20+ ways to spend another busy weekend in Canberra
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The weekend is finally here—how will you be spending it?
Maybe you’ll be exploring Science in the Centres, tasting honey, exploring markets or cheering on the Raiders. No matter how you’d prefer to spend you day, we have you sorted.
Here’s your guide to what’s on in Canberra.
Special Events and Festivals
National Gallery of Australia Wedding Showcase
For newly engaged couples who are searching for the perfect venue, the National Gallery is hosting a special Wedding Showcase on Saturday 19 August 2023 to offer love birds the opportunity to dive deep into the offerings of the Gallery—from the catering to locations for the reception. The showcase will highlight the many options available!
Saturday 19 August | Gandel Hall National Gallery of Australia, 30 Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Honey Tasting Masterclass
Say hello to the first ever Honey Weekend celebrating local honey, bees, and apiaries. Led by Honey Sommelier; Jessica Locarnini (yes, that’s a real job and she’s Australia’s only working Honey Sommelier), you’ll learn how to taste honey like a professional, pair with foods as well as gain a greater understanding of bees, honey and their importance to the region. Your ticket will also include a grazing plate!
Saturday 19 August | Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, 30 Barrine Drive, Parkes | Book here.
Canberra Writers Festival
Featuring more than 120 local, national and international writers in 74 separate events, the Canberra Writers Festival is returning! Exploring the theme of Power Politics Passion, from six literary lunches, an opening night gala with Elizabeth Chong “the Empress of Chinatown”, 12 writing masterclasses and, to round if off, a quintessentially Canberra folk concert, you won’t want to miss out on this.
Until Sunday 20 August | Various locations | More information here.
Burgmann College’s Back-to-Burg Weekend
Do the words St Beryl, Dawborn, Brick Race and Luigi’s bring back fond memories? Do you know what a Burgie is, and have you ever considered yourself one? Then this event is for you! Dust off your merch in that distinctive ‘Burgmann yellow’ and get ready to wear it with pride.
The annual Back-to-Burg Alumni & Friends weekend is back, featuring a hilarious trivia night hosted by radio personalities and Burgmann alumni Jeremy (Jez) Jones and Jimmy Bernasconi. This is a great opportunity to catch up with old friends, make some new ones, and revisit the place you once called home.
Until Sunday 20 August | Burgmann College, 52 Daley Road, Acton | Register here.
Science in the Centres
This year National Science Week will be bringing science to you while you shop! Head along to all of the major shopping centres (Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, South Point Tuggeranong, Cooleman Court, and the Canberra Centre) to see first hand the exciting science behind composting, dinosaurs, engineering with Lego, parasites, geology, space, robotics, and much more! Make sure to check out the schedule to see what’s happening around town.
Until Sunday 20 August | Various locations | More information here.
ANU Viola Day
Bringing together ANU School of Music and Open School of Music viola students and other violists from across Canberra and the region with leading viola teachers, this special event will be a treat for your ears.
Sunday 20 August | ANU School of Music, Building 100, William Herbert Place | Book here.
Sport
Raiders v Bulldogs
The Canberra Raiders host the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in this action packed round.
Sunday 20 August | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Raiders v Eels
In the Women’s League, the Canberra Raiders will host the Parramatta Eels. Get to the game early to cheer them on!
Sunday 20 August | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Stage and screen
You Can’t Tell Anyone
This is the world premiere of the winner of Canberra Youth Theatre’s 2021 Emerging Playwright Commission. Exploring the story of what happens when a party game spins out of control and long-held tensions start to strain and snap, this performance is a philosophical thriller that examines how teenagers survive the loss of meaning, structure, and identity that comes with the end of adolescence.
Are the friends messing with each other? Or is there a bigger threat pounding at the door?
Until Sunday 20 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Exhibitions
Resonate Exhibition by Julie Bradley
What originally started out as an exploration by Julie Bradley, into the effects of music on image making, became a deeper reflection on how music like visual art, is also a language. The images in this exhibition explore seeing music as a visual expression and are a depiction of the resonance between colours and shapes, sounds and images and between artists. And that’s just the beginning. Head along to see it for yourself.
Until Sunday 20 August | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Inherited by Rebekah Lane
Inherited is Rebekah Lane’s first exhibition. Closely tied to her personal journey of identity, and what she describes as filling in big ‘holes’ inside, the works in Inherited represent the peace she has found knowing exactly who she is, and the incredible beauty of the ACT where she found that solace.
Until Sunday 20 August | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Reflections of Country by Kayannie Denigan
Inspired by Kayannie’s dual connections to Central Australia and Cape York, this vibrant and colouful collection explores the rainforest, beaches and rivers of Far North Queensland and the stunning deserts of her Luritja heritage. Through new mediums (including sand collected at Coloured Sands, driftwood, and drone photography) she reflects on Country, family, distance and connection.
Until Sunday 20 August | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Oblique Objects by Tim Phillips
Taking place at the ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Tim Phillips’ exhibition explores concealment as a visual and poetic strategy in figurative painting. Perfect for art lovers, it’s not to be missed.
Until Friday 25 August | ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Building 105, Ellery Crescent, Acton | soad.cass.anu.edu.au
Ajith Perera: Shadow work
Working with the unforgiving medium of ink, this solo exhibition by Canberra-based artist Ajith Perera explores the bizarre and esoteric expression of emotion and subconscious thoughts. Inspired by the work of Marlene Dumas, Bill Henson, Michelle Kingdom and Outsider artists, Ajith’s drawings typically contain a sinister or unsettling element— reflecting his interest.
Until Sunday 27 August | Strathnairn Arts Association, 60 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
Squares 2023
Now in it’s 17th year, Squares is Strathnairn Arts’ annual people’s choice competition! Head along to the Woolshed Gallery to see work from local artist, presented on a 30 cm x 30 cm canvas of art. The best part? You can cast your a vote for your favourite (who must just win a cash prize).
Until Sunday 27 August | Strathnairn Arts Association, 60 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
Know My Name: Making it Modern
Celebrating pioneering women artists who changed the course of modern art in Australia, this major exhibition profiles Ethel Spowers and Eveline Syme, Margaret Preston, Grace Cossington Smith, Clarice Beckett and Olive Cotton, drawing them from a national collection. Making it Modern presents each artist’s distinctive approach to their artistic practice and what it meant to be a modern woman in their times, their works unified by their expressions of daily life, nature, still life and interior worlds of place, mind and imagination.
Until 8 October | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Dust Collectors
This group show explores some interesting themes: trash, obsolescence and nostalgia through objects and situations signifying a decaying, fading modernity. Created by ceramicist Shaun Hayes, painter Ellie Kaufmann and printmaker Adam Bell (who all live and work in and around Canberra), you’ll see everything from the aesthetics of traditional Chinese ceramics combined with contemporary objects to paintings that deal with a reflection of everyday mundane life.
Until Saturday 21 October | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Georgia Claridge: Open Home
Working across a range of media, in Open Home Georgia presents evocative and miniature domestic spaces at 1:12 scale, exploring memory, identity and the dream of home ownership. A timely topic for many Australians at the moment, the works will have you contemplating the safety and fragility of home.
Until Saturday 21 October | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Workshops, webinars and more
Figure and Ground: Collage and Drawing Workshop with Lizzy Hall
Join artist Lizzy Hall for a drawing class at the Drill Hall Gallery and spend a lovely evening using collage, gouache and drawing to investigate possibilities of figure and ground. You will need to bring your own paper, collage, oil pastels, glue, gouache (if you have it) and other drawing materials but there will be a glass of wine provided for your enjoyment.
Saturday 19 August | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, off Barry Drive, Acton | Book here.
Talented Tales
Children’s book illustrator Freya Blackwood will be making an appearance for a special story time (followed by a creative activity) at the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre. Perfect for hopping on over too after some play time, get in quick because spaces are limited.
Sunday 20 August | National Museum of Australia | Tickets here.
Markets
Haig Park Markets
Moments away from Lonsdale street’s boutiques and cafes, the Haig Park Village Markets will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, beautiful blooms, fresh produce, delectable charcuterie and artisan products. It’s a lovely place to enjoy a picnic whilst feasting your senses on the culinary delights on offer or to browse the fabulous local handmade design stalls.
8:30 am – 2 pm Sunday | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Old Bus Depot Markets
With more than 100 stalls (including your old favourites), you’ll have the chance to shop for a brilliant variety of Australian-made, handcrafted and premium products. Sneak a walk around the foreshore while you’re down there.
9.30 am – 2.30 pm Sunday | Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Southside Farmers Markets
This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta and pet treats.
8 am–11.30 am Sunday | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com
