The Royal Canberra Show, After Service’s ‘So Fresh’ pop-up, and the last days of the Sunset Cinema – here’s how to spend this week in Canberra
Posted on
There’s plenty of fun to be had this week.
From the Royal Canberra Show to After Service’s ‘So Fresh’ pop-up, and the last days of the Sunset Cinema, here’s what’s happening in Canberra.
Special Events and Festivals
Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls are hitting AIS Arena on Thursday 20 February in their first Australian tour in over 20 years, with special guest Thirsty Merc.
Formed by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac in Buffalo, NY in 1986, Goo Goo Dolls have sold more tan 15 million records worldwide, garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations and nearly a dozen platinum and gold singles combined and seized a page in the history books by achieving 16 #1 and Top 10 hits. As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.”
7 pm, Thursday 20 February | AIS Arena, 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce | Tickets here
Royal Canberra Show
It’s one of our favourite events on the calendar! You’ll be captivated, thrilled, and enlightened over 150 attractions, 5,000 fascinating animals, 450 diverse trade displays, and 1,500 talented competitors.
Taking place from dawn ’til dusk, it’s a world of excitement under one roof that the whole family can enjoy. Don’t forget to grab your favorite show bags before they disappear!
Friday 21 until Sunday 23 February, 8.30 am – 9.30 pm | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Flemington Road, Mitchell | Book here.
Belco Street Art Project
Want to build community and flex your creative skills at the same time? If you’re a budding artist aged 18-30 in the Bruce and Belconnen area, join the Belco Street Art Project and co-design a public mural for Margaret Timpson Park. The first workshop is on this Saturday 22 February.
The Belco Street Art Project is part of Connect Up 2617, a local pilot program run by the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute. The program aims to provide the space, opportunity and support for young people to make meaningful social connections at a local level; it’s based on research that shows that loneliness and social isolation are highly prevalent in young adults in the ACT.
Run in partnership with Belco Arts, the Belco Street Art Project will foster connection, build community and jumpstart creativity. There will be four workshops in total, led by local artists Eddie Mowat, Yamile Tafur and Carlos Sanchez.
Saturday 22 February, 1-3pm | Belconnen Arts Centre | Book in for free here.
Ollies’ Garage Car Display
Holdens, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and more. This is one event car lovers can’t miss.
Featuring 1948 – 2017 Holdens, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and a display of Motorsport Legends, memorabilia and more, get up close and personal with some of the most iconic cars in history. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or just looking for something different to do, this event is perfect for all ages.
Saturday 22 February | Ollies’ Garage, 72 Gladstone Street, Unit 1, Fyshwick | More information here.
Bambi Bubbles and Alias the Faerie at Play Day
Meet Alias the Faerie and Bambi Bubbles, a dynamic duo spreading joy and whimsy for big and little kids!
They’ll be making a special appearance at Play Day at Dairy Road this weekend to transport kids to a mystical realm of wonder and delight with their bubble show and enchanted interactive play. Expect plenty of bubble-tastic puns and fantastical fae folk fun!
Sunday 23 February | LESS Gardens, Dairy Road, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | More information here.
Canberra Valentine’s Paws Party: Sniff Right
Calling all pups in need of some Valentine’s vibes! This is your chance to sniff around and find your perfect match.
Join the Sniff Right Paws Party, the perfect event for dogs and humans to spread the love this Valentine’s. There will ve live music, free treats and goodies for all romantic pups, a Valentine’s photoshoot, and even dog matchmaking!
Plus, don’t miss the Haig Park Markets!
Sunday 23 February | Haig Park, Mort Street, Braddon | More information here.
Markets
Capital Region Farmers Market
This market is a community project run by the Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary Club in the ACT.
Head along to browse over 100 stallholders who bring their freshly picked, grown, and hand-crafted produce. Speak to a stallholder and ask them where their produce comes from – you’ll be surprised what you’ll learn and pick up cooking storage, and usage tips!
Saturday, 7 am – 11.30 am | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Exhibition Park in Canberra, Mitchell | More information here.
Haig Park Village Markets
The Haig Park Village Markets runs every Sunday in the beautiful leafy grounds of Haig Park, Braddon.
This farmers and foodie market will delight your senses with delicious cuisines, tasty treats, beautiful blooms, fresh produce, delectable charcuterie, and artisan products. Plus you’ll discover locally handmade crafts including jewellery, art, natural body care, unique homewares, hand-poured candles, children’s apparel, pooch wares, and more. Plus, there’s live music, an artists’ table, face painting, and more!
Sunday, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | More information here.
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.
Sunday 8 am–11.30 am | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com
Food and Wine
Twilight in the Gardens
Join Hyatt Hotel Canberra for a magical evening in the gardens every Friday from 4 pm. With Tipple Time kicking off from 4 pm until 6 pm, head along to enjoy $12 boutique beers, $13 wines by the glass and $15 cocktails.
Plus there will be live acoustic music, a Chandon pop-up bar and a gourmet live grill. Re-live the glory days of Fridays at the Hyatt and use it as the perfect excuse to catch up with friends.
Every Friday, from 4 pm | 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Walk-ins welcome or for larger bookings, please call 02 6269 8901 or email canbe.dining@hyatt.com
After Service’s ‘So Fresh’ pop-up
After Service, the pop-up event series from veteran hospo team Kieran Bunton, Theo Boggs and Brett Nebauer, is back for 2025.
Get along to Onzieme in Kingston on Sunday 23 February for hot food, cold drinks and good vibes. It’s happening from 1 pm to 10 pm on the corner of Kennedy and Eyre Streets in Kingston.
Sunday 23 February, 1 pm – 10 pm | Corner of Kennedy and Eyre Streets in Kingston | Find out more here.
Stage and Screen
HUB FEST 2025
Aussie Works. Done quick. Done good. Catch these two productions at the ACT Hub for the next week as they kick off the pilot program of their inaugural festival of new Australian work.
The Bestiary – An Interlude by Hannah Tonks is set in a dystopian 2038 Australia where artistic expression is outlawed. Four underground artists –Fox, Badger, Donkey, and Goat – capture the Minister for Aesthetics, seeking justice for the disappeared creatives and forcing a reckoning.
The Forsaken by Oliver Kuskie finds Leonard – alone in his rundown apartment – listening to his neighbours, a group of struggling young adults and a fractured family, forcing him to confront his past regrets and question whether he can find a place in a world that has left him behind.
Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 February | ACT Hub, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | acthub.com.au
Bubble Boy
Following Jimmy Livingston, a boy deathly allergic to germs who is kept in a decontaminated bubble room for his own protection, Bubble Boy is a gorgeous coming-of-age story full of love, laughs and self-discovery.
Head along to watch as his life is turned upside down when Chloe moves in next door and his eyes are opened to how big the world is.
Until Sunday 23 February, 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm | Belconnen Community Theatre, 23 Swanson Court, Belconnen | Book here.
Baby Jane
From the novel What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell comes this exciting new play from one of Cannberra’s own.
With no holds barred, the classic Gothic thriller is about two reclusive sisters living together in a decaying Hollywood mansion –one a former child star of early vaudeville desperate to reclaim her early fame, and the other, a successful Hollywood actress whose career tragically ended after a terrible car accident. Wondering what happens? Go see it for yourself.
Thursday 20 February until Saturday 8 March | Canberra REP Theatre, 3 Repertory Lane, City | Book here.
Sunset Cinema
Who doesn’t love going to the movies? Get the most out of summer, by heading to the Sunset Cinema at the Botanic Gardens. Showing all the new hits, some old favourites, and family classics, bring a picnic, some camping chairs or a blanket and sit back and enjoy the show!
Until Saturday 22 February, from 6:30 pm | Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Movies and tickets can be found here.
Shakespeare By the Lakes V: Macbeth
Something wicked this way comes this summer…and it’s the chance to see Shakespeare’s shortest, sharpest, and bloodiest play like never before. Following on from the success of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in December, Echo Theatre returns with a second offering of outdoor Shakespeare in 2025. That’s right, you can watch Macbeth outside.
Gather your friends, pack a picnic, and strap in for a night of greed, ambition, and deception as one couple’s ruthless thirst for power turns nature upside down.
Until Sunday 2 March | Various locations | Book here.
Elsie’s Film House
Elsie’s Film House is a pop-up cinema lounge and bar screening all of your retro favourites from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, from cult classics, to arthouse and international films.
Offering a cozy movie night experience, Elsie’s also hosts weekly community nights offering diverse communities a safe and inclusive space to connect. Elsie’s will be hosting movie nights for different migrant communities as well. Keep an eye out to see what’s coming up!
Until Sunday 16 March, from 2 pm | 180 London Circuit, City | Book here.
The Great Kimberley Wilderness
Be transported to one of the world’s most breathtaking and pristine landscapes in The Great Kimberley Wilderness – a 35-minute virtual reality experience narrated by Luke Hemsworth.
Guided by scientists and traditional owners, this journey crosses stunning coastlines and majestic gorges, venturing deep into these timeless lands. Soar over the thundering King George Falls, explore the remarkable striped sandstone domes of the UNESCO-listed Purnululu National Park, and travel back more than 350 million years to the Devonian Reef, uncovering the ancient geology that has shaped life as we know it.
This experience reveals the history, geology, culture and wonder of the remarkable Kimberley wilderness, which has been nearly two billion years in the making.
Daily, every hour from 9.15 am to 4.15 pm | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | Find out more here.
Music
Old Timey Wednesday
Party like it’s 1899 at Smith’s Alternative this Wednesday night
Luminaries from the local old timey/folk/acoustic scene will gather at Smith’s to lead an open session of Americana/old timey music. The best part? It’s free!
Wednesday 19 February | Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, City | Book here.
American Voices
Don’t miss the launch of the 2025 Wesley Lunchtime concert series!
Kicking off with the breathtakingly talented and versatile soprano Rachel Mink and the outstanding young Ellery String Quartet, the all-American program will feature work from some of the most exciting young creative composers active in the US today.
Wednesday 19 February | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | Book here.
Void of Vision ‘What I’ll Leave Behind’ Australian Tour
Melbourne’s Void Of Vision announced that it is time to bid farewell to fans and to celebrate the end of an era, they’re running a huge headline tour.
Offering fans across the country one last chance to witness the verocity and stunning dexterity a Void Of Vision live show always brings, don’t miss your chance to bid farewell to Void Of Vision in 2025, supported by some stellar international talent.
Wednesday 19 February, 7 pm – 11 pm | UC Hub, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce | Book here.
The Balanas Sisters
The dynamo Latvian violin and cello sister duo are coming to the Snow Concert Hall to bring a thrilling program of Baroque masters (Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’), French impressionists and contemporary minimalists to Canberra as they make their much anticipated Australian debut.
With program highlights including Vivaldi, Vasks, and Ravel, this is one for music lovers.
Thursday 20 February, 7 pm – 9 pm | Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill | Book here.
Smiths@Belco: Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd, a true Australian Music Icon, has etched his name into the annals of music history. With his distinctive voice, heartfelt lyrics, and captivating melodies, the enchanting singer-songwriter has captured the hearts of music lovers around the globe.
Grab your tickets now!
Saturday 22 February, 7 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | Book here.
Queen – The Show
This is a massive two-hour show featuring all of Queen’s hits, including We Will Rock You, We Are the Champions, Another One Bites the Dust, I Want to Break Free, Radio Ga Ga, Bohemian Rhapsody and more!
Filled with hits, this high-energy stage show also features authentic costumes…no wonder it’s one of the most sought-after Queen tribute shows in Australia!
Saturday 22 February, 8 pm – 11 pm | The Zeppelin Room, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | Book here.
Celtic Concert in the Courtyard Gardens at Mercure Canberra
The Mercure Canberra is hosting another of its famous courtyard concerts!
Experience the magic of Ireland and Scotland at this special Celtic Courtyard Concert. Enjoy a night of live music and dancing, including both traditional and contemporary Irish and Scottish music from one of Canberra’s best-know Celtic bands, the Humbug Celtic Band.
Saturday 22 February, 6 pm – 9 pm | The Courtyard Gardens at Mercure Canberra, 39 Limestone Avenue, Braddon | Book here.
Harmonic Curves Concert Series 2025
Harmonic Curves is a 2025 concert series that features an exciting and diverse range of guest artists.
From Romantic favourites to newly commissioned works, the programs offer a wide palette of musical colours and styles. Head along to hear the familiar and the unexpected in the beautiful acoustics of the Mansfield Room.
Sunday 23 February, 3 pm – 5 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest | Book here.
Exhibitions
Soft Edges
Soft Edges is an exhibition by four artist friends who are interested in environmental and creative sustainability.
Shan Crosbie, Michele Grimston, Ann McMahon, and Heidi Smith explore In Soft Edges the overlap of their love of material experimentation, combining their focus to create a series of sculptures, textiles, drawings and installations.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 16 March | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
2025 Emerging Contemporaries
Emerging Contemporaries is Craft + Design Canberra’s prestigious award exhibition celebrating the next generation of designers and makers.
In this showcase you’ll see works by early career artists from leading local institutions, including the Canberra Potters Society, Canberra Institute of Technology, and the ANU School of Art + Design, highlighting the diverse talent shaping the future of craft and design.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 5 April | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, City | More information here.
My unStill Life
My unStill Life by Cam Michael delves into the interplay between work and home life, celebrating the value of the familiar. Through a series of small, intricately crafted rooms, he recreates spaces that reflect parts of his home and studio.
Drawing on his experiences with disability, caring, and LGBTIQ+ identity and using glass, textiles, wood, and found objects, he reimagines everyday items distorted by memory.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 5 April | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, City | More information here.
The Omega Series
The Omega Series by Pamela Irving re-contextualises discarded objects and materials into new forms. In it, she uses sardine tins to create her Omega characters.
It’s a play on the essential omega 3 vitamin and the Greek letter Omega, representing the end, the ultimate limit.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 5 April | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, City | More information here.
In.Plane.Site.
In.Plane.Site by Dörte Conroy consists of a number of small hard-edge paintings, full of different shapes, colours, and arrangements.
The result? A body of work that demonstrates Conroy’s enduring interest in design andolour, informed by her decades-long experience in the graphic design industry.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 16 March | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Inside Out
This exhibition presents sculptures, drawings, and paintings that stand as authentic counterpoints to the fast-paced, time-driven rhythm of modern life.
In it, each piece invites viewers to pause, reconnect, and reflect on their inner worlds and values. Head along to see it for yourself!
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 16 March | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Pages from a Diary of a Weatherwatcher
‘What is the weather like here and now, in this place, and how am I experiencing this?’ That was the fundamental question for Di Broomhall’s body of work Pages from a Diary of a Weatherwatcher.
This diary of the weather in her eucalyptus garden spans a period of 12 months from March 2023 to March 2024. Priortising colour, light, atmosphere and sensation, this is one exhibition you need to see.
Thursday 20 February until Sunday 16 March | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | More information here.
Drawing For Your Rights
Canberra is playing host to a groundbreaking art exhibition in February, showcasing the creativity and resilience of children from around the world.
The exhibit Drawing For Your Rights, is showcasing the artworks of children from around the world who took part in a program teaching them on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Friday 21 to Sunday 23 February | Hellenic Club, City, 13 Moore Street | More information here.
Visible but Intangible: A print exchange portfolio
Visible but Intangible: A print exchange portfolio brings together 38 works by Sydney Printmakers at Megalo Print Studio. The theme Visible but Intangible invites an exploration of the interplay between what we can see and what remains beyond the reach of our perception.
We often find ourselves grappling with ideas, emotions and phenomena that are not easily defined yet these intangible elements shape our experiences and our understanding of the world. Through this collaborative portfolio, 38 members of Sydney Printmakers have approached this theme with diverse techniques and interpretations, each bringing their own perspective to the idea of what is visible but intangible.
Saturday 22 February to Saturday 29 March | Megalo Print Studio, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | megalo.org
VIEW2025
VIEW2025 brings together the work of Cailyn Forrest, Adam Hsieh, Fiona Lee, Aia Solis, and Emma Lyn Winkler. This annual exhibition spotlights regional emerging artists—the future leaders of Australian photo media practice—and is accompanied by a publication offering insights into current photographic trends across analogue, digital, and experimental forms.
In Darkroom Viscera, Cailyn Forrest transforms the act of photography into a bodily ritual, intertwining artist and material. Adam Hsieh’s I Didn’t Come Here for Love juxtaposes wide-angle views of Hobart’s kunanyi/Mount Wellington with intimate Grindr encounters, exploring how social currents shape our experience of place.
Fiona Lee’s Future Critical confronts ecological loss and political inertia, informed by her displacement during the 2019–2020 bushfires. In Tarantana Muna, Aia Solis merges past memories and present realities, revealing a delicate balance between control and disorder. Emma Lyn Winkler’s Shadow Puppets fuses painting, photography, and animation into textured narratives infused with humour and existential absurdity.
Until Saturday photo access, Manuka Arts Centre, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | More information here.
KULATA TJUTA: TIRKILPA
Kulata Tjuta: Tirkilpa is the largest and most significant installation of the culturally important and visually spectacular Kulata Tjuta (Many Spears) Project.
Like others in the series, it is rooted in age-old traditions, knowledge and skills that are designed around keeping Country and culture strong. On show at the National Gallery of Australia head along to see the large-scale, multi-disciplinary installations that incorporate film, sound, live performance and other artistic collaborations.
Saturday
Australian Plants as Bonsai Exhibition
The Canberra Bonsai Society and the Australian National Botanic Gardens present the 2025 Exhibition of Australian Plants as Bonsai, held in the Banksia Centre, ANBG.
With the theme Australian Plants Make Beautiful Bonsai, there will be over 40 bonsai on display. Plus there will be semonstrations at 11 am and 2 pm, showcasing techniques used, and the considerations needed when training Australian plants as bonsai.
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February, 9.30 am – 4 pm | Banksia Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | More information here.
Carol Jerrems: Portraits
Photographers, this one’s for you! This week, spend time learning about a key influential figure in Australia’s photographic history at the National Portrait Gallery’s latest exhibit – Carol Jerrems: Portraits. The exhibition showcases more than 140 photographs, drawn from the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, and the National Portrait Gallery.
Expect to see photographs from her earlier work to her more famous works, including Vale Street 1975. Learn how her work defined the 1970s and the future of Australian photography while examining portraits of cultural figures like tennis legend Evonne Goolagong, fashion designer Linda Jackson, and author Bobbi Sykes.
Until Sunday 2 March | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
History: Solo Exhibition by Martyn Thompson
Head along to the Canberra Glassworks to see the stunning works of cross-disciplinary artist Martyn Thompson.
Reimagining his ceramic vessels in glass, blending nostalgia and modernity through a tactile, painterly approach, this exhibition has been curated by Aimee Frodsham, the exhibition integrates his new glasswork with textiles, furniture, and objects from his studio.
Until Sunday 23 March | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | More information here.
The Bald Archy Prize 2025
Get ready for Australia’s leading satirical art extravaganza, the Bald Archy Prize! Born in 1994 as a whimsical take that more serious competition, this prize throws open its canvas to artists of every stripe, inviting them to unleash their creativity in portrait paintings teeming with humour, dark satire, light comedy, or caricature.
Now, entering its 29th year in 2025, the Bald Archy Prize beckons artists to carry forward the rich tradition of revelling in laughter while basking in the beauty of art. The exhibition kicks off in Canberra before embarking on a tour across various venues in Eastern Australia, so make sure you don’t miss out!
Until Sunday 23 March | Watson Arts Centre (Canberra Potters), 1 Aspinall St Watson | More information here.
Waves of Kinship
This is a new photo-based work by Polish-born Kamberri/Canberra-based artist Marzena Wasikowska.
Inspired by fieldwork and studio meditations on the built environment, waterscapes and global warming, as well as her immediate family, works in this exhibition have been created with support from a Capital Arts Patrons’ Organisation (CAPO) grant.
Until Sunday 23 March | Platform, 19 Furneaux St Manuka | More information here.
Celebrate Gungahlin: Young Voices
This exhibition features artworks and documentation from the 2024 Celebrate Gungahlin Festival.
Local artists Megan Daley and Pinal Maniar worked with children and their families to create masks, banners, and props for the inaugural festival parade. Showcasing the documentation of the process and the parade, as well as highlights from Our Town: A Celebrate Gungahlin Community Exhibition, head along to support over 100 young people who live, work or play in the Gungahlin region.
Until Sunday 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm | The Nook, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Escape. Control. Delete. by Kristie Watts
In Australia, more than one in three women have been physically and/or sexually assaulted. Every week a woman is murdered by her current or former partner. Escape Control Delete is a process and conceptual-based installation that makes the statistics of violence against women in Australia visible.
Each blacked-out key represents a woman in the community creating an unavoidable visual representation of words heard and reports read about the increasing statistics of women in Australia affected by abuse.
Until Sunday 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm | Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
TILT by Alex Asch and Mariana del Castillo
This is the final exhibition in a two-year collaboration between artists Alex Asch and Mariana del Castillo.
Exploring ideas around identity, memory, belonging, and ownership, through colonisation, migration, and displacement the two artists enter the conversation from opposite ends. Head along to see it for yourself.
Until Sunday 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
3000 days … and counting …
Esteemed Australian botanical artist Sharon Field is waging a personal protest against global warming. And in doing so, she is creating a monumental piece of art.
Setting herself a challenge to create a draw/painting for 3000 days on a series of scrolls, she is making Australia’s own version of the Bayeux Tapestry (the historic 11th Century tapestry depicting the Norman conquest of England and measuring approximately 68 metres).
Providing a visual record of the plants the planet is in danger of losing, you can see it at the Belconnen Arts Centre.
Until Sunday 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Neither Here Nor There by Liz Faul
Liz Faul was born in Canberra and grew up here. And that’s what inspires her work.
Conveying her feelings about Canberra and how it’s changed over the years, in this exhibition, she uses repeated motifs to express her memories of growing up here — the Burley Griffin map, the photographs of familiar places, and silhouettes of the family at different times. It combines painted papers, recycled printed materials, found papers and her illustrations on canvasses or boxes.
Until Sunday 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.
Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla – From the darkness into the light
The Gurindji Freedom Banners retell the story of the historic Wave Hill Walk-off in 1966.
The ten iconic banners will be on display to tell the Gurindji account of the ‘walk-off’, which was led by Vincent Jurlama Lingiari AM with Gurindji, Ngarinyman, Mudburra, Bilinara and Walpiri workers from Wave Hill Station, located in the Victoria River District on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert. This strike was a response to the unfair working and living conditions for Aboriginal people under the station’s management; Vestey’s Group.
Until Friday 28 March | ANU School of Art & Design Gallery, Corner Liversidge St & Ellery Crescent, Acton | More information here.
Moonsnake
Thinking about possible connections between the moon and snakes, Steven Holland brings together a recent series of yellow-snake dream drawings with a selection of his bronze Serpent sculptures that were created over several decades.
Designed to coincide with the Chinese New Year, Luna Year of the Snake in 2025, this exhibition is free to visit.
Until Saturday 5 April | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | More information here.
Unconditional
This is a mixed-media examination of loves in many forms, from the joyful, to the painful, life-affirming, difficult at times, but invariably unconditional.
Reflecting the multi-faceted qualities of love, in terms of media used as well as subjects, it shows various expressions of love and argues that we are all different yet united by emotions.
Until Saturday 5 April | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | More information here.
This Is Studio&
Studio&’s debut exhibition as a collaborative, celebrating two years of making together.
In it, works are reflective of the diversity, interests and skills being honoured at Studio&. It’s a wonderful reminder the power art has in personal expression and community building and demonstrates that art exists in the exchange, process, collaboration, providing access to and noticing in everyday life.
Until Saturday 5 April | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | More information here.
Jonas Balsaitis: Analogue
Jonas Balsaitis: Analogue is a survey exhibition of paintings, prints, and experimental films by Australian artist Jonas Balsaitis.
The exhibition re-considers the artist’s use of ‘imaging systems’ in light of contemporary developments in data imagery and digital technologies. Particular focus is given to the translation of Balsaitis’ paintings into film, highlighting the artist’s dedication to find a new, more experimental mode of experience in a pre-digital age.
Until Saturday 12 April | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Building 29, Acton | More information here.
BLAZE 2025
Canberra Contemporary’s eagerly awaited emerging artist showcase, BLAZE, returns to present the dynamic and diverse voices of Kamberri/Canberra’s rising creative talents.
Featuring six exciting artists at the beginning of their careers, BLAZE offers an insight into the evolving art scene of the region and exhibits bold, thought-provoking works across installation, painting, photography and sculpture.
Featuring the work of Sophia Childs, Sophie Dumaresq, Gabrielle Hall-Lomax, Emeirely Nucifora-Ryan, Brennan O’Brien and Jessika Spencer.
Until 17 April | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | canberracontemporary.com.au
Anne Dangar
Get lost in a world of swirls, squares, lines, and colours at the NGA’s free Anne Dangar exhibit.
This iconic Australian artist played an important part in bringing modern art to Australia in the twentieth century, and this exhibit allows locals a chance to browse her ceramics, paintings, archival material, and more in this major retrospective exhibition celebrating her life and art.
Until Sunday 27 April | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Ethel Carrick
The National Gallery of Australia is continuing its focus on celebrating the work of all women artists, with its major exhibition Ethel Carrick. Post-impressionist art lovers will be excited to see 140 pieces by Carrick, in the first retrospective of her work for nearly half a century.
What’s even better? Entry is free, so you can visit as many times as you want!
Until Sunday 27 April | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Experience the wonder of two decades of award-winning nature photography as a new exhibition opens at the National Archives of Australia. 20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year celebrates the winning entries from each year since its inception.
Conceived in 2004 by Dr. Stuart Miller AM, the competition aims to stoke the public’s fascination with the natural world and provide a platform for emerging and established photographers alike to showcase the remarkable flora, fauna, and landscapes of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and New Guinea.
Until Sunday 27 April | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | More information here.
Pompeii
If seeing Pompeii in Italy is on your bucket list, mark your calendars for this one! The National Museum of Australia is showing its Pompeiiexhibit, featuring over 90 discovered objects from the ancient city before Mount Vesuvius erupted. This display in Canberra will be the first time some of these objects have been seen outside Europe!
Visitors will be taken into the exhibit with an engaging atmosphere created by large-scale digital projections and captivating soundscapes. Expect to see recovered jewellery, sculptures, pottery, frescoes, and other objects once used by this civilisation.
Until Sunday 4 May | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | Book here.
Lindy Lee
Lindy Lee is one of Australia’s most accomplished contemporary artists. This exhibition brings together highlights from across the artist’s career as well as a monumental new installation and works on paper.
Exploring themes of ancestry, spirituality, the environment, and the cosmos, this display of new and recent works will shed light on Lee’s ever-evolving and ambitious practice.
Until Tuesday 1 July | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | More information here.
Resonance – Art as the Voice of Nature
This exhibition at the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) showcases art from the NatureArt Lab teaching team and community, nature journals and natural history objects collected over our eight years of operation.
Celebrating the richness of biodiversity and the deep connections between art and the natural world, the exhibition extends beyond visual art, incorporating community engagement, school programs, and international nature tours spanning Borneo, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, Amazonian Ecuador, and Peru.
Until Sunday 27 July | 176 London Circuit, City | More information here.
Sport and Wellness
Yoga in the Gardens
Looking for a moment of Zen? You can relax and stretch in the peaceful surrounds of the Hyatt Hotels Lavender Courtyard every Saturday morning.
Running for an hour, senior yoga instructor Nandhini Nagaratnam will take you through a class that focusses on strength, flexibility, health, and wellbeing. Ideal for resetting and getting back to nature, just make sure to bring your own mat.
Saturday 22 February | Hyatt Hotel, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Book here.
ADRENALYN 11
This epic event will see local legend and two-time World Champion Benny “ The Terminator” Thompson return to Canberra to defend his K1 World Title against a tough Kiwi boy Josh “Warhorse” Wood.
Showcasing the skills of two experienced champion boxers, grab yourself a VIP table (complete with a two-course meal and drinks package) and enjoy.
Saturday 22 February, from 6.15 pm | Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip | Book here.
Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies vs Western Force
Head along as the Safeguard Global ACT Brumbies kick off their first home game of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season against Western Force.
Don’t miss any of the action, with plenty of entertainment on and off the field.
Saturday 22 February, 5 pm – 9.30 pm | GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Workshops and Programs
Murrulangalang Story Time
Dive into the world of storytelling, imagination, and discovery as the National Archives of Australia brings tales to life through interactive storytelling sessions for zero to six-year-olds.
Take your children along for a fun, engaging, and educational morning where they’ll hear a story, act it out, sing a song, and go on a scavenger hunt to help find Archie the cat hiding somewhere in the East Block building!
Wednesday 19 February, 10.15 am – 11 am | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | Book here.
Yamile Tafur Rios – Exploring Still Life
Join this six-week course to develop paintings using acrylic paints with artist Yamile Tafur Rios.
You’ll explore methods of application, paint mixing and use of colour, and investigate how different surfaces respond to paint.
Tuesday 18 February until Tuesday 25 March | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | Book here.
Libraries ACT Author Talk –Rosemary Gattuso ‘It’s Not You, It’s Me’
Discover how to transform overthinking into a powerful tool for self-growth with author Rosemary Gattuso.
She will be discussing her latest book It’s Not You, It’s Me and sharing her own journey as a chronic over-thinker to provide practical, trauma-informed strategies to help readers harness their strengths and build resilience. It’s basically a manual for building a life that reflects the true essence of who you are. See you there?
Wednesday 19 February | Gungahlin Library, Gungahlin | Book here.
Peter Mclean – Playful Prints
Join artist Peter Mclean for an exploratory six-week printing course.
You’ll be lead through different printing methods in a relaxed and playful environment and discover various techniques that you can use to continue to make prints at home while exploring and developing your capacity for composition.
Thursday 20 February until Thursday 27 March | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | Book here.
Studio& Talk
Join the mentors from Studio& for a talk about what it means to be supported art studio, and why inclusive art spaces are valuable places within the arts community.
Mentors will give a 30 min presentation, followed by Q&A and exhibition walk through.
Thursday 20 February, 6 pm – 7.30 pm | 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | Book here.
Kyra Geddes in conversation with Barbie Robinson
Head along to hear Kyra Geddes and Barbie Robinson discuss The Story Thief, an historical fiction inspired by Henry Lawson’s classic Australian story, The Drover’s Wife, and its equally famous painting by Russell Drysdale
A sweeping historical fiction focussed primarily on women’s issues, The Sydney Morning Herald best described The Story Thief as ‘a family saga that doubles as a feminist reimagining of Australian history and literature’. Can’t make it to Kingston? You can pop along to The Yass Book Store on Saturday 22 February!
Friday 21 February | 47 Jardine Street, Kingston | Register here.
Learn to Build a Sustainable Home
Head along to Suburban Land Agency’s ‘Building a Sustainable Home Workshop’ series held in Whitlam to find out dozens of aspects about building your own sustainable home.
Commonsense Sustainability Solutions’ Paul Nagle and Jodie Pipkorn, in collaboration with the Suburban Land Agency, will hold a new monthly workshop series. Kicking off at the Suburban Land Agency’s Whitlam Display Village with ‘Get started on your sustainable home journey’, you’ll lear about what a sustainable home is, the benefits of a sustainable home and the first steps of your sustainable building journey.
Saturday 22 February, 10 am | 3 Klaus Moje Street, Whitlam | Book here.
Artists in Conversation: Sharon Field
Join a special artist talk with Sharon Field to learn more about her exhibition, 3000 days … and counting …
Sharon’s artwork has strong environmental themes, and it has won awards for her artwork both in Australia and overseas. Head along to hear her career journey, from government employment, to full-time botanical artist.
Saturday 22 February, 2 pm – 3 pm | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | Book here.
Feature image via Facebook.
