The June long weekend is finally here—here is what is happening in Canberra
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The June long weekend is finally here—and we are very excited.
Because from Come From Away to watching the Brumbies play, there are 20+ things to do around town. Here are some of our suggestions—see you there?
Special Events and Festivals
Leyla’s First Birthday
It’s the first anniversary of Leyla Bar and they plan on partying. Hosting a very special birthday bash, head along to sip on special birthday cocktails, eat some cupcakes, take place in some giveaways and enjoy a DJ from 6pm! Cheers to that.
Friday 9 June | 1 Burbury Close, Barton | leylabar.com.au
Come From Away
The worldwide smash hit, Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away, is coming to Canberra. Sharing the remarkable true story of the small town that welcomed the world, Come From Away follows the incredible real-life journey of 7,000 air passengers who became grounded in Gander, Newfoundland in Canada in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. Telling a story of unity and kindness in adversity, capturing the generosity and hospitality of the small community of Gander, who invited the “come from aways’” into their homes, this musical is not to be missed.
Until Sunday 9 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
The Waltz
Hilarious, thought provoking, tender and heart wrenching, The Waltz by David Cole is coming to The Q this June. Telling the story of two ageing radicals and former members of The Push (a large, loose group of libertarians and nonconformists), the play asks “How do two people who have protested against everything face the essential unjustness of death?”
You’ll have to watch it to find out the answer.
Saturday 10 June | 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | Book here.
This Is Us: A musical reflection of Australia with the Grigoryan Brothers
Award-winning guitar duo Slava and Leonard Grigoryan are returing to Canberra to perform their original compositions live in the spectacular Gandel Atrium. Taking audiences on an unforgettable musical journey through Australia’s unique history and heritage (and inspired by objects from the National Museum of Australia’s collection) This Is Us evokes and explores the breadth of the Australian experience—from Kimberley spear points to Sir Donald Bradman’s famed cricket bat.
Saturday 10 June | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Bundeela | Book here.
Knock-Out Quarter Final: Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes
It’s knock out semifinals time! The Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies take on the Hurricanes this Saturday night and you better be excited. Why? Well apart from watching the Brumbies play, it will be an epic night with live DJs, food trucks and up to 20 per cent off pies chips and hot dogs.
Saturday 10 June | GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Kids In The Shed
This is your chance to celebrate being a kid and doing what kids do best… having fun! Bring your kids, parents and grandparents to this super fun family day out at the markets. There will be plenty of things to buy, including handcrafted toys, kids’ room accessories, artworks and lots of bright, modern handmade clothes.
Sunday 11 June | The Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Spilt Wine Art Workshop
Come along or bring a friend and join this fun and unique workshop where you not only enjoy a glass of wine (or two) to drink, but use wine to paint! A great afternoon of creating, relaxing and socialising, you’ll take home three pieces of unique wine art.
Sunday 11 June | Gold Creek Station, Victoria Street, Hall | Book here.
Festival of Everyday Art
The Festival of Everyday Art will transform the streets into a giant outdoor art gallery using the power of white gallery labels and your imagination! Perfect for the family, join workshops, treasure hunts and self-guided trails through the city, check out an exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery, and win prizes! And the best part? All of the events are free.
Until Sunday 16 July | Various locations | facebook.com/PeopleLabCBR
Grit and Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation
Bringing us a celebration of Australia’s rich sporting heritage and its effect on our culture over the years, through collection of books, magazines, paintings, drawings and photographs, the exhibition retells the stories that have brought joy, sorrow and everything in between to every Australian household (and sports pub) on game day and beyond.
Until Saturday 5 November | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | nla.gov.au
Exhibitions
The Grand Scheme
Focusing on one of the world’s engineering wonders and its impact on various aspects of life in the surrounding Snowy Mountain Region of NSW, The Grand Scheme by Chris Round presents a contemporary documentation of the Snowy Hydro Scheme, exploring the delicate relationship between nature and our intervention upon.
Until Saturday 10 June | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | gallery.photoaccess.org.au
Huon
This exhibition explores the conflict between environmental preservation and industrial development on the southwest coast of Tasmania. Through the use of medium format film, Noah Thompson highlights how such apparent dichotomies affect the state’s socio-political and physical landscapes.
Until Saturday 10 June | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | gallery.photoaccess.org.au
Between Presumption and Melancholy
Between presumption and melancholy by Toni Hassan presents a series of video works that show conversations between women in the capital region about their experience of Australia’s Black Summer. The idea is the artist opens space for an embodied and cathartic experience around climate grief and negotiates what people bring to this unfolding reality within their own bodies.
Until Saturday 10 June | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | gallery.photoaccess.org.au
How Cities Work
From sewers to skyscrapers, this interactive family exhibition reveals the secret workings of our busy urban centres. Bringing to life the best-selling book of the same name, visitors big and small will be able to traverse a spectacular cityscape full of tactile and sensory activities, including a lively hands-on construction site, a futuristic design station and a towering two-metre-high cityscape.
Saturday 10 June until Sunday 8 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Corner London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City | Book here.
Ji + Senapati: Duo Porcelain Exhibition
The joint winners of 2022 ceramics category, the works of Sandy Ji and Roshni Senapati are finally being shown to Canberra audiences. Both artists have created a new body of work each which means audiences will have access to new and exciting pieces to kick off their art collection.
Until Sunday 18 June | Gallery of Small Things, 27 Wade Street, Watson | galleryofsmallthings.com
Kathleen Potts: Gather In The Scene
In this solo exhibition presented at Strathnairn Arts, Kathleen Potts showcases a body of new work in paint and drawings. Exploring impermanency and using landscapes familiar to the residents of the ACT (such as Shepherds Lookout, Uriarra Crossing, and Dickson Wetlands), through her artwork Potts investigates how personal narrative is influenced by the subjective memory of place. Her goal? To evoke curiosity and stir emotion.
Until Monday 25 June | 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au
Banksia Views
A showcase of works from the Painting with Parkinson’s program, this exhibition will reflect on member’s experience with the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Banksia Centre over the Painting with Parkinson’s 25-year history (as well as featuring recorded soundscapes from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra).
Until Thursday 29 June | Visitor Centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | parksaustralia.gov.au
Fiona Richmond: Revival
In her inaugural exhibition, artist Fiona Richmond explores a dimension of her inner world that “has been unattended to during all the conventional diversions of life.” Using medium to large formats, Richmond’s art is all about creating joy with bold colour in the simple forms of everyday objects and plant life.
Until Sunday 2 July | 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | More information here.
Bushranger Blue
We all know the legend and lore of bushrangers. Evolving from a personal exploration of isolation and grief, that surfaced during Rory King’s travels of remote Australia; ‘Bushranger Blue’ is an inquiry into the perennial themes of loneliness, death, and longing. Making no attempt to paint an accurate narrative of the history of the Australian bushranger, instead the exhibition see’s images that speak of a yearning for deep connection in the face of isolation.
Until Sunday 2 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com
Mutual acts: ecologies of a garden
Created by Lani Shea-An, this series of works employ abstract and figurative painting processes, collage, and printmaking to explore the connections and emotions that the plant kingdom evokes. It depicts her own experiences of joy and wonder in nature, particularly in reference to what she has learned through gardening.
Until Sunday 2 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Professor Hyatt’s Tarot Exhibition
Featuring unique and original artwork by artist John Hyatt (Professor of Contemporary Art at John Moore University), this exhibition will highlight the often-overlooked status of tarot cards as art pieces in their own right, and explore an art form that is truly interactive with the viewer by its very nature. The best part? Full tarot decks will be available to buy and two local Tarot readers will be dropping in throughout the exhibition to do Tarot readings.
Until Tuesday 4 July | Smiths Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra City | hyattstarot.weebly.com
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.
Every Sunday, 8:30 am – 2 pm | 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
Feature image: (L-R) Kat Harrison, Manon Gunderson Briggs, Zoe Gertz, Natalie O’Donnell, Emma Powell, Sarah Nairne. Credit: Jeff Busby.
