Art IRL, the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival, Macbeth and more: 30+ things to do this week
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It may be a short work week, but trust us when we say there’s still plenty to see and do around Canberra.
And from school holiday ideas to keep the kids entertained to special festivals (like Art IRL and the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival), we have you sorted. Read on for 30+ sources of inspiration.
School Holidays
Warehouse Circus School Holiday Programs
This is one for kids of all ages. Learn how to juggle, tumble, bounce, balance an more with Warehouse Circus’ gifted group of friendly circus trainers, try Unicycling and watch some circus shows! With half day (three hour) programs for the younger set, and full day (9 am-3 pm) programs for older kids who can’t get enough, it’s sure to keep everyone entertained.
Tuesday 11 until Friday 21 April | 70 Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley | Book here.
School Holiday Workshops at the NFSA
This school holidays, head to the NFSA for the big-screen tales of a boy and his dragon, the power of imagination, thrilling magic and exciting treasure hunts. The best part is if you book the kids into a workshop, you’ll receive a free ticket to a school holiday film screening of your choice!
Tuesday 11 until Friday 21 April | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
Canberra Glassworks School Holiday Program
Looking for something creative and fun for the school holidays? Under the guidance of some of Australia’s most acclaimed glass artists, the kids will learn introductory techniques in glassmaking to create their own masterpiece. Choose from Teen Glass Blowing, Casting Light and Holiday Tiles classes and have fun!
Wednesday 12 until Saturday 22 April | 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | Book here.
Art Workshops at the National Archives of Australia
Let children aged six to 12 years creatively develop and share what matters to them while learning about Australian stories of change. They will explore the exhibition Disrupt, persist, invent as well as the stories that have brought it to life.
Wednesday 12 until Friday 21 April | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | Book here.
Art Steps For Within Without
Art Steps is a series of creative making activities produced for children to enjoy with family and friends. Take the kids along to play in an immersive space that showcases artist’s James Turrell’s years of experimentation with space and light, experiment in the Skyspace Garden, build cubby-spaces and more.
Sunday 16 until Sunday 23 April | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here
Tuff Nutterz Canberra
Measuring almost 300 square metres, Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course is back to cause some chaos for the whole family. This supersize inflatable maze is packed with 30 fun and challenging obstacles to complete, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more! The kids will have a blast and so will you…if you’re game to try.
Until Sunday 23 April | Parkes Place Lawns, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
Playful Endeavour
Playful Endeavour is returning for the April school holidays for loose-parts play in Glebe Park! Take the kids along and let them run wild with open-ended, imaginative, self-directed play using a wide range of materials to spark the imagination such as hoops, poles, pipes, crates, ropes and tyres. Children are encouraged to let their imagination run free, using found and made materials to become whatever they want them to be! The best part? It’s free.
Until Sunday 23 March | Glebe Park, Canberra City | act.gov.au
Special events and festivals
Retro Arcade at Canberra Centre
Live out your retro arcade dreams these school holidays, as Canberra Centre brings the nostalgia of your favourite arcade machines to life!
Step through the doors of the Retro Arcade and be transported into a classic 50s style arcade—sure to be a hit with the young and the young at heart.
Visitors will enjoy an immersive space where they’ll be able to enjoy for free retro arcade games including Munster Pinball, Atari Pong, Air Hockey and a number of others, including from Kingpin, Canberra’s leading entertainment venue, which was awarded Canberra’s Top Entertainment Venue for 2022 (for the third year in a row)!
Until 23 Sunday April from 10 am–2 pm daily, and 4–7 pm on Friday nights | No bookings are required for this free event | Canberra Centre
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
Back for it’s 40th year, this year the theme of the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival is ‘Sharing Stories’—and there will be more than 160 activities to spark your interests. From open days, tours, workshops, exhibitions and entertainment, what will you book into?
Tuesday 11 until Sunday 30 April | Various locations | environment.act.gov.au
Picnic In The Grounds and Easter Egg Hunt
Have a sweet tooth? Here’s an Easter egg hunt you won’t want to miss. Enjoy the grounds, the views and a fun afternoon at one of the most historic properties in Canberra. Grab a picnic blanket, bring some snacks and watch as the kids run wild.
Thursday 13 April | Government House, Dunrossil Drive, Yarralumla | Book here.
Community Learning on Ngunawal Country at Bullan Mura
Join the Molonglo Conservation Group for a series of interpretive walks, led by Ngunawal/Ngunnawal elders, to explore the rich cultural heritage in the ACT region. This event will provide a tour of the significant site of Bullan Mura, to learn about and appreciate our valuable local Ngunawal history.
This area of Bullan Mura was a meeting and camping ground for Aboriginal people. There are scar trees, stone artefacts and stone arrangements. The creek line adjacent to Capital Hill was a special place for Aboriginal women for whom it was a birthing place. There are parts of Bullan Mura and Gurubung Dhaura (the western side of Stirling Park) that are mens’ or womens’ culture areas.
IMPORTANT: As there are men’s and womans’ only sites in this area the event will have us meet at one initial spot opposite Lotus Bay Alexandrina Drive Yarralumla and then men will be guided by Uncle Wally Bell and women will be guided by Aunty Karen Denny.
Saturday 15 April from 10 –11.30 am | Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla | Eventbrite
Macbeth
It’s Shakespeare’s most haunting thriller, presented by Bell Shakespeare. A terrifying portrayal of moral collapse, Bell Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with Logie award-winning Hazem Shammas (The Twelve, Safe Harbour) as Macbeth and Jessica Tovey (The Miser, The Merchant of Venice) as Lady Macbeth, will take you on an intense and compelling journey into the dark heart of humanity.
Friday 14 until Saturday 22 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Murder By Invitation
Old money, new murder: and you’re invited. A mysterious letter has been received from Henrik Bancroft inviting the eccentric yet debonaire Detective Pierre Van Outen to investigate a murder at his estate. The victim? Henrik Bancroft himself…
Can you solve this Agatha Christie-style crime in time, or will there be more victims? The clock is ticking.
Friday 14 until Sunday 16 April | Tuggeranong Homestead, 51 Johnson Dr, Richardson | Book here.
Art IRL
Calling all young art lovers aged between 13 and 25—you’re invited to head to the National Gallery of Australia for the ultimate festival. Head along to enjoy a chilled-out afternoon enjoying music and performances by the ACT’s best youth talent, workshops, events and more!
Friday 14 until Saturday 15 April | Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Inspire Festival
Whether you want to learn more about a sustainable lifestyle or are simply looking for a fun day out with the family, Ginninderry’s INSPIRE Festival is an absolute must-experience event. Head along to be inspired to live sustainably and learn about the latest trends, taken an EV for a spin, sample food and products from local artisans and producers and participate in workshops, tours and activities designed for all ages!
Saturday 15 April | 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | ginninderry.com
Haus of Fabulous
Get ready for a night of supreme glamour, and unbridled joy! ! You may know them as a renowned troupe of incredible fan—but do you know who the Haus of Fabulous Stars are? Step inside the Haus of Fabulous, and as they peel back the curtain to reveal the multitude of talent that lies beyond their fans.
Saturday 15 April | Shop 2/5 High St, Queanbeyan | Book here.
Stage and Screen
Shrek JR The Musical
Love Shrek the movie? Don’t miss this musical event for the whole family! The show is shaping up to be a fantastic production full of colourful characters and a talented youth cast.
Saturday 15 until Friday 21 April | Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, Launceston Street, Woden | Book here.
Reasons To Be Pretty by Neil Labute
This bristling comic drama from American playwright Neil LaBute focuses on modern day obsession with physical appearance, centering around four friends and lover who become increasingly dissatisfied. It’s sure to make you laugh—and make you question what really matters in life.
Wednesday 12 April until Saturday 6 May | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Road, Building 3.3, Fyshwick | Book here.
Daniel Sloss—Can’t
One for people who love cracking jokes and hilarious stories, comedy superstar Daniel Sloss is coming to Canberra. His new show, Can’t, follows on from his previous ground-breaking smash hits including HUBRiS (the biggest solo comedy tour for most of 2021, as reported in Pollstar), and X, his acclaimed tour de force about sexual assault. See you there?
Thursday 13 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Showmen—The Ultimate Magic Spectacular
Get ready for an unforgettable night of incredible and astounding fun for the whole family Prepare to experience a jaw dropping spectacle of live magic, illusions and stunts with Showmen—a supergroup of conjurers, tricksters, comedians, illusionists, daredevils, dancers and more!
Saturday 15 April | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | Book here.
Music
The Organ-ic Guitar
It’s time for another Wesley Music Centre Wednesday Lunchtime series—and this time last year’s winner of the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition, Connor Whyte, will be performing a program of original transcriptions of organ works by J.S Bach and Johann Pachelbel, together with classical guitar standards by Rodrigo and Sor.
Wednesday 12 April | 20 National Circuit, Forrest | Book here.
Exhibitions
Chiaroscuro
Mixing street edge with technical calibre, Chiaroscuro explores the inspirations of tattooist and emerging visual artist Bella Black. Electric, vibrant and visceral, the collection draws a line from her lighter early work in digital hyper-realism to a recent focus on darker contemporary impressionistic portraiture. Exploring the journey of feminine form and energy with recurring themes of agency, transcendence, and control, don’t miss this.
Wednesday 12 April until Sunday 7 May | Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
Shift
Materials and processes are integral to Joanne Searle’s practise. This new body of work makes visible the material explorations that come about during making—explorations which are often ephemeral, fragile and are overlooked.
Wednesday 12 April until Sunday 7 May | Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
After The Past
Featuring the works of Joel Arthur, Esther Carlin, Bryan Foong, Louis Grant, Aidan Hartshorn, Alex Hobba, Jacquie Meng and Belle Palmer., this group exhibition highlights the skills of Australian National University School of Art and Design alumni.
Tuesday 13 April | ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Corner Liversidge Street and Ellery Crescent, Acton | Book here.
From The Series ‘Light Jelly Sweet’
An showcasing new work by Henry Hu, this exhibition features animation, paintings, and photographs that spotlights the artist’s continued interest in abstraction, as a force that might signify life without directly defining it. What arises from Light Jelly Sweet, whether on canvas, board, or paper, are testaments of existence as remembered, imagined, invented, and observed.
Thursday 13 April until Sunday 7 May | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Cres, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Dialogue
Saskia, Nicola, Jonathon and Cathy met in the ANU’s Gold & Silversmithing workshop in 2018. After leaving the workshop behind—and missing the camaraderie, inspiration and influence that is a feature of a shared space—they decided to challenge each other to extend their practices. This is the result.
Thursday 13 April until Sunday 7 May | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Cres, Griffith | m16artspace.com
10th Anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions at Parliament House
This exhibition is a audio-visual display commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the National Apology for Forced Adoptions at Parliament House. The apology acknowledged that the forced separation of mothers from babies ‘created a lifelong legacy of pain and suffering’.
Watch historic footage of speeches given in the Great Hall on 21 March 2013, including the full Apology and responses from former MP the Hon Steve Irons and former Senator Rachel Siewert.
Saturday 16 April | Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra | aph.gov.au
Chromology: a solo exhibition by Luca Siliquini
This exhibition of oil paintings shows the effects that the colours of Canberra have on an Italian-born artist.
Until Sunday 16 April | Humble House Gallery, 93 Wollongong Street, Fyshwick | humblehouse.com.au
Homage
The 2022 Indigenous Artist-in-residence exhibition is back at Craft ACT! The program facilitates access for the artist to national cultural, tertiary and research institutions and their collections, curators and researchers. This group exhibition of new work by each artist is held annually, and a catalogue produced about the program is disseminated internationally. Don’t miss out.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Two-Tone
Two-Tone is a collaborative exhibition featuring two contemporary artists, Louis Grant and Madisyn Zabel, who primarily work within a glass discipline. Head along to see the stunning work that opens up a discourse around dualities, contrasts and material in person.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Boundaries
Showing the works of artists Julie Ryder, Mel Robson and Bev Hogg, this is another Artist-in-Residence exhibition that you shouldn’t miss.
Until Saturday 13 May | Craft ACT, North Building, 1, 180 London Cct | craftact.org.au
Portrait23: Identity
This is portraiture, but not as you know it. Portrait23: Identity is a major exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, showcasing new work from multi-award-winning contemporary Australian artists and collectives working across every state and territory.
Twenty-three artists and collectives present dramatic, ambitious and thrilling work about who they are and what it means to represent themselves, their communities, histories and contemporary society. Expect street art, textiles, performance, photography, ceramics, painting, drawing, soft sculpture and more.
Until Sunday 18 June | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Sport
ACT Brumbies v Fijian Drua
In this game, the ACT Brumbies face Fijian Drua in Round 8 of the Harvey Norman Super Rugby! See you there?
Friday 14 April | GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Raiders v Dragons
Head along to cheer on the Raiders in their first Sunday afternoon home game of the season as they take on the St George-Illawarra Dragons!
Sunday 16 April | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Canberra Times Marathon Festival
It’s time to take on one of Australia’s oldest city runs! Choose from five distances (42.2K, 21.1K, 10K, 5.4K, 2K Kids run), enjoy the scenery and head along to the three-day expo to connect with the Canberra running community.
Sunday 16 April | John Dunmore Lang Place, Parkes | Book here.
Workshops, webinars and more
After Dark: Protest Art At The Archives
Celebrate World Art Day with an after-dark workshop that fuses art with archives to create eye-catching pieces with a purpose. Sit back and enjoy canapes and drinks while creating a poster about an issue that interests you, using an archival record with bespoke stenciling.
Friday 14 April | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | Book here.
Full circle: In conversation with Jessica Cottis
Meet Jessica Cottis, artistic force behind the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, in a free, intimate Q&A session at the National Gallery of Australia. Explore Jessica’s creative journey, from growing up on a sheep farm and studying organ in Paris to leading the orchestra of the nation’s capital.
Sunday 16 April | Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia | Register here.
