This Week In The Can

Posted on 30 April, 2018

Your essential guide to what’s on in Canberra this week!

HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE LISTED IN THIS WEEK IN THE CAN? SUBMIT IT HERE BY COB WEDNESDAY PRIOR.

16 THINGS NOT TO MISS

HERCANBERRA ACTIVE WEEK

We know, as well as anyone does, that trying a new activity can be a challenge.

That’s why we created ACTIVE Week: a chance for you to turn up and try a new activity or class for free. There’s no cost – and there’s no pressure because you’ll be in the company of other HerCanberra readers who are also trying something new!

It’s a chance to sweat, to laugh, to connect with yourself and with other women, all for free.

Here’s what’s on offer during ACTIVE Week – if you see something you like, be sure to click the link to find out all the available times and details:

Happening 30 April – 6 May at various locations across Canberra.

See the editorial for more information.

HANDMADE MARKET – MOTHER’S DAY

Handmade Market – Mother’s Day. Canberra’s award winning Handmade Market is on five times a year but this market will be all about Mum. Find gifts from talented artists, designers, stylists, craftspeople and producers from all over Australia.

Handmade Market is an indoor event showcasing over 260 Australian designer/producers. All products on sale are Australian made and designed.

Shop at Handmade to support Australian designers and find something unique, well priced and where you can meet the maker. You’ll find everything from fashion, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, clothing, jewellery, accessories and an indoor gourmet food and wine hall.

You can drive to the venue. There is a lot of parking including coach and disabled parking access. ATMs are located on site. There is public transport to the event.

Entry to the market is free but please support the door greeters at each event with a gold coin donation if you can. Each event supports a different charity.

Happening Saturday 5 May and Sunday 6 May from 10am-4pm at Exhibition Park in Canberra – EPIC, Corner Flemington Rd and canberra Ave, Mitchell.

See the website for more information.

CANBERRA FASHION MARKET

Discover new and pre-loved fashion at the 5 May Canberra Fashion Market, including designer labels and a wide range of styles.

Fashion, shoes, bags, jewellery, accessories and beauty products are on hand. Marketgoers have uncovered major national and international labels like Dior, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Guess, Decjuba, Kookai and Country Road.

This market supports a sustainable lifestyle, helping reduce waste by recycling quality, stylish fashion. Also uncover interesting books, vinyl records and collectables. It’s a fun, relaxed market and a great day out for friends and family.

Happening 5 May, 10 am to 3pm at the Fitzroy Building, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).

Plenty of free parking. Disabled parking available.

$3 entry fee (kids under 12 free).

TEDDY TAHU RHODES: ONE NIGHT ONLY, EXCLUSIVE TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

Join international opera star Teddy Tahu Rhodes for an exceptional evening of entertainment and fine dining at the National Museum in Canberra.

Be enchanted by one of opera’s most captivating performers as he shares stories from his remarkable life and performs a selection of acclaimed arias, accompanied by a 13-piece orchestra.

This event is being hosted by actor, writer and satirist Jonathan Biggins.

Limited tickets. Bookings essential (fees apply).

Happening Saturday 5 May 6:30pm-11:30pm at the National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula.

See the website for more information.

Sissa Sorella X Miss Winks Mother’s Day Shopping EventLingerie, shoes and champagne- what more could a girl want?!

Sissa Sorella and Miss Winks are holding a special one-day event to spoil the woman in your life in the lead-up to Mother’s Day!

On Wednesday 2 May, join us for champagne and delicious treats as you view the lingerie collections of Miss Winks and the luxurious new A/W 18 shoe and accessories collections by Sissa Sorella.

There will be exclusive one-day only offers and a chance to enter the competition to win a Mother’s Day hamper, including gift certificates for Sissa Sorella and Miss Winks, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, chocolates and nail polish, valued at over $250!

Happening Wednesday 2 May from 6 – 9 pm at Sissa Sorella, 1/18-36 Duff Place, Deakin.

Find more information via Facebook.

Blanc de Blanc

From the acclaimed creative minds behind Madonna’s recent Rebel Heart tour Blanc de Blanc is the sell-out sensation, delighting audiences from Sydney Opera House to London’s West End. Now it’s Canberra’s turn for a seductive, immersive and naughty night out inside the Fortuna Spiegeltent.

Blanc de Blanc serves a blend of vintage glamour, high-end spectacle and titillating acts to infatuate, illuminate and delight. Bringing the finest cabaret and acrobatic talent from around the world into a wild, shimmering night – anticipate big moves, great tunes, lots of skin, and more than a few surprises.

Blanc de Blanc is the headline show of Spiegeltent Canberra presented by Strut & Fret in association with Canberra Theatre Centre. The full Spiegeltent Canberra program, featuring some of the best nationally and internationally touring cabaret, comedy, can be found here.

Happening until 20 May at the Fortuna Spiegletent , Canberra Theatre Centre.

Find more information here.

THE CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ten days of expertly curated music performed by internationally celebrated artists, with thought-provoking conversations and culinary surprises on the side – that’s the Canberra International Music Festival.

From Beowulf to Bach and Bernstein, the 2018 Festival unfurls a broad canvas around Canberra this Autumn: 23 ticketed concerts, site specific events, musical walks and free sessions confirm Canberra’s renown as a top destination.

See the city in all its seasonal beauty and experience masterpieces on period instruments, delve into the great epics of the past and discover the music of our time in new ways.

Happening until 6 May at various locations across Canberra.

Find more information via the website.

Blue the Documentary: The tide has come for change

MOTHERLESS DAUGHTERS HIGH TEA

Motherless Daughters Australia is organising Canberra’s very first Motherless Daughters High Tea. It is hoped that the High Tea can assist in developing supportive networks and friendships and make a difference to other women who have lost their mums prematurely. If this sounds like you please consider attending this special and uplifting event at the National Portrait Gallery. Tickets to be purchased by 29th April.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 2:30pm-5pm at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

THE TROUBLE IN TUNE TOWN BOOK LAUNCH

Meg is Tune Town’s best music performer, but she’s having trouble rehearsing. So much trouble, in fact, that the notes have run right off the sheet! Can Meg find the notes in time for her big concert?

Join author and playwright Maura Pierlot for a musical afternoon of reading and craft activities.

The event will include a special performance by Music for Canberra’s Peg Mantle Strings, conducted by Tim Wickham.

Suitable for ages 4–8 years.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

In association with Music for Canberra

Happening Sunday 6 May from 2pm in the
foyer of the National Library of Australia. Cost: Free.

Book signing to follow (The Trouble in Tune Town written by Maura Pierlot, illustrated by Sophie Norsa).

Bookings essential
on 02 6262 1424.

CARTIER: THE EXHIBITION

Cartier: The Exhibition is a breathtaking display of some of the world’s most exquisite jewels, featuring items from royal families, celebrities and the astonishing Cartier collection showing exclusively at the National Gallery of Australia.

Immerse yourself in over 300 spectacular items, including royal tiaras, necklaces, brooches and earrings.

Never before have so many incredible diamonds, pearls, sapphires, emeralds and other precious stones been seen in Australia. Highlights include the Queen’s ‘Halo’ tiara worn by Kate Middleton at her wedding to Prince William, Princess Grace of Monaco’s 10.48 carat diamond engagement ring, Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond and ruby necklace, Dame Nellie Melba’s diamond stomacher brooch, and a selection from the NGA’s exceptional Ballets Russes costumes.

Step into the dazzling world of the Maison Cartier and its clients to discover concepts of glamour throughout the 20th century, accompanied by our rich program of talks, tours and events and Cartier: The Exhibition catalogue.

Cartier: The Exhibition is on show at the NGA, exclusive to Canberra.

Happening Friday 30 March until Sunday 22 July at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

Canberra Grammar School Open Day

The dangers of third, fourth and fifth hand cigarette smoke (and the perils of researching smoking) by Professor Simone Dennis

SPACE DESCENT VR WITH TIM PEAKE

Experience the thrill of being an astronaut inside a Russian space capsule using the latest 360° virtual reality technology.

Take the pilot’s seat on a breathtaking 400km descent to Earth from the International Space Station in an awe-inspiring experience produced by the Science Museum Group and narrated by British astronaut Tim Peake.

Happening every day from 9 am – 5 pm daily at the National Museum of Australia.

Book your session online now: nma.gov.au/space.

PLAYUP

Discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too! From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

See the website for more information.

Free after museum admission.

Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

CHINESE HIGH TEA AT NATURAL NINE, CASINO CANBERRA

Canberra’s only ‘pop Chinese” restaurant, Natural Nine, is holding a weekly Chinese High Tea! Not only does this High Tea bring a delicious Asian twist to the high tea experience, but it also allows you to purchase treat stands rather than pay per head. If you love high teas or modern Asian cooking than this event is a must!

One stand including tea selection for two: $35pp. One stand including Sparkling to begin and tea selection for two: $45pp.

Happening every Friday and Saturday from 2.30pm – 4.30pm at Natural Nine, Casino Canberra.

Bookings required in advance, so to book via 02 6257 7074 or online at casinocanberra.com.au.

FOOD & DRINK

MOTHERLESS DAUGHTERS HIGH TEA

Motherless Daughters Australia is organising Canberra’s very first Motherless Daughters High Tea. It is hoped that the High Tea can assist in developing supportive networks and friendships and make a difference to other women who have lost their mums prematurely. If this sounds like you please consider attending this special and uplifting event at the National Portrait Gallery. Tickets to be purchased by 29th April.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 2:30pm-5pm at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

Capital Brewing Co. Pop-Up Bar at No.10 Restaurant + Bar

A special collaboration with Capital Brewing Co. is bringing you a pop-up bar on the No. 10 Restaurant and Bar terrace every Friday evening, for a limited time only.

Kicking off at 4.30pm, we’ll be pouring crisp Capital Brewing Co. beers on-tap alongside a killer burger menu and awesome live music. You can enjoy a brew and your choice of our five burgers for just $19.

Come and support Canberra’s home-grown brewing heroes, all while savouring the last of our warm Canberra days.

Happening Friday 4 May from 4.30pm – late at No.10 Restaurant + Bar, 10 Bowes Street Woden.

Find more information via the website.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but we recommend booking a table ahead of time here.

TIPSY TEA AT WHITE RABBIT COCKTAIL ROOM

It’s always time for tea at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, Tipsy Tea that is! Kicking off from two every Saturday and Sunday, Tipsy Tea is perfect for those seeking a little adventure.

Tipsy Tea (65 pp), in true White Rabbit style combines classic high tea flare with signature concoctions encouraging the curious to explore their senses. To eat, you are greeted by a 3- tier platter with an array of flavoursome bites including; spiced pork sausage rolls, smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheel sandwiches and semi-dried tomato and caramelised onion tarts. Looking for something a little sweeter? Try the sour rhubarb and marshmallow tarts or the delightful dark chocolate and peanut brownies topped with caramel icing.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 2-5 pm at White Rabbit Cocktail Room, 65 Northbourne Avenue, City.

Book your table via info@whiterabbitroom.com.au or on (02) 6257 7779.

BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS @ HIGHBALL

Highball are freeing the mimosa from being a brunch-only drink and taking them for a night out, Cuban style! Head in on Wednesdays for some fresh and fruity bottomless mimosas and share a charcuterie platter.

– Flight Details –
•  $45 per passenger (4 pax minimum)
•  1.5 hours of service
•  Charcuterie platter to share
•  Wednesdays from 4pm

They’re also letting their mimosas out on the weekends so you can catch them 4-7pm on Saturdays and from 2pm on Sundays.

On every Wednesday from 4pm at The Highball Express. Entry is $45pp, min 4 people. Visit the website for more information.

TIKI THURSDAYS

Start your weekend early at Tiki Thursdays – Highball’s newest weekly social event! Think flaming torches, exotic tropical drinks for only $15 and a sexy Cuban vibe to top it off.

Sip on a Fidel’s Downfall with summer lovin’ peach infused rum, pineapple & mint, or a Highball twist on a Mai Tai. Whatever your flavour, they’ll have the Tiki vibes cruising and the cocktails flowing!

Grab your friends and head to the balcony or a booth with a few $15 tiki cocktails every Thursday from 4pm at Highball, winner ACT Bar of the Year 2017.

On every Thursday from 4pm at The Highball Express. Entry is free. Visit the websitefor more information.

SUNDAY SESSIONS WITH A TWIST

Spend your Sunday the way they do in Cuba – sunshine, dominoes, fruity rum punch bowls, tasty Spanish food and live entertainment.

Their fabulous street party style Sunday Session is on every Sunday and it’s fun for all ages – you can even bring your little ones!

– Live entertainment
– Bottomless mimosas
– $70 punch bowls
– $5 Coronas
– Plenty of Dominoes sets to share

The Highball Express will be at your service from 2pm every Sunday over Spring / Summer. On every Sunday from 2pm at The Highball Express. Entry is free. Visit the website for more information.

CHINESE HIGH TEA AT NATURAL NINE, CASINO CANBERRA

Canberra’s only ‘pop Chinese” restaurant, Natural Nine, is holding a weekly Chinese High Tea! Not only does this High Tea bring a delicious Asian twist to the high tea experience, but it also allows you to purchase treat stands rather than pay per head. If you love high teas or modern Asian cooking than this event is a must!

One stand including tea selection for two: $35pp. One stand including Sparkling to begin and tea selection for two: $45pp.

Happening every Friday and Saturday from 2.30pm – 4.30pm at Natural Nine, Casino Canberra.

Bookings required in advance, so to book via 02 6257 7074 or online at casinocanberra.com.au.

GARDEN BAR HAPPY HOUR

Select wine, beer, basic spirits, cocktail specials while you enjoy live music from Canberra’s most talented local musicians. Make your Friday happy and relaxing with a various selection of popular drinks.

Happening Friday every week between 5pm – 7pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, inside Hotel Realm 18 National Circuit, Barton.

Cost: $5 wine, beer, spirits.

FRIDAY SOIRÉE AT BUVETTE

Add a little sparkle to your Friday night with Buvette Bistro’s Friday Soirée. Set outdoors in the Parisian-style Buvette Terrace, celebrate the weekend with this exclusive event. Enjoy VIP service with a personal bartender and select your drink of choice from the special cocktail menu, designed exclusively for Friday Soirée.

Sip on a French 75 or a Lychee Torsadée whilst enjoying fresh oysters, charcuterie or a duck liver parfait.

Every Friday from 4pm to 7pm at Buvette, inside the Realm Hotel, 18 National Circuit, Barton. Find more information here.

HIGH TEA ON THE BURBURY TERRACE 

Designed to blend tradition with innovation, the new Burbury High Tea menu also offers signature favourites with freshly- baked scones, strawberry macaron and finger sandwiches.

Burbury Terrace is also proud to introduce a fully-dedicated gluten-free high tea menu. Remaining as innovative as the standard menu, it also includes the traditional sandwiches and indulgent sweets.

$50.00 per person including TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee. $60 per person including a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, TWG Tea and freshly-brewed coffee.

Available Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 4.30pm at Burbury Terrace, Barton. Find more information here.

PETIT FEAST AT BUVETTE

Spoil yourself with a bountiful spread including savouries, charcuterie, cheeses and decadent desserts. Every Saturday at Buvette Bistro & Wine Bar.

It’s not breakfast, it’s not lunch…but it is an indulgent feast for all the senses. The Buvette Petit Feast features freshly made savouries and sweets as well as lavish desserts. In addition to tea and coffee, you can order a Bloody Mary, French Champagne and Rosé.

Available between 11.30am – 2.30pm every Saturday at $65 per guest, including a complimentary glass of Rosé. For $15 guests can add unlimited Mimosas. Buvette is fully licensed and has free parking all weekend, outdoor covered seating and complimentary WiFi.

For bookings, call 02 6163 1818 or email buvette@domahotels.com.au. Find out more at hotelrealm.com.au.

TACO TUESDAY

Your choice of chicken, pork, or beef in a soft shell taco with cabbage, shallots & coriander. Happening every Tuesday from 1pm-5pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

BURGERS & BEERS

A selection of Burgers and tap beer. Happening every Wednesday from 5pm-10pm at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

PIZZA & PALE ALE THURSDAYS

A selection of housemade Pizza paired with a schooner of James Squire Pale Beer. Happening at  5pm every Thursday at Ostani Bar & Restaurant, Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Barton. For more information visit the website.

CANBERRA BREWERS INTERNATIONAL HOME BREW DAY

Join the Canberra Brewers on Saturday 5th May, when several members will simultaneously brew beer on their very own equipment at Capital Brewing Co. Watch demonstrations and learn about how you can get into the hobby, brew on different equipment or improve your own brewing. Chat with brewers and beer enthusiasts, learn a little about the breadth of different brewing systems available on the market today and even learn more about home coffee roasting and sauerkraut making.

Starting at 11am and running until 4pm, this event is free and kid-friendly. More information here.

MUSIC, STAGE AND THEATRE

THE CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ten days of expertly curated music performed by internationally celebrated artists, with thought-provoking conversations and culinary surprises on the side – that’s the Canberra International Music Festival.

From Beowulf to Bach and Bernstein, the 2018 Festival unfurls a broad canvas around Canberra this Autumn: 23 ticketed concerts, site specific events, musical walks and free sessions confirm Canberra’s renown as a top destination.

See the city in all its seasonal beauty and experience masterpieces on period instruments, delve into the great epics of the past and discover the music of our time in new ways.

Happening until 6 May at various locations across Canberra.

Find more information via the website.

SPIEGELTENT

Starting this month, Spiegeltent Canberra will be set up in Civic Square, featuring some of the best nationally and internationally touring cabaret, comedy, music and dance shows around.

The highlight performance of the program comes from the acclaimed creative minds behind Madonna’s recent Rebel Heart tour. BLANC de BLANC is a sell-out sensation, delighting audiences from Sydney Opera House to London’s West End. Now it’s Canberra’s turn for a seductive, immersive and naughty night out inside the Fortuna Spiegeltent.

BLANC de BLANC is happening on select dates from Thursday 26 April- Sunday 20 May. See the website for ticketing and more information on this stand out show.

The Spiegeltent will also be hosting a whole array of other outstanding performances that are not to be missed! The full program can be viewed on Spiegeltent’s website.

Spiegeltent is happening until Sunday 20 May at Civic Square, London Circuit.

FROM THE LETTER TO THE LAW: CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

A series of three all-Australian mini recitals, commencing at the National Library, and moving to the National Portrait Gallery and the High Court. The performance at the Library features Roger Smalley’s wry and witty song cycle about cats, performed by Kate Howden (mezzo-soprano) and Roland Peelman (piano).

Happening Monday 30 April at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

UBUNTU: African Children’s Choir fundraising concert

The performers are incredible young people from Uganda who were choral members of the infamous African Children’s Choir when they were kids. Now they are young adults, and are touring Australia to raise money for their university education and the organisation. The concert has been likened to Soweto and Wototo choirs – an incredible fusion of culture, song and dance!

Happening Sunday 6 May from 7pm at Daramalan College, 121 Cowper Street.

Find more information via the website.

JOHN BELL ON WORDS: CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Join us to hear John Bell, Australia’s master of the spoken word, in conversation with Genevieve Jacobs.

John Bell has been an adjunct professor in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work since 2007.

In 1991, John founded the Bell Shakespeare Company where his productions have included Hamlet, The Taming of the Shrew, Pericles, Julius Caesar and Wars of the Roses.

In association with the Canberra International Music Festival.

Happening Monday 30 April from 9:30am-10:30am at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

Lightbulb Improv: hopes & dreams

“I have spread my dreams beneath your feet;

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”

– William Butler Yeats

Join lightbulb for your Friday laugh fix with unscripted comedy inspired by you.  This month, share with us your hopes and dreams, and we will take you on a lively journey to bring them to life with stories, scenes and songs that will free your mind and delight your intellect.  You’ll laugh, cry, and see dreams you never knew were possible.

Happening Friday 4 May from 7.30 pm at Smiths Alternative. $15 entry.

Find more information via the website.

ACTEWAGL LLEWELLYN TWO

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra is delighted to welcome soloist Phoebe Russell, recently returned to Australia after working in the Berlin Philharmonic, to play Jan Křtitel Vaňhal’s elegant and charming concerto, full of drama and excitement.

Distinguished conductor Johannes Fritzsch leads the orchestra in Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia. This complex web of folksong, hymnal and mystic atmosphere creates a temporal bridge between the Tudors and modern England, translating the sounds of choral music into a string orchestra.

Then we travel to the Northern Territory with Australian composer Paul Stanhope; Morning Star is a personal response to the rich tradition of Indigenous music making in central Arnhem Land. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, one of his most energetic, cheerful and outgoing works.

Happening Wednesday 2 May to Thursday 3 May at Llewellyn Hall, ANU, William Herbert Place, Building 100.

See the website for more information.

SUNSET IN THE TURRELL SKYSPACE

German recorder sensation Susanna Borsch finds the right tones during the dusk light show in James Turrell’s ‘Skyspace’, Within without. 10-minute performance. Free (no bookings required).

Happening Monday 30 April to Friday 4 May at the Australian Garden at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

TEDDY TAHU RHODES: ONE NIGHT ONLY, EXCLUSIVE TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

Join international opera star Teddy Tahu Rhodes for an exceptional evening of entertainment and fine dining at the National Museum in Canberra.

Be enchanted by one of opera’s most captivating performers as he shares stories from his remarkable life and performs a selection of acclaimed arias, accompanied by a 13-piece orchestra.

This event is being hosted by actor, writer and satirist Jonathan Biggins.

Limited tickets. Bookings essential (fees apply).

Happening Saturday 5 May 6:30pm-11:30pm at the National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula.

See the website for more information.

THE ASPIRATIONS OF DAISE MORROW

Australia’s towering literary genius Patrick White had a well-documented love for the theatre. His language is pure performance and we tap into its power in Brink’s richly theatrical adaptation.

Actors, musicians and audience share the space in a circle of burnt earth beneath a canvas of Australian sky. The work shifts and swirls, drawing the audience into the immediacy of a strangely familiar world – the suburb of Barranugli – where the Whalley family are getting ready for a day at the dump, while next door the Hogbens prepare to bury the scandalous Daise Morrow.

There is no sentimentality here. Brutally funny, profound in its understanding of human nature, and filled with magic and wonder, the brilliance of White’s writing is tender in its humour, unforgiving and wise, accompanied with haunting music from Zephyr Quartet.

The Aspirations of Daise Morrow is storytelling rich with music and light, a poignant evocation of the wonders of small beginnings, the complications of compassion and the majesty of love.

Happening from Tuesday 1 May to Saturday 5 May at the Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City.

See the website for more information.

THE WHITLAMS – 25^TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

The Whitlams will tour nationally in their classic four-piece configuration to bring their 25th year to a rowdy finale.

Starting the anniversary year in May 2017 selling out concert halls in each state capital with 60 piece orchestras, they end it with a jaunt through their favourite pub and small theatre gigs around the country. They are ditching the conductor and the charts, and are back to the common muscle-memory of 1000 shows and six albums.

The Whitlams’ line up of Tim Freedman on piano and vocals, Jak Housden on guitar, Warwick Hornby on bass and Terepai Richmond on drums will be delivering the sort of sprawling, rambunctious set they have become famous for.

Happening Thursday 3 May to Saturday 5 May from 8pm-10pm at The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City.

See the website for more information

BARBARA BLACKMAN’S FESTIVAL BLESSING: GENIUS MISUNDERSTOOD

Erik Satie’s masterpiece of understatement, Socrate, combined with the voice of Armenia, Komitas. Performed by Keiko Shichijo, piano, and Kate Howden, soprano. Followed by Barbara Blackman in conversation with Andrew Ford.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 2pm-4pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

MEYA GIRLS & FRIENDS: HEARING COLOUR, SEEING MELODY

Meya Girls is an innovative Chinese music band founded by Miss Min Dong in September 2015 to introduce and explore Chinese national music in Australia. The ensemble comprises of graduates from elite music academies who have received many awards in China and have performed at prestigious music centres internationally.

The meaning of Meya in Chinese is ‘performance of Chinese music’, however, over time Meya Girls have extended their repertoire infusing contemporary influences and using modern arrangements on traditional Chinese instruments. The interplay of contemporary and traditional gives their music a fresh and unique sound.

In this concert the band will perform traditional Chinese works, such as classic music Blossoms on Spring Moonlit Night and contemporary works, such as Libertango and Basement Mucho.

Visit the website for more information and to listen to samples of the music.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 1:30pm at High Court of Australia, 40 Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

PETER AND THE WOLF: CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

The enduring charm of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf justifies its place in any festival. Young ears will also prick up for Lewis Carroll’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party realised by five musicians representing Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Dormouse, the March Hare and … Time!

PROGRAM:

Holly Harrison (b. 1988): The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (WP)
Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Minuet from String Quintet in E major, op. 11, no. 5
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Peter and the Wolf, op. 67

Happening Sunday 6 May from 11am-12pm at Fitters’ Workshop, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston.

See the website for more information.

Dance on the Edge

Celebrate Ausdance ACT Dance Week 2018 with our own professional dance artists, and take a journey with them as they explore and create new works especially commissioned by Belconnen Arts Centre. Be ready for the memorable, the mesmerising and the mischievous – their imaginations have no boundaries!

This Dance on the Edge promises to be a wild and whimsical feast for your senses, exploring a very diverse range of ideas, including Venus, goddess of love, sex and pleasure; having a stroke and coming out the other side; and issues about how we use and abuse energy in our world.

Happening 5-6 May at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank Belconnen.

Tickets: $18-$25

Find more information via the website.

FESTIVAL FINALE: SERENADE

The final notes of the 2018 Festival take us into the night with celebrated music by Debussy, Bernstein and Finsterer. Recognised as one of the most inspiring and gregarious musicians of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein poured his deepest musical and human concerns into the Serenade for solo violin and string orchestra. In this final concert Debussy’s sensuous dances feature alongside Finsterer’s award-winning tribute to the blind writer Borges.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Canberra Fitters Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston.

See the website for more information.

I BASSIFONDI

Led by Roman lute/theorbo player Simone Vallerotonda, I Bassifondi – freely translated as “the wrong side of the tracks” – have recently shot to fame with irreverent and catchy versions of guitar music from the 16th and 17th century. The term ‘alfabeto falso’ refers to letters that were used as a shorthand for chords and ways of playing related to particular genres – not unlike the charts used in pop and jazz music today.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 11am-12:10pm at Canberra Fitters Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston.

See the website for more information.

A Night With Tony Rich, US Grammy Award Winner

Kulture Break is excited to host US Grammy Award winner Tony Rich for a performance and sharing session. Tony’s smash hit single “Nobody Knows” went global. He has written and produced for artists such as Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton, Michael Bolton and others, and has contributed to the sale of over 50 million albums!

Tony recently joined Kulture Break’s Elevate Academy as a mentor and will perform live on Saturday 5 May, 6-8pm at Eternity Church, Kambah, supported by local artists The Faumui’s, Cappo, Stewart Barton and Sophie Rainbow. All ages are welcome to attend.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 6-8pm at Eternity Church, Sulwood Dr, Kambah. $25 on Eventbrite, $40 at the door.

Find more information and tickets via Eventbrite

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL ON STAGE

From 1 – 5 May 2018, Trinity Christian School will present High School Musical on Stage at the Erindale Theatre. High School Musical is a fun and entertaining show about the challenges of high school life and discovering who you are. Trinity delivers an amazing cast and crew of students, staff and parents who have worked hard to put this production together. Musicals have become a distinct highlight of Creative and Performing Arts at Trinity and this one will be no exception.

Happening Tuesday 1 May to Saturday 5 May from 7pm-9pm.

See the website for more information.

TOM GLEESON – SURE THING

Tom Gleeson performing at the Canberra Theatre.

Star of The Weekly. Host of Hard Quiz.

“Who should we see?”
“Tom Gleeson.”
“Sure thing.”

Happening Saturday 5 May from 7:30pm at the Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City.

See the website for more information.

SUNSET SESSIONS AT THE LAKES

The perfect Sunday session…

Head to The Lakes every Sunday in the outdoor courtyard, for your chance to see some of Canberra’s best local musicians!

Happening every Sunday until Sunday 29 April from 4pm-7pm at Gungahlin Lakes Golf & Community Club, 110 Gundaroo Drive, Nicholls

See the website for performer schedules.

NGA PLAY: INDIEGUERILLAS

Join duo Indieguerillas on a cultural journey through the stories of their Indonesian home. Ride the bike to create sound and movement. Create your own digital avatar and shadow puppets and display your work in the YEAH GALLERY.

Happening until Sunday 13 May 2018 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

FILM

THE BREAKFAST CLUB AT DENDY

Get ready for an 80’s throwback, as Dendy is set to host a screening of the iconic coming-of-age comedy The Breakfast Club, starring Molly Ringwald and Judd Nelson.

Dendy Cinema-goers can attend a 6:30pm session with complimentary beverage on arrival and packet of crisps. You’re all in Dendy detention!

Booking online has never been easier, as Dendy has said goodbye to booking fees. Book online to secure your seats!

Happening Monday 30 April at 6:30pm, at Dendy Cinema, Canberra Centre.

See the Dendy website for more information.

Blue the Documentary: The tide has come for change

BROKEN MELODIES: JAZZ ON SCREEN

This season showcases the immeasurable legacy of jazz on screen.

From features, documentaries and animations to experimental works, TV series and live performances – we bring you all you need to begin or expand your love affair with this vast, revolutionary and oh-so-cool musical genre.

Happening from Sunday 6 May to Wednesday 23 May at the National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton.

See the website for more information.

FESTIVALS 

AUSDANCE ACT PRESENTS ‘DANCE WEEK’

Ausdance ACT are celebrating Australian Dance Week with a host of celebrations, classes and events. Dance week is held from Sunday 29 April to Sunday 6 May.

The highlight of the week falls on International Dance Day with Big Dance. Big Dance commissions acclaimed choreographers to create a work that can be performed by anyone in the world, through online tutorials and community workshops. Big Dance engages thousands of people with one unifying choreographic piece, performed across local regional and metropolitan communities. The 2018 Big Dance routine includes versions to suit a variety of capabilities and circumstances, including standing, seated and suggestions on adapting the choreography for different abilities.

Big Dance is happening on Sunday 29 April from 2:30-3pm at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for bookings and more information.

For more information on all the events on offer for Dance Week (29 April- 6 May), visit Ausdance ACT’s facebook.

COLLECTOR VILLAGE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

The Collector Village Pumpkin Festival is an annual event held on the first Sunday in May each year.

In an age where the word “festival” is being used to promote just about every event going, the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival stands out as one of the iconic events that started the ball rolling, or in this case, you might say “the pumpkin rolling”!

From humble beginnings in 2003, the festival has grown to become one of the largest one day community events in the region and has become famous for its wonderful food, great entertainment, amazing market stalls and of course, all things pumpkin great and small!

Drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd every year by offering traditional family fun and lots of free activities for everyone.

This is a community based event ran by volunteers with profits returned to local community.

It features over 140 stall holders and many activities with the flavour of a traditional country fair full of simple fun, lots of colour and imagination. Showcases local produce and the arts/craft community.

Happening Sunday 6 May from 10am-4pm at Collector Village – various venues, 10 Bourke Street, New South Wales, Australia.

See the website for more information.

MARKETS

CANBERRA FASHION MARKET

Discover new and pre-loved fashion at the 5 May Canberra Fashion Market, including designer labels and a wide range of styles.

Fashion, shoes, bags, jewellery, accessories and beauty products are on hand. Marketgoers have uncovered major national and international labels like Dior, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Guess, Decjuba, Kookai and Country Road.

This market supports a sustainable lifestyle, helping reduce waste by recycling quality, stylish fashion. Also uncover interesting books, vinyl records and collectables. It’s a fun, relaxed market and a great day out for friends and family.

Happening 5 May, 10 am to 3pm at the Fitzroy Building, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).

Plenty of free parking. Disabled parking available.

$3 entry fee (kids under 12 free).

HANDMADE MARKET – MOTHER’S DAY

Handmade Market – Mother’s Day. Canberra’s award-winning Handmade Market is on five times a year but this market will be all about Mum. Find gifts from talented artists, designers, stylists, craftspeople and producers from all over Australia.

Handmade Market is an indoor event showcasing over 260 Australian designer/producers. All products on sale are Australian made and designed.

Shop at Handmade to support Australian designers and find something unique, well priced and where you can meet the maker. You’ll find everything from fashion, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, clothing, jewellery, accessories and an indoor gourmet food and wine hall.

You can drive to the venue. There is a lot of parking including coach and disabled parking access. ATMs are located on site. There is public transport to the event.

Entry to the market is free but please support the door greeters at each event with a gold coin donation if you can. Each event supports a different charity.

Happening Saturday 5 May and Sunday 6 May from 10am-4pm at Exhibition Park in Canberra – EPIC, Corner Flemington Rd and canberra Ave, Mitchell.

See the website for more information.

Trove Canberra Turns 2 and Mother’s Day Event

We’ve got a lot to celebrate at Trove Canberra: Mother’s Day is coming up and we love Mums!

It was 2 years ago on the Mother’s Day weekend that Trove moved into the city, so it’s their birthday and Mother’s day. Please join us on May 4th from 4 to 8 pm for a combined birthday and Mother’s day celebration.

We’ll bring the cake! Makico. Happy creations is hosting an exclusive make-and-take origami rose for your Mum, what a lovely surprise. Meet our Makers, make a rose, raise a glass and “let us eat cake”! Please watch the Facebook’s event for more fun inspirations!

Happening Friday 4 May 2018 from 4 pm-8 pm at Trove Canberra, 70 Bunda St, Civic, Canberra.

Free entry.

Find more information via Facebook

SUITCASE RUMMAGE IN CANBERRA

Suitcase Rummage is setting up their suitcases in Canberra!

In case you don’t know, Suitcase Rummage is a mini scaled market with giant rewards; it promises to be everything that is a market but without the hassle. It’s about bringing a suitcase (or two!) filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies.

You can be a part of the Rummage experience by selling wares, or come along to buy some real beauties! There will be brilliant vintage, artwork, bric-a-brac, clothing, books, jewellery, seconds, hand-made, shoes, records, music, badges, cards, handmade paper, …… You name it!

Come for a bargain, a swap, or an old-fashioned haggle.

You must register to sell your wares, so please follow the link on the website to book in online. We will contact you with further information once you’ve registered!

Next step is… to bring your treats and goodies on the day and start selling like your grandma.

Happening Saturday 5 May 10am – 2pm at New Acton Precinct, 15 Edinburgh Avenue.

See the website for more information.

Hartley Hall Markets

You’ll have so much to choose from such as; unique gifts, artwork, home baked goods, dog/cat beds and treats, plants, jewellery, fresh produce, woodwork, crafts and much more – over 200 stalls!

Enjoy the lovely rustic atmosphere where you will find live music, great food and plenty of entertainment for the children to enjoy such as a petting zoo, pony rides, jumping castle, face painting and a giant slide.

Entry is by gold coin donation or our new Tap and Go donation devise and all of the proceeds from the Hartley Hall Markets are contributed to Hartley Lifecare which provides accommodation, respite, community services and assisted technology to people with physical and complex disabilities living in the ACT and surrounding regions.

‘Familiar Country’ Opening Party

Kyeema Gallery in Hall is hosting an opening party Sunday afternoon to celebrate their latest exhibition – ‘Familiar Country’ – a collection of personal landscapes from the Southern Tablelands. Artist Emily Gordon explores the distinctive terrain and vast skyscapes of the Canberra Wine Region and surrounds in a collection of all-new acrylic paintings on wood board.

Join the official opening party Sunday 6 May at 2pm or catch the show through 27 May – Free admission.

SOUTHSIDE FARMERS MARKETS 

Get along to the Southside Farmers Markets every Sunday morning and pick up the finest fruit and vegetables and produce our region has to offer.  There are over 50 stalls made up of farmers and producers who sell their food direct from their farm or kitchen.  Many farmers are out picking their produce the night before the market and you can certainly taste the difference.

Talk to the farmer direct and find out where your food is being grown, how they grow it, and even how they best like to cook it.  Not only do they provide us with fresh food every week but they are a wealth of information on the food that nourishes week in week out.

What’s in season this week?  Annual herbs, beans, peas, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, chillies, corn, cucumber, daikon, eggplant, garlic, onion, radishes, rhubarb, squash, zucchini, melons, stonefruit, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes and more!

Every Sunday from 8.30am to 11am at Canberra College, 2 Launceston Street, Phillip. Entry is free, visit the website for more information.

MARKET GARDEN PRODUCE STALL

Selling fresh, clean, chemical-free vegetables, preserves and baked goods in the Courtyard of 56 Wallace Street, Braidwood every Saturday morning from 8.30am until 12.00 or sold out.

Wynlen House is a small urban micro-farm specialising in offering a broad range of seasonal vegetables all year round.

They also run workshops to show people how to grow vegetables, garlic, and raise small farm animals on a large suburban block and offer slow food events to showcase the benefit and deliciousness of produce grown locally, without chemical inputs and picked fresh.

On every Saturday from 8.30am – 12pm, at The Courtyard, Braidwood. For more information visit the website.

KINGSTON FRIDAY NIGHT MARKETS

A weekly food market with a focus on local and organic produce, amazing street food and boutique beer and spirits. Do your weekly shop, grab some dinner sit down and relax while you enjoy a cold drink at the end of a hot week! The Kingston Friday Night Markets are on every Friday from 4pm to 8pm at the Former Transport Depot, Wentworth Avenue, Kingston.

Visit the Facebook page for more information.

WORKSHOPS, TOURS & TALKS

RENDEZVOUS WITH ART

Enjoy refreshments in the NGA café before joining Gallery guides to discuss selected works of art. Groups will be met by their guide at the front desk.

Happening Monday 30 April from 10am-12pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

Canberra Grammar School Open Day

The dangers of third, fourth and fifth hand cigarette smoke (and the perils of researching smoking) by Professor Simone Dennis

Halve Your Household Waste 

Join HerCanberra contributor Mia Swainson for a workshop about all things waste. Learn more about what happens to your rubbish and recycling after you put them in the bin and go home with simple and practical tips for reducing, reusing and recycling with your family. Mia will walk you through the basics of waste separation, worm farming, keeping chickens and more. ($10)

Happening Saturday 5 May from 10 am – 12:30 pm at the Canberra Environment Centre, Cnr Lennox Crossing and Lawson Crescent, Acton

Find more information via website.

 Annual Pegasus Open Day

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of the ACT is holding its annual Open Day on Saturday, 5 May at Pegasus Farm in Holt. The Open Day recognises the ongoing support and contribution of our many volunteers, sponsors, donors and riders, and is a celebration of everything Pegasus.

Happening Saturday, 5 May 2018 from 10am – 3pm at Pegasus Farm, 119 Drake Brockman Drive, Holt.

Visit the website for more information.

Dance and Music Community Workshops

Dance Workshops: What will you get?

You can join in multiple workshops to learn a variety of dance genres, conducted by skilled, amazing coaches.

Music Workshop: What will you get?

Dreaming of being a music professional? This weekend you’ll get the chance to do songwriting, recording and performing with incredible industry professionals.

The workshops are open to all Kulture Break students as well as the wider community. We want to spread the excitement!

Junior Workshops: 9-13 years of age

Senior Workshops: 14 years and over

Happening 5-6 May from 9.45 am-7 pm at Kulture Break Studios, Grattan Court, Wanniassa.

$10 per dance workshop, $100 for the music weekend.

Tickets and website via Eventbrite.

A SOLDIER’S RETURN

In 1918 Stravinsky turned the folk story of a soldier trading his violin with the devil into The Soldier’s Tale, “to be read, played and danced”. In a most unsentimental fashion, this 60-minute musical play marks the end of four horrible years whilst hinting at the enduring human capacity to make a pact with the devil. Millions had lost their lives. Few soldiers returning from the battlefield in 1918 would have been unaffected, physically or mentally. One hundred years later, the effects of PTSD are the subject of medical research and broader community awareness. This new project of Canberra Wind Symphony is the direct result of working with servicemen and women returning from the theatre of war in various parts around the globe.

PROGRAM

Jodie Blackshaw, The Bitter and the Sweet (WP)

Igor Stravinsky, The Soldier’s Tale – L’Histoire du soldat (1918)
Happening Friday 4 May from 7:30pm-9:30pm at Fitters’ Workshop, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston.

See the website for more information.

LITTLE FACES SUMMER SERIES

Little children and their parent or carer are invited to join a Learning Facilitator for playful activities in the galleries and studio. In summer we will look at Nick Cave by Howard Arkley, exploring colours using movement, singing and water play. The water play is designed for babies and toddlers, please bring a change of clothes. For those who choose not to do water play there will be alternative activities.
For children from 6 months to 3 years. Followed by morning tea in the café (included in the purchase price).

Bookings essential.

Happening Tuesday 6 February to Friday 4 May at National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

MAZE: CONTEMPORARY ART PARTY

A night of contemporary art and immersive experiences, featuring Balnaves Contemporary Intervention artists Sarah Contos, Jess Johnson and Simon Ward, and live performance by Club Ate (Justin Shoulder, Bhenji Ra and collaborators).

Happening Friday 4 May 8pm-11pm throughout the galleries at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. Price is free but bookings are essential.

See the website for more information.

ARTIST TALKS: JESS JOHNSON AND SIMON WARD

Balnaves Contemporary Intervention artists Jess Johnson and Simon Ward talk Terminus, an immersive world within a world.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 2pm-3pm at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes. Price is free but bookings are essential.

See the website for more information.

FREE BIRTHDAY EVENTS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Come celebrate the 30th birthday of Australian Parliament House in the Great Hall on Saturday 5 May!

Join journalist and presenter Barrie Cassidy and a panel of special guests as they reflect on the architectural, social, historical, political and cultural legacy of Australian Parliament House over the last 30 years.

Panellists:
* The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner
* Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC, Chancellor of the Australian National University
* Robyn Archer AO, artist and arts advocate;
* David Chandler OAM, former Construction Director, New Parliament House
* Michelle Grattan AO, journalist and author.

Panel topic: “Fundamental to democratic life – Australian Parliament House 30 years on”

Later in the day, The Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will perform music by some of Australia’s most celebrated composers including Percy Grainger, Graham Koehne, Elena Kats-Chernin, and Dr Paul Paviour—composer of the musical score for the official opening of Parliament House. Visitors will also be treated to the world premiere of a new work by award-winning Canberra composer and pianist Sally Greenaway.

Members of the public are invited to attend. Free event. No bookings required.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 9am-5pm at the Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra.

See the website for more information.

CRAFTALIVE

CraftAlive is Australia’s biggest craft show series, located in Canberra for four big days. Featuring both local and interstate craft experts, the show is packed full of the latest craft supplies and trends.

CraftAlive is a hands-on event. A chance to learn from world class specialists with interactive classes on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A top tip – book your tickets online and save money.

A weekend dedicated to craft including patchwork, paper craft, scrapbooking, quilting, knitting, cake decorating and more. Visit the website for full exhibitor list and teaching schedule.

Happening Thursday 3 May to Sunday 6 May from 9:30am-4pm at Thoroughbred Park Convention Centre, Randwick Road, Lyneham.

See the website for more information.

MYSTERIOUS BUNGENDORE BY MOONLIGHT

In a new tour, join the ‘Mistress of Mystery’, writer and social historian Nichole Overall, as she leads you on a fascinating journey through the darkened streets of the historic village of Bungendore, exploring its more mysterious side.

Hear stories of tragedy and mayhem, myth and murder as well as tales of the otherworldly that have unfolded over almost two centuries of European settlement in this region – and from times beyond even that.

Visit locations and buildings that you’ll see in a light you never have before – or without one – and even have the opportunity to view first-hand one of the most well-known ghost photos in Australia.

This 2.5 hour interactive tour includes a return bus trip from Queanbeyan, plus a light supper and a beverage during the evening – and more than a few surprises along the way!

Cost: $80pp (inc. supper).

Numbers are limited.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 7:30pm-10pm at Bungendore, NSW.

See the website for more information.

ROMANIAN FOLK DANCE: WORKSHOP FOR DANCERS

Lively, energetic and foot stamping Romanian folk dance! Dianna Laska has an extensive career in classical ballet, character and Romanian folk dance acquired while studying, dancing and teaching for many years in Europe. Come and enjoy the exciting dance and music of Romania. Dance experience desirable. A contribution to afternoon tea is always welcome.

Happening Saturday 5 May from 1:30pm-4:30pm at Folk Dance Canberra Inc., Maitland Street, Hackett.

See the website for more information.

AUTUMN COLOURS IN THE COURTYARDS

Enjoy this rare opportunity to see the Parliament House private courtyards in spectacular autumn colours. A friendly guide will lead you through a delightful tour of these picturesque gardens, featuring spectacular outdoor art sculptures. These tours are only available for two weeks.

For security purposes, participants must present photo identification and ticket confirmation, in the event a patron does not have these, they will be unable to participate. Please arrive at least 20 minutes before a tour for screening and check-in. Alternatives plans are in place for wet weather. Please wear comfortable shoes for tours.

As Parliament House is a working building, filming and photography in the private areas is subject to approval and may not be permitted. Your guide will inform you of restrictions at the beginning of each tour.

Happening until Sunday 6 May from 11.30am–12.30pm & 2pm–3pm at Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Capital Hill. Tickets between $20.00–$50.00. Booking fees apply.

Visit the website for more information.

GARDEN TOURS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Conducted in association with Southern Cross Cruises, visitors arrive by ferry to enjoy a one hour walking tour of the historic gardens of Government House led by members of The Australiana Fund in support of The Fund’s historic collection of significant Australian artworks, on loan for display in the official residences of the Governor-General and Prime Minister.  It should be noted the walk involves some steps and is continuous. Good mobility and sturdy walking shoes are recommended.

On most Thursday mornings during Feb to April and Sept to Nov. – times and days may be subject to change. Tickets are $28 adults $25 concession $15 children. The ferry departs at 9am from the Yacht Club Jetty, Lotus Bay, Yarralumla. Visit the website for more information.

BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Discover the stories behind the building on a special tour of Parliament House. Learn how the building’s impressive architecture is symbolic of our national identity and gain a rare view into private areas.

These tours run only on non-sitting days (except Christmas Day and when seasonal tours are running).

We recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes before your tour or event for screening and check-in as places are limited to 10 participants. tours operate for 55 mins.

For security purposes, all participants must present photo identification and ticket confirmation to join any behind the scenes tours or events. If you do not have these, you will be unable to participate.

Participants on a paid tour can take advantage of a 10% discount on any purchase from The Parliament Shop on the day of the tour.

Happening until March 2019 at Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Capital Hill.

See the website for more information.

GUIDED TOURS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA

Visiting the National Library of Australia? Take a tour and see a side of the Library most visitors never experience.

Whether this is your first visit or the next of many, you can learn more about the Library and its exhibitions by joining a free guided tour. Tours are offered by trained Volunteer Guides who have a passion for sharing their knowledge of the Library and its collections. Your Guide will welcome the opportunity to introduce you to the National Library, its collections and the stories of Australia.

Treasures Gallery – Daily at 11.30am
Take a tour and come face-to-face with some of the Library’s greatest treasures and Australia’s greatest stories.

Behind The Scenes – Thursdays at 2 pm
Take a tour to visit enormous stacks where the books are stored and learn about strange curiosities in the Library’s collection that have been acquired over more than a century of collecting.

Discover your National Library – Saturdays at 2 pm
Join a Library guide for a journey around the building and discover the stories in the Reading Rooms and public spaces.

Tours running until Thursday 31 May at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

For more detailed information visit the website.

ART FOR LUNCH

Drop into 30-minute weekly talks or creative activities interpreting works of art in the NGA’s collection. Check our website for further details. This event is free but bookings are essential.

Happening every Thursday until November 29 2018 from 12.45pm–1.15pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

STEPPING FORWARD: COMBINING SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH LIGHT EXERCISE

This free group is suitable for women wanting to reconnect socially with other women after domestic violence.

The group gets together each fortnight to go for a relaxed 30-minute walk and catch up at a local café. Guest speakers are invited to join providing information about topics of interest in the group. This group is an open group, making it easy for new members to join throughout the term. This group is organised and run by the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT.

On fortnightly in Tuggeranong on Wednesday mornings and fortnightly in Gungahlin on Friday mornings, during school terms only. Children not yet at school are welcome to attend.

Complete the online contact form to register.

BLAST OFF! BOOK LAUNCH

Bring your little space enthusiasts along to the launch of Blast Off!, published by Penguin Random House, on Saturday 5 May at 11.30am at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex. The book takes you on a wonderful, fun and funny blast around the solar system and you’ll learn some exciting space facts along the way. Aimed at 3-7 year olds. There will be a reading and book signing by author Shelly Unwin and some space-inspired art and craft.

This is a free event, for more information here.

SPORT

RAIDERS V GOLD COAST TITANS

Both sides met each other in round 1 this year and the Titans will be hoping to spoil the party for the Raiders at GIO Stadium. The Gold Coast have a new coach in Garth Brennan and their players will be aiming to impress early on.

Happening Saturday 5 May at GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce.

See the website for more information.

OUTDOORS

Image: VisitCanberra

HERITAGE FESTIVAL – TIDBINBILLA NATURE RESERVE AND NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK

From April to May Namadgi & Tidbinbilla celebrate history and heritage with immersive and interpretive activities stepping you back in time to experience the lives of those who lived, thrived and explored here. Check out the Explore Program on the Tidbinbilla website for festival activities at both sites.

Happening until Sunday 20 May at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Paddys River Road, Paddys River.

See the website for further details.

CANBERRA TREE WEEK: HUG A TREE DAY

Free hugs at the Arboretum! Hug a Tree Day brings people together to celebrate the special relationship between people and trees. At this inaugural event, we remember Adam Burgess, the founding curator at the Arboretum who was passionate about trees.

Meet on the Events Terrace at the National Arboretum and be led to the Camden White Gum forest where we will set our first record for the number of people simultaneously hugging trees at the National Arboretum. This event is part of Canberra Tree Week.

Happening Saturday 5 May at the National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, National Arboretum.

See the website for more information.

LLAMAS IN THE MIST

On a misty morning watch the mist rise revealing a tranquil vista of paddocks and rolling hills, with dozens of alpacas and llamas peacefully grazing… or on a frosty morning watch the frost on their whiskers and fleece become steam rising from their bodies as they amble up the paddock for their breakfast.

This is a rare opportunity and one not to be missed – meet over 200 alpacas and llamas, learn about them, and take wonderful “selfies” with them.

Happening until Monday 18 June at Alpaca Magic, 2771 Sutton Road, NSW.

See the website for more information.

KIDS  

TODDLERS TODDLE – MULLIGANS WOODLAND

A circuit in the woodland of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, designed for kids who have started walking, and pre-schoolers. We will walk about 400 metres through pleasant, mostly-open Eucalypt forest with a leaf-litter floor. This Toddle has more than the usual number of balancing logs to try, and has some shelter if it’s a windy day. No need to book. The meeting point is the dirt car park on the north side of Mulligans Flat road, about 140 metres east of the roundabout at the junction of Mulligans Flat Road and Henry Williams Street, on the outskirts of the suburb of Bonner. Please be ready to start walking at 10 am.

Happening Friday 4 May from 10am at Mulligans Flat Road, Bonner.

See the website for more information.

PLAYUP

Discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too! From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

See the website for more information.

Free after museum admission.

Open from 9 am to 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Ages 5-12.

Bookings are essential. Register here.

COLOUR

See colour as you’ve never seen it before! Is your yellow the same as mine? How do pixels and paint differ? Turn a blue butterfly green, visit the Room of Missing Colours and hear fascinating stories from people who see colour when they hear music. Discover Colour at Questacon and see the world in a new light!

Showing until 30 September 2018 from 9am-5pm daily at Questacon, Parkes.

KOALAS IN THE CANOPY

Search for Koalas in the Canopy and enjoy a ranger-guided walk through the tall eucalypt forest at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Hear the ranger’s story or two about these fascinating marsupials. Meet at the Eucalypt Forest car park.

Normal entry fees to Tidbinbilla apply. No bookings required for Koalas in the Canopy.

Arrive an hour early and see the pelicans being fed at Pond 4 at 1.30pm. Hear insights about pelicans and the other remarkable inhabitants of the wetlands from a Tidbinbilla ranger.

Saturdays 2.30pm – 3pm until Sunday 12 May 2018 at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Find more information on the website.

LEAP INTO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY

Your local library is a treasure trove…not only are there free books and resources, there are regular amazing events! Giggle & Wiggle with your little ones (up to two years) and help them learn through language play using interactive rhymes, songs, games and stories.

Looking to improve your English and make new friends, then head along to your local library for one of the informal English conversation groups. For more events and info check them out here.

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Bears of Hope Mother’s Day High Tea

Bears of Hope are an Australian-wide organisation established to support Aussie families through the loss and life-long journey without their precious babies. This Mother’s Day High Tea will be an event to support women who have experienced infant loss on this important day.

Happening Saturday 12 May from 2pm at Decadent Restaurant, Greenway.

Find more information via the website.

COCKTAIL RECEPTION – CANBERRA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Drinks, canapes & all that jazz!

Join us for drinks and canapes to celebrate the success of the Kokoda 2018 fundraising campaign.

Tap away with Leisa Keen Jazz Trio, drinks, canapes and guest speaker -Minister for Mental Health.

This final event presents an opportunity to acknowledge the generous support of the Canberra community and share how funds raised will improve eating disorder support in the ACT.

Happening Saturday 5 May 6pm-8:30pm at Hellenic Club, Matilda Street, Phillip.

See the website for more information.

Network of Possibility

Networking can be so predictable. But the Network of Possibility is not about selling or yelling. Instead, the network is a philanthropic initiative that unites community-minded professionals who want to use their time, energy and skills to give and learn. This month Sarah Kelly, President of Karinya House, a grassroots, local organisation supporting vulnerable and at-risk pregnant and early parenting women will speak at an event to raise funds Karinya House.

Happening Tuesday 1 May from 6pm. See the website for more information.

ANNUAL PEGASUS OPEN DAY

Come out to Pegasus farm and learn about the life-changing horse-facilitated therapy Pegasus has provided to people living with a disability for over 40 years!

Fun activities on the day include horse demonstrations and horse parades, music and entertainment, delicious food, fabulous stalls, tractor rides, kids activities, and much more.

Entry is by gold coin donation.

Happening Saturday 5 May 10am-3pm at 119 Drake-Brockman Drive.

See the website for more information. 

Heart Week 2018: Sunday 29 April – Saturday 5 May

To mark Heart Week (29 April – 5 May) a free community walking event has been organised by the Tuggeranong Hyperdome Mall Heart Foundation Walking group for Wednesday, 2 May.

Heart Week (29 April-5 May) shines a spotlight on heart disease and this year we are focusing on physical activity. Heart Foundation Walking Australia’s largest free walking network.

To join or start a group near you call 13 11 12 or visit the website.

EXHIBITIONS 

Cartier Paris. Crocodile necklace 1975 special order, gold, yellow diamonds, emeralds, rubies 30 and 27.3 cm (length each) Collection Cartier © Cartier Photo Nils Herrmann Made as a special order for María Félix.

CARTIER: THE EXHIBITION

Cartier: The Exhibition is a breathtaking display of some of the world’s most exquisite jewels, featuring items from royal families, celebrities and the astonishing Cartier collection showing exclusively at the National Gallery of Australia.

Immerse yourself in over 300 spectacular items, including royal tiaras, necklaces, brooches and earrings.

Never before have so many incredible diamonds, pearls, sapphires, emeralds and other precious stones been seen in Australia. Highlights include the Queen’s ‘Halo’ tiara worn by Kate Middleton at her wedding to Prince William, Princess Grace of Monaco’s 10.48 carat diamond engagement ring, Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond and ruby necklace, Dame Nellie Melba’s diamond stomacher brooch, and a selection from the NGA’s exceptional Ballets Russes costumes.

Step into the dazzling world of the Maison Cartier and its clients to discover concepts of glamour throughout the 20th century, accompanied by our rich program of talks, tours and events and Cartier: The Exhibition catalogue.

Cartier: The Exhibition is on show at the NGA, exclusive to Canberra.

Happening until Sunday 22 July at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

LIBERATING TECHNOLOGY: THE FUTURE OF HUMAN AGENCY

The CECS Deans’ Colloquia Series showcases world leading thinkers in the field of Engineering and Computer Science, who are doing transformational work in tackling diverse, interesting, and important problems in our world.

In this talk, Lama Nachman, an Intel Fellow and the Director of the Anticipatory Computing Lab at Intel Corporation, will discuss how we interact and engage with sensing technologies.

Over the last decade, we have seen amazing adoption of sensing into our daily lives, from smart phones, to wearables to virtual home assistants, to many others. However, while sensing has indeed become ubiquitous, technology continues to be highly dependent on us, asking for input, expecting us to provide every detail and bombarding us with irrelevant information. What would it take to liberate technology to become more proactive? How do we empower it to act on our behalf?

The event commences at 5:30 pm with networking, drinks and canapés, followed by the presentation at 6.00pm.

Happening Thursday 3 May at The Hall, University House, 1 Balmain Crescent, Acton.

See the website for more information.

Vibrancy; A celebration of works by the late Val Fitzpatrick

On 28 November 2017 one of Strathnairn Arts long standing and dedicated members, Val Fitzpatrick passed away. Val had applied for an exhibition at Strathnairn Arts in 2018 and her proposal had been accepted. Described as an expressionist painter her love of texture fuelled by an intense interest in ancient history and mythology has resulted in a unique mixed media style use of fabric fibre applied hand coloured paper and sculptured relief is often featured throughout her work.

Happening Thursday 3 April to Sunday 27 May, 2018. Official Opening Saturday 5 May at 2 pm at Strathnairn Arts– Gallery 1 & 2, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt.

A TALE OF TWO VILLAGES – AN EXHIBITION

A Tale of Two Villages tells the story of the Hall-Ginninderra district from Aboriginal times, through the early pioneer farming settlement at Palmerville and then Ginninderra, to the establishment of the village of Hall from 1881.

Happening from Saturday 21 April.

See the website for more information at the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Victoria Street, Hall.

‘The Inner Apartment’ exhibition of contemporary Australian Muslim art

‘The Inner Apartment’ – an exhibition of contemporary Australian Muslim art curated by Nur Shkembi will show at the Nishi Gallery.

‘The Inner Apartment’ is an exhibition of contemporary Australian Muslim art curated by Nur Shkembi that explores the fractured beauty of the sacred and the mundane. Featuring work by Shireen Taweel, Hoda Afshar and Leila El Rayes, ‘The Inner Apartment’ explores the ways in which ordinarily private, spiritual and deeply personal matters of the heart and mind have been turned inside-out and compelled into the public domain.

‘The Inner Apartment’ – showing at Nishi Gallery – is presented in association with the National Museum (NMA) of Australia’s exhibition ‘So That You Might Know Each Other’, and small selection of works will be on display in the NMA foyer.

Showing until Sunday 22 July. Gallery is open from 11 am – 3 pm Wednesday to Sunday at  Nishi Gallery.

Find more information via the website.

NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT PRIZE 2018

The exhibition is selected from a national field of entries, reflecting the distinctive vision of Australia’s aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.

Showing until Sunday 17 June at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Australian Capital Territory,

See the website for more information, including tickets.

DAVID HOCKNEY: PRINTS

This not-to-be-missed exhibition draws from the National Gallery of Australia’s extensive collection of David Hockney’s works on paper, one of the largest in the world, highlighting the depth and scope of the artist’s printmaking output from 1961 to now.

Inspired by sources ranging from Pablo Picasso to Pop Art, Walt Whitman to the Brothers Grimm, and the exhilarating experience of living and working in Los Angeles for much of his career, Hockney’s prints range from using lithography and etching, photocopiers and fax machines, and – most recently — iPhones and iPads.

David Hockney: Prints is a thrilling insight into the mind of an iconic artist still searching for new ways of seeing and depiction.

On show until 27 May at the National Gallery of Australia, Orde Poynton Gallery, Level 2, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

Entry is free but see the website for more information.

AVENUES OF HONOUR

For the past nine years, Sarah Wood has been proactively raising the awareness of Australia’s unique and historic Avenues of Honour throughout Australia through photographic documentation and gallery exhibitions.

The ‘Avenues of Honour’ photographic exhibition is a national project to preserve and promote Australia’s Avenue of Honours as we commemorate the centenary of ANZAC, the Gallipoli landings and World War I.

On display in the Village Centre daily.

Happening until Sunday 27 May at National Arboretum, Forest Drive. Free entry.

See the website for more information.

‘SO YOU MIGHT KNOW EACH OTHER’: FAITH AND CULTURE IN ISLAM

View intriguing objects — from clothing and ceremonial hangings to musical instruments, armour, precious manuscripts, ceramics and jewellery — that celebrate the achievements of Muslim people across the world, their daily lives, traditions and spirituality.

Featuring collections from the Vatican Anima Mundi Museum, the Sharjah Museums Authority and the National Museum of Australia.

Happening until Sunday 22 July from 9am–5pm at National Museum of Australia, 1 Lawson Crescent, Acton. Free entry.

Check out the website for more information.

‘TRANSITIONS’

Artists: Helen Bodycomb, Pamela Irving, Rachel Bremner, Caitlin Hughes, Kate Butler

Featuring work by five leading mosaic artists, Transitions will explore the mosaic as a vehicle for complex artistic expression and conceptual investigation using traditional methods and experimental techniques.

In the last two decades there has been a resurgence of the ancient craft of mosaics both internationally and in Australia, with numerous Australian practitioners gaining international recognition. Despite the current surge in contemporary mosaics in Australia it is a little known phenomena. The exhibition seeks to address this imbalance.

Happening until Saturday 5 May at Craft ACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building, City.

See the website for more information.

EXHIBITION ‘FUNCTIONAL SHADOWS: MARILOU CHAGNAUD’

2017 Artist-in-Residence Marilou Chagnaud will present a new body of work for her solo exhibition Functional Shadows.

Functional Shadows narrates a journey between two places, a research period at the Australian War Memorial followed by a residence at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage in the Namadgi National Park. During two weeks, I explored the AWM collection of objects, studying materials, collecting shapes and stories. My research led me to pay attention to the history of camouflage in Australia during World War II, specifically the use of shadows to create visual confusion. The exhibition will present a body of works questioning our reading of forms and objects as well as
pushing the lines between function and abstraction.

Marilou Chagnaud is a French artist and designer established in Canberra. Approaching paper with an eye to its sculptural possibilities, she explores the deployment of printed patterns into spatial installations, objects and sculptures, investigating the path from two to three-dimensional space as well as the notions of repetition and perception.

Presented in partnership with ACT Parks and Conservation Service and the Australian War Memorial.

Happening until Saturday 5 May at Craft ACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building, City.

See the website for more information.

FREE EXHIBITIONS AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Parliament House we are running a jam-packed program of events, including two free exhibitions.

Exhibition: Design in a decade – The Design in a Decade – The 1980s

Step back in time with the Parliament House Art Collection as we revisit the 1980’s. Bold colours and geometric shapes abound in celebration of a rich decade in Australian art, craft and design.

Location: Exhibition area, level 1.

Exhibition: From Competition to Completion: Building Australian Parliament House.

The construction of a permanent Parliament House within a 10 year period remains an architectural feat unrivalled in Australia. Come and see the unique objects, images and artworks that document the building of an icon.

Location: Exhibition area, level 1.

Happening until Sunday 3 May at Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra.

See the website for more information.

YES: THE ONGOING STORY OF THE 1967 REFERENDUM

To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, the Museum of Australian Democracy is launching a new, collaborative exhibition.

The national referendum on 27 May 1967 was a historic one. An overwhelming majority of Australians – over 90 per cent – voted ‘Yes’ to allowing the federal government to make laws in relation to Aboriginal people and to allowing Aboriginal people to be included in the census.

In Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum, discover the historic events and strong relationships involved in making the referendum happen and explore the significance of the referendum today.

Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum is a joint exhibition by the Museum of Australian Democracy, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and Reconciliation Australia.

Happening until Friday 25 May at the Museum of Australian Democracy, King George Terrace, 18, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

THE ART OF SCIENCE: BAUDIN’S VOYAGERS 1800-1804

See exquisite illustrations of Australian animals and marine life as well as striking portraits of Aboriginal people, rare documents and hand-drawn maps from Nicolas Baudin’s expedition to Australia. Discover the ambitions behind this lavishly funded French voyage and experience a captivating fusion of art and science.

Happening until Sunday 24 June at National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula, Canberra.

See the website for more information.

EXPRESS YOURSELF

This collection exhibition draws attention to portraits of Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural themes. The portraits attest to the facility of photographic portraiture to convey compelling psychological depth.

Happening until Friday 7 September 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

1968: CHANGING TIMES

Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll…and a missing prime minister.

1968 was momentous. A time of tumultuous world events, including the Vietnam War and the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy.

At home in Australia, we struggled with the fallout from the December 1967 disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt and growing unrest about conscription for overseas military service.

From Hendrix’s blistering solos and far-out fashions to a swinging counter-culture, there was a strong sense that the world was rapidly changing. Where were we headed?

The opening of the National Library’s lakeside building in Canberra in August 1968 was a moment of national pride and achievement in the midst of this turbulent time.

Revisit the 1960s as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the building’s opening, and reflect on what was happening in the world, in Australia and in Canberra at the time.

Showing until Sunday 12 August at the National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

See the website for more information.

ART DECO

Comprised entirely of works selected from the National Gallery of Australia’s collection, Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian vitalism, capturing Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture, and technology.

In the 1920s, Australian artists rebelled against the austerity of World War I to create images of an abundant nation filled with strong, youthful figures, capturing the vitalism of a nation reborn.

Technological advancements and urbanisation influenced the emergence of Art Deco: a new aesthetic in art, architecture, design and fashion.

Art Deco presents superb examples of Australian Vitalism, including Rayner Hoff’s architectural frieze Deluge – stampede of the lower gods 1927, Jean Broome-Norton’s Abundance 1934 and Napier Waller’s painting, I’ll put a girdle round about the earth 1933, which captures Art Deco’s fascination with the meeting of art, architecture and technology. 

Showing until Monday 31 December 2018, 7 days from 10am-5pm at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

For more information, see the website.

DEEDS NOT WORDS: THE BESSIE RISCHBIETH COLLECTION

National Library of Australia is proudly representing the opportunity to see the collection of Bessie Rischbieth, a prominent figure in Australian and international feminism.

During her stay in England in 1913, Bessie Rischbieth witnessed the whirlwind of the suffragettes’ struggle for the right to vote, which was then at its height.

Fascinated by the charisma of the suffragettes and their militant actions, she gathered memorabilia of the movement, building a collection of photographs, pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, suffrage periodicals, postcards and correspondence. She continued to grow the collection for the remainder of her life.

Rischbieth bequeathed this ‘living memorial’ to the National Library of Australia.

Free entry.

Showing until 19 August daily from 10 am to 5 pm at National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes.

BEHIND THE LINES 2017: THE THREE RING CIRCUS 

Roll up, roll up to Behind the Lines 2017 and marvel at the political cartooning spectacle that is The Three-Ring Circus.

Showcasing the year’s best political cartoons, The Three-Ring Circus captures a world where fact and fiction collide and ringmasters, jugglers and acrobats have all stepped into the political Big Top.

From postal votes and citizenship chaos to penalty rates and constitutional recognition, 2017 was a tumultuous year in politics. Its cavalcade of political characters and sensational events provided rich material for our nation’s cartoonists who continue to look behind the lines of the daily political sideshows to capture the spirit of our democracy in all its passion, scepticism and humour.

Behind the Lines 2017 is on now at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Open 9 am – 5 pm. For more information, visit the website.

YES: THE ONGOING STORY OF THE 1967 REFERENDUM

To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum, the Museum of Australian Democracy is launching a new, collaborative exhibition. Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum explores the journey of Australia’s most successful referendum campaign and asks what this far-reaching change means today.

This is a joint exhibition by the Museum of Australian Democracy, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and Reconciliation Australia.

Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum is open until Friday 25 May at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Open 9am – 5pm daily.

For more information visit the website.

EMERGING CONTEMPORARIES

Emerging Contemporaries is the Craft ACT National Award Exhibition for early career artists.

This exhibition plays a pivotal role in supporting and transitioning artists into professional practice and placing Australian artists in view of the national cultural collecting institutions, business and industry, and audience.

On display at CraftACT, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building. Email craftact@craftact.org.au or call 6262 9333 for more information.

THE OPENING DAY: 9 MAY 1927 

Old Parliament House was once brand new. What was it like to be a spectator at the opening ceremony?

This exhibition marks the 90^th anniversary of the opening of Old Parliament House and tells an important story in Australia’s democratic history from the perspective of onlookers in the crowd. Follow The Opening Day: 9 May 1927 around the corridors and discover the pomp and pageantry, humour and tragedy of this historic day.

The Opening Day: 9 May 1927 is on now at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Open 9am – 5pm daily until 2 May 2018.

For more information visit: moadoph.gov.au

NGA TALKS AND WORKSHOPS

Talks and workshops cater for a range of different age groups. For full details visit the NGA website.