memorial’ to the National Library of Australia.

Free entry.

Showing until 19 August daily from 10 am to 5 pm at National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

BEHIND THE LINES 2017: THE THREE RING CIRCUS 

Roll up, roll up to Behind the Lines 2017 and marvel at the political cartooning spectacle that is The Three-Ring Circus.

Showcasing the year’s best political cartoons, The Three-Ring Circus captures a world where fact and fiction collide and ringmasters, jugglers and acrobats have all stepped into the political Big Top.

From postal votes and citizenship chaos to penalty rates and constitutional recognition, 2017 was a tumultuous year in politics. Its cavalcade of political characters and sensational events provided rich material for our nation’s cartoonists who continue to look behind the lines of the daily political sideshows to capture the spirit of our democracy in all its passion, scepticism and humour.

Behind the Lines 2017 is on now at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Open 9 am – 5 pm. For more information, visit the website.

EMERGING CONTEMPORARIES

Emerging Contemporaries is the Craft ACT National Award Exhibition for early career artists.

This exhibition plays a pivotal role in supporting and transitioning artists into professional practice and placing Australian artists in view of the national cultural collecting institutions, business and industry, and audience.

On display at CraftACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building.

Email craftact@craftact.org.au or call 6262 9333 for more information.

NGA TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

Talks and workshops cater for a range of different age groups. For full details visit the NGA website.