The Lifeline Bookfair, dining in a dome and dancing drones: 30+ events in Canberra
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You read that headline right: this week in Canberra you can visit the Lifeline Bookfair, dine in a dome, and watch dancing drones.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to get busy.
Special Events and Festivals
Poetic City
A poetry festival taking place until Friday 14 July, Poetic City will encompass a wide variety of poetry-centric events and I invite you to come along and find out what poetry might mean for you. From workshops to drop-in writing sessions, listening to performance or slam or taking the kids to school holiday workshops and activities, get ready for a serious, fanciful, sly, fun, witty, elaborate, blunt, silly entertaining, dark and hilarious time.
Until Friday 14 July | Various locations | poeticcitycbr.com
Fireside Festival
The Canberra District Wine Industry Association (CDWIA) welcomes everyone to its 2023 Fireside Festival, encouraging local, regional, and interstate wine lovers to get cosy by the fire with a glass of Canberra wine.
The 2023 Fireside Festival is a celebration of Canberra’s winter season, aimed at delighting wine lovers from 15 July to 23 July. The festival offers a diverse array of captivating fireside experiences.
With a variety of events designed to ignite the senses, attendees can look forward to bar and restaurant takeovers, exclusive wine releases, the ceremonial burning of the barrel at Lake George Winery, enticing new menu options at cellar doors, exclusive museum and back vintage tastings, and a ‘meet the makers’ tasting event in partnership with East Hotel on Friday, 21 July. See the website for more information.
15–23 July | Various locations | canberrawines.com.au/events
Lucie In The Sky
In a world-first project, Australasian Dance Collective debuts their thrilling combination of technology and art in Lucie In the Sky, merging the beauty of dance with the cutting-edge technology of drones. With six dancers, five drones and endless emotions, you’ll be transported to a world where lines between humanity and technology blur.
Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Lifeline Canberra Bookfair
The Lifeline Canberra Bookfair is back at the southside! Raising a major portion of the funding needed to keep our local mental health crisis support service running, yet again you’ll find an endless number of books to browse, CDs to collect and sheet music to grab. Entry is via gold coin donation (or tap-and-go is available).
Friday 14 until Sunday 16 July | Tuggeranong Southern Cross Basketball Stadium, 7 Pitman St, Greenway | lifelinecanberra.org.au
Uncharted Territory
Meet Canberra’s new arts and innovation festival celebrating creativity, experimentation and ground-breaking ideas. Held across 10 days, the festival showcases some of Canberra’s most formidable minds and talents, as artists, entrepreneurs and researchers push the boundaries of what is possible. Interested? Check out the full program of 50+ events (both free and ticketed)!
Until Sunday 16 July | Kambri, 154 University Avenue, Acton | unchartedterritory.com.au
The Ski Lodge
As Canberra slides into peak winter festive season (why live in Canberra if you can’t make the most of the cold weather?) Canberra Centre has unveiled The Ski Lodge. Featuring a complementary mulled wine pop-up bar on Friday evenings, free children’s craft workshops and weekend pop-up bars (are you sensing a theme here?) it’s the perfect dose of festive goodness to warm up their winter. Did someone say winter crafternoon with the kids?
Until Sunday 16 July | Ground Level, near R.M. Williams, Canberra Centre | Book here.
Winter in the City
Snow is forecast in the city centre this winter with the return of the fun-filled Winter in the City. From ice skating to live entertainment, food, drinks, activities, and more (including an eight-meter tobogganing slide), it’s the perfect way to level up your winter experience. Race you to the bottom?
Until Sunday 16 July | Civic Square and Ainslie Place, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City | winter.inthecity.com.au
Fungi Feastival
The inaugural Fungi Feastival is a series of events celebrating the science, food and art of fungi. Head along to enjoy science events such as mushroom growing workshops, and truffle hunts, food events (including fungi-themed dinners) and even a fungi cooking class at Eastwoods in Bermagui! If that’s not enough fungi art includes fungi photography workshops and fungi movies at Narooma Kinema.
Until Sunday 16 July | Location varies for each event from Batemans Bay to Eden | Book here.
Warm Trees
See the forests come alive with colour this July with Warm Trees as the National Arboretum Canberra is decorated with colourful scarves and themed decorations. Made possible by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, it’s a heart warming annual installation.
Until Monday 31 July | National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
Food and Wine
Live Truffle Cooking Demonstration
Foodies start your engines! This live truffle cooking demonstration will showcase how to bring the paddock to plate and cook with truffles at home. Hosted by local Canberra chef, John Pearson, the demonstration will explore old-school cooking techniques and recipes that allow the truffle flavour to shine including Truffle Penne Vongole, Truffle Mousse dessert and Truffle Pasta Chicken. Drool.
Saturday 15 July | Westfield Woden, Centre Court | Book here.
Truffle Gin Tasting
You read that right. Hosted by The Canberra Distillery and the Cocktail Society, sip away on of Canberra Distillery’s Mt Majura truffle infused gin as you learn how to make your own truffle martini to take home. Shake, stir, and sip your way to truffle-infused bliss!
Saturday 15 July | Westfield Woden, Centre Court| Book here.
Winter Dining Dome Experience at Water’s Edge
It’s time to dine on Lake Burley Griffin. Book in to dine in style and comfort in your private, exclusive and warm Dining Dome where you can enjoy the winter sun, enjoy a beautiful Canberra sunset or watch the stars. Romantic dinner for two, anyone?
Until Saturday 22 July | Dining Domes at Waters Edge Canberra, 40 Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here.
Stage and screen
I Dance II
Celebrating the creation and distribution of Australia dance films created by artists living with disability, this one day conference includes a screening of short films at the National Film and Sound Archive. Think: films from Restless Dance Theatre, Marc Brew, Riana Head-Toussaint, Chris Dyke, the Chamaeleon Collective, Diverse Abilities Dance Collective and many more.
Monday 10 July | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Gather – Meet Up Performance
This is biennial gathering of Australian youth dance companies, presenting opportunities for youth dance company leaders and young dancers to maintain national connections, discuss important issues, share knowledge and skills, and perform their work on one of Canberra’s main stages, Canberra Theatre Centre Playhouse. The four event will culminate in a forum on creative collaborative processes with the companies followed by a performance of the companies’ innovative works offering Canberra audiences a taste of the next generation of Australian creators.
Monday 10 July | Canberra Theatre Centre London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Finale by Tracy Bourne
Written and directed by Tracy Bourne, Finale is the culmination of 10 years of dreaming about the ultimate performance: a dream-cabaret about love, death and telling the truth. Described as ‘wild’ and ‘funny’, see it for yourself.
Wednesday 12 until Saturday 15 July | Ainslie Arts Centre, Elouera Street, Braddon | Book here.
Ruby League The Musical
Yes, you read that right. A hilarious mix of musical satire, parody, sketch comedy and stand up comedy about The Greatest Game Of All, Rugby League The Musical celebrates all the on and off field misbehaviour, controversy, villainy, treachery and pantomime that makes Rugby League, well so good. No other musical has complementary half time oranges!
Thursday 13 July | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra City | Book here.
Stars in 3D
Presented by The Stellar Company (and featuring the Chamaeleon Collective), in collaboration with ASTRO 3D and RecoveryVR, Stars in 3D is a season of dance and technology. Showcasing world first simulations of the universe in 3D presented by people of all abilities, this performance promises to be a exquisite experience of immersive beauty founded in extraordinary science and technical skills.
Saturday 15 until Sunday 16 | Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, QL2 Dance Theatre, Braddon | Book here.
Music
The Waifs: Up All Night 20th Anniversary Tour
Australia’s The Waifs—folk heroes, and fully independent trailblazers—are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their breakthrough album Up All Night with a massive tour. And you guessed it, they’re coming to Canberra. On this special night the band will play the full album from beginning to end and then share other fan favourites!
Thursday 13 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | Book here.
Pete Murray: Greatest Hits
Pete Murray is set to hit Canberra this July to celebrate his first ever BEST OF album, spanning the past 20 years. And as one of only a few Australian artists with over 1.2 million album sales under his belt (including 17 ARIA nominations throughout his career), all we can say is this show is sure to sell out fast!
Friday 14 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Dami Im: In Between Tour
Remember Dami Im from her success at Eurovision? Renowned for her incredible talent and undeniable star power, she’s returning to the stage to captivate audiences with her new EP titled ‘In Between’ alongside all her biggest hits. Exploring themes of identity, societal expectations, love, and friendship, she’s here for one night only.
Friday 14 July | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra City | Book here.
Coda Chroma
Celebrating the liminal space between awake and asleep, where stories unfold through abstraction and try to make sense of experiences and situations, Coda Chroma is playing their third studio album Dreamself at Smiths Alternative. There will be a special intimate lineup consisting of Kate Lucas on vocal and guitar, Lewis Coleman (MoJu) on keys and vocals, and Rachel Johnston on cello. Supported by Amy Vee, book tickets now.
Friday 14 July | 76 Alinga Street, Canberra City | Book here.
Bastille Day Concert with Nadya Golski
A captivating concert with champagne and French buffet. What more do you need? Celebrate Bastille Day at the Bastille Day Frenchy Concert featuring singer Nadya Golski as she performs a timeless selection of songs.
Friday 14 July | 66 McCaughey Street, Turner | Book here.
It’s All Jazz Baby! Music In The Gallery
Join Miroslav Bukovsky, John Mackey, Eric Ajaye, and Chris Thwaite at the Drill Hall Gallery for a unique musical performance: It’s All Jazz Baby! Music In The Gallery. Enjoy this opportunity to experience new work composed in response to the current exhibition James Drinkwater: At mid-career.
Sunday 16 July | Drill Hall Gallery ,Kingsley Street, Acton | Book here.
Exhibitions
Show Offs
Show Offs challenges the conventional notion that displaying one’s abilities is boastful, instead emphasizing the importance of sharing authentic ideas and the creative process behind them. Check out M16 Artspace studio artists exhibition to gain insight the artists journeys, and experience the power of art as a visual language.
Until Sunday 30 July | 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Still Life
What comes to mind when you think of ‘still life’? Fruits, wine, cut flowers, household objects of practical and decorative use? This exhibition at the Canberra Art Workshop would like to extend the conception of what ‘still life’, defining it as ‘anything you want it to be’—it’s an exercise of interpretation.
Until Sunday 30 July | 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Out Of The Window
Founded in 1996, Hands On Studio has provided a safe environment for artists with a disability to create and develop friendships. In this exhibition, the collective of artists who practice from Hands On Studio have created a series of dioramas which reflect upon each of their lives using a wide range of materials.
Until Sunday 30 July | 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.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
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
UNCOMMON
With a mixture of older and new work, this exhibition presents Eliza-Jane Gilchrist’s ongoing practice of making abstract sculptures based on plant/seed forms using cardboard. Expect to see works that are unusual, accessible and thought-provoking created through the combined techniques of paper-cutting, folding, paper-engineering, papier Mache, and pattern-making with non-traditional materials.
Until Saturday 26 August | 180 London Circuit, North Building, Level 1, Canberra City | craftact.org.au
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023
The National Photographic Portrait Prize is back for 2023. Selected from a national field of entries, the exhibition reflects the distinctive vision of Australia’s aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
Until Monday 2 October | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.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.
Until Sunday 8 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Corner London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City | Book here.
CMAG’s Press Photography Collection
On display for the first time, this remarkable collection of over 3,500 press photographs captures the essence of Canberra, its people, and the events that shaped both the city and the nation. Expect to see everything from serious and historic to thought-provoking, artistic, funny, and touching as you explore the stories behind the images that have graced the front pages of renowned newspapers like The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Until Sunday 15 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Corner London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City | cmag.com.au
Workshops, webinars and more
Creative Writing Workshop for Young Writers
Have an aspiring writer on your hands? Perfect for children aged 8 to 12, this creative workshop is hosted by children’s book author Emma Allen. In the workshop, Emma will work with young writers to inspire them and share some useful tips to help writers anywhere to put their story ideas on paper while sharing insights into her own experiences and processes when creating stories.
Wednesday 12 July | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | Book here.
Creative Writing Workshop for Teen Writers
Calling all teenagers aged 12 to 18 who love to write, read or are just a bold thrill-seeker! Join author Jack Heath for a creative writing workshop where your mission is to complete a story. You’ll learn to manage prickly plots, charismatic characters, sinister settings and more as you get feedback from Jack and from your classmates. Ready, set, go!
Thursday 13 July | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | Book here.
Art Steps for Haegue Yang
Have you seen the Haegue Yang: Changing From From To From exhibition? In this workshop your children can create abstract sculptures inspired by Haegue Yang’s artistic approach, playing with movement, colour and sound. Places are limited and booking is encouraged!
Until Sunday 16 July | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here.
