This Week in The Can

Posted on 16 February, 2015

Got a handful of loose change in your pocket? Wondered how those coins are made? Head on over to the Royal Mint to find out and while you’re there help celebrate its 50th anniversary! Looking to dine out with a difference? Book a table at V Spot Cafe for an Indian themed Raw Food Dinner or support the Fred Hollows Foundation at their Gala Dinner. Venture out of town for a day of fun at the Gunning Show or explore the countryside with the Summerside Festival.

There always plenty do for theatre-goers, art lovers, market dwellers and even sports fans too! Here’s what’s happening This Week in The Can!

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS…

The Color Run

The Color Run, also known as the Happiest 5k on the Planet, is a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality. It’s on this Sunday 22 February, kicking off at 8am at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park.

Register here and read about Emma Grey’s experience here.

Royal Australian Mint 50th Anniversary Open Day

The Royal Australian Mint is hosting a party to celebrate its 50th birthday and throwing open the doors for a gala Open Day this Saturday. Come along and see where 15 billion Australian circulating coins started their journey to your pocket. Don’t miss out on the Mint’s birthday cake cutting at 10.30am.

Check out some of the new coins of 2015 coming straight off the presses in a rare opportunity to walk-through the secure factory while coin production is underway. Last walk-through for the day will commence at 3.30pm plus a range of family fun activities including a band, sausage sizzle, the Gecko Gang and displays from the ACT Emergency Services. Parking will be available in the Mint and Questacon Carparks, on Denison and surrounding streets. Overflow parking will be signposted, including on the grassed area at the rear of the Mint building.

Visitors joining the Factory Walk-through will be asked to present any bags for inspection prior to entry. On Saturday 21 February from 8.30am at the Royal Australian Mint, Deakin.

Steamy Sunday at the Museum Bar

Soak up the last weekend of summer and enjoy the summer sun while chilling on the water at the Museum Bar Steamy Sundays. But it wraps up this Sunday. pm. Sit back and enjoy food and drinks by Broadbean Catering with $5 ciders, $10 classic pimms cocktails and antipasti/cheese and homemade dip share plates. Live DJ acts are on hand to provide some much needed chilled-out tunes. And, yes, kids are welcome! Let the young ones run around on the grassy hills while you sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. On Sunday 22 February from 2pm.

Health Harmony Soul Canberra

​Health Harmony Soul Canberra is a Health, Wellbeing and Spirituality Festival boasting over 50 exhibitors. Book a psychic reading, browse health and wellbeing exhibitors and enjoy free performances, workshops and classes over the three days to inspire yourself to live the life you love.

In the Ballroom at the National Convention Centre this Friday 20 to Sunday 22 February.

Sunday jazz at Old Parliament House

Make your summer weekends last longer with Sunday afternoon jazz in the House of Representatives courtyard. Running until Sunday 22 February, share a platter and Sangria with friends from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. For more information visit the MOADOPH website.

PULSE: Reflections on the body

PULSE: Reflections on the body incorporates the work of 25 contemporary Australian artists. As medical science increasingly employs prosthetics, the distinctions between the natural and the fabricated body is blurring more and more in today’s world. Through exhibition, a performance program and a series of floor-talks and public conversations, the project is curated by Mark Bayly, CMAG’s Assistant Director of Exhibitions and Collections. Open until 22 February 2015 at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

FOOD AND WINE

International Eat Ice cream for Breakfast Day

International Eat Ice cream for Breakfast Day honours all children who have fought or who are fighting a battle with cancer because kids get cancer too. Support the fighting, remember the resting and party on with the survivors. For a $5 donation you will receive a single serve of gelato, a sausage sandwich and a piece of fresh fruit. On Wednesday 18 February from 7am to 10am at That Gelato Place in Cooleman Court, Weston. Visit the website for more details.

Summerside Festival

When the weather heats up so does The Poacher’s Way, with their exciting calendar of summer-themed events. The annual Summerside Festival celebrates everything good about summer in the region; this month-long festival is full of dining events celebrating local and seasonal produce, opportunities to taste the best of the region’s wines as well as exciting performances, events and exhibitions.

Embrace the warmer weather this February with a morning horse ride, lazy long lunch, chocolate or wine tasting, film under the stars or an afternoon of live music. Or why not make a weekend of it at one of our accommodation providers before finishing it off with a degustation dining experience… On now until until 1 March.

The Food & Wine Expo

The Food & Wine Expo is excited to be back in Canberra in 2015 for the fourth year running!

You can enjoy tastings and samples from gourmet exhibitors inside the show. Businesses in all areas of Gourmet Food, Exquisite Wines, Homewares and Kitchenware come together to show you the latest products and ideas for you to try at home.

At the National Convention Centre this Friday 20 to Sunday 22 February.

V Spot Café presents Raw Food Dinner

In honour of the 2015 Multiculutral Festival, the V Spot Café has designed four Raw Dinners from four cuisine cultures (Thai, Italian, Indian and Spanish). The first dinner of the series will take place this Friday with an Indian theme but numbers are limited. Bookings are $75 per person with bookings essential. Email Chrissie@vspotcafe.com.au. On Friday 20 (Indian) and Friday 27 February (Spanish) from 6pm at V Spot Café.

OUTDOORS

Delicious afterDARK: Rainforest to Red Centre (adults-only)

Experience the contrasts of the cool rainforest and the arid Red Centre at night—right in the heart of Canberra. Start your evening with an aperitif on arrival, then embark on a night-time guided journey through the diverse habitats of the Gardens. Finish your evening with a gourmet bush food supper and wine tasting in the Red Centre Garden. An ‘adults only’ evening combining the best of the Gardens’ afterDARK tour experiences with gourmet food and wine. Runs every Friday night until 27 March 2015. $75 per person. See the National Botanical Gardens website for details on how to book.

International Mother Language Movement Walk

The International Mother Language Movement (IMLM) is an inclusive community based platform in Canberra dedicated in highlighting the importance of preserving all the languages especially endangered languages in a multilingual and multicultural context. The IMLM is committed to sensitising the various Australian Governments, various communities about the necessities of taking appropriate measures to protect and preserve all the spoken languages including indigenous languages as a means to strengthen the multicultural bond. UNESCO proclaimed 21 February as International Mother Language Day in recognition of the supreme sacrifice of the Bangla (Bengali) speaking people of Bangladesh. It urged member states to observe the day in a befitting manner to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity. On Saturday 21 February from 10.30am to 2pm at Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes. Visit the IMLM website for more information.

Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinema

You won’t want to miss Ben and Jerry’s Openair Cinema on the central lakeside venue on Patrick White Lawns (near the National Library).  Volkswagen Polo Class tickets also include reserved bean lounger seating, a blanket, a drink and a Ben & Jerry’s shortie. With music by day and movies by night, Openair Cinemas support local musicians and play a mix of favourite cult classics and hot new release films. Check their website for full details and bookings. Variety of seating options available. On now until Thursday 22 February.

Summer at the National Arboretum Canberra

Throughout summer the National Arboretum Canberra is offering a range of visitor experiences including self-guided walking tours, free guided Terrace Talks and forest walks. Tours for all ages and abilities are available whether on your own or in a group. The free guided tours leave regularly from the Village Centre, starting at 10am and finishing at 3pm each day. Bookings recommended with a maximum of 16 people. The full program of events is available at the National Arboretum Canberra website. Open until Saturday 28 February 2015.

Courtyard Cinema at A. Baker

Courtyard Cinema brings you a summer of new and classic movies in the intimate setting of NewActon’s courtyard every Tuesday evening until March. Screenings are styled for the summer holiday season. The monthly Raw Stories strand selects premier or barely seen new documentary films, true stories with a bite to them. Blink and You’ll Miss Them picks up on a few feature films that either slipped Canberra by, or were gone before you knew that they’ve been here. Cult Cuts carves off a tasty slice of our favourite cult movies, whilst Classy Coms is a tasteful sideboard of some of the most streamlined screwball rom coms from the deluxe 1930s.

Screenings commence at sunset. Deckchair admission is free on the purchase of an A. Baker glass of wine or bottle of beer. Bookings essential, as seats are very limited. Patrons should note ratings for all films; those under 15 will not be admitted without a parent or guardian to films marked MA15+ or E. In the event of wet weather, the screening will be cancelled. Cancellations will be announced on the A. Baker Facebook page three hours prior to the screening.

Tid by Torchlight

With summer well underway, Canberrans and visitors have the unique opportunity to explore Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve during the evening to watch native animals emerge from their hiding places for nightfall. The Tid by Torchlight program, which is organised by Conservation Volunteers Australia, is available to run every Friday and Saturday night until 30 April 2015, subject to minimum booking numbers. The program is an opportunity to see and learn about our local, native flora and fauna in the stunning reserve with an expert guide. Each tour runs for five hours and begins with a dusk wildlife walk and gourmet bush BBQ before venturing into the forest at night, to discover animals you wouldn’t normally find.

Your guide will walk you through the reserve sanctuary and a spotlight tour of the forest, while teaching you about Australia’s native wildlife. Tickets are $80 for an adult and $65 for children. For visitors, the ticket price also covers the cost of transportation to and from Canberra hotels. Your ticket sale will support wildlife conservation at Tidbinbilla; a portion of the cost is donated directly back to Tidbinbilla’s endangered species breeding programs. For more information visit their website.

MARKETS AND FESTIVALS

Gunning Show

Venture out of town to Gunning for the annual Gunning Show and enjoy a day of country fun. There will be rural competitions throughout the day with yard dog trials, shearing, cattle and alpacas, dog show and horse events. There is free shows on offer with Crocodile Encounters with lizards, snakes and crocodiles, trampoline display with Taylor Ellison (Australian Champion 10 times) and interactive lessons, plus face painting, soccer speed cage, treasure hunts and patting paddock. A family pass for $25 will give you all day entertainment. On Sunday 22 February from 8am to 6pm. For more information visit the Gunning Show online.

Canberra Mustang Car Show 2015

The Mustang Owners Club of Australia (MOCA) Canberra District will host the biennial Canberra Mustang Car Show on Sunday 22 February 2015 on the West Lawns in front of Old Parliament House. The Show is static display of classic and modern Mustang motor vehicles and other American cars. The show is a fantastic opportunity to see a wide cross-section of Mustangs from the first in 1964 to some of the more modern beauties. A family friendly show with a jumping castle for the children as well as food, drinks and ice cream on sale too. On Sunday 22 February from 9.30am to 2pm at Parkes Place West, Parkes. Visit the Canberra Mustang Show online for more information.

Old Bus Depot Markets

The Old Bus Depot Markets are back into the swing of things for 2015 and is something of a Sunday tradition in Canberra. Lovers of fine hand-crafted wares, clothing collectors, food fanatics and jewellery junkies are just a few of the people who make their way to Canberra’s famous Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston every Sunday. Find your favourite stallholder and visit the Markets this Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Find out more at the Old Bus Depot Markets website.

Capital Region Farmers Market

Visit the largest regional markets in the Southern Tablelands – the Capital Region Farmers Market! Be tantalised by fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, seafood, cakes, condiments, meats, cheeses and more. Fresh produce reflects the exciting seasonal characteristics and diversity of the region providing opportunity for you to learn more about the food you’re eating and the region it comes, and discuss what you’re buying with the growers. On every Saturday from 7.30am to 11.30am at Exhibition Park on Flemington Road.

Gorman House Markets

For a quarter of a century, the Gorman House Markets have been Canberra’s much loved meeting place providing opportunities for the community and visitors alike to express themselves creatively, trade and shop in a vibrant environment, access to an audience, engage in the arts and be a part of living heritage. Experience them from 10am to 4pm every Saturday at Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon.

FAMILY

Play Up

Play Up pokes its tongue out at the idea that museums are hands off. Stand up, muck up, dress up, make up, think up and step up in a fabulous space that has turned the traditional idea of what goes on in museums completely on its head. In Play Up it is visitors to the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MOADOPH) who are the curators – the exhibition has been developed with children and celebrates the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Play Up celebrates the important role children have in the cultural life of our communities. Most importantly Play Up is a place for fun. At the MOADOPH and open from 9am to 5pm daily until June 2015.

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 2 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.

Brick by Brick Installation

Budding designers can create their own capital using Lego and Duplo blocks at the National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point. Brick By Brick: Build Your Own Capital allows visitors to create a new National Capital or replicate iconic buildings in Canberra, designed for people of all ages and abilities. Construction sheets are available for visitors to copy the design of some the national institutions and buildings. For details on Brick By Brick session times, visit the National Capital Authority website.

Plus the National Capital Authority’s free preschooler program, Little Griffins also returns this Friday, perfect for the littlies to enjoy at the National Capital Exhibition. From 10am to 11am, your little one(s) can enjoy songs, activities and lots of Duplo construction fun as a gentle introduction to the wonders of the nation’s capital.

COMMUNITY

Friends of Fred Hollows Gala Dinner

Join the Friends of Fred Hollows Canberra Region to raise funds to support the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation and enjoy a three course dinner, wine, unique light display, silent auction and a raffle. The dinner supports the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation as every $25 raised helps restore the sight to a person around the world.

WORKSHOPS & TALKS

The Future of Science with Professor Brian Schmidt

Join Professor Brian Schmidt in a Q&A session about the future of science. Want to ask a question? Then ask via Canberra Skeptics on Twitter @cbrskeptics. A Laureate Fellow and Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University, Schimdt received undergraduate degrees in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Arizona in 1989, and completed his Astronomy Master’s degree (1992) and PhD (1993) from Harvard University. Under his leadership, in 1998, the HighZ Supernova Search team made the startling discovery that the expansion rate of the Universe is accelerating, work that earned him the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, The United States Academy of Science, and the Royal Society, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2013. Dinner will follow the lecture at a venue to be confirmed. Admission for the talk is free. To RSVP for the dinner email the Canberra Skeptics. On Thursday 19 February from 6pm to 7.30pm at Questacon, Parkes. Visit Canberra Skeptics online for more information.

Poetry on the Move: Readings by International Poetry Studies Institute poets

To launch the Centre for Creative & Cultural Research Seminar series for 2015 there will be a special session where poets from the institute will read work inspired by, or through their research. On Monday 16 February from 2pm to 3pm in Building 1, Level C Teaching Commons, University of Canberra.

Critical Success Factors in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Higher Education

In this UC Collaborative Indigenous Research Initiative Seminar, University of Newcastle’s Professor Radoll will share his views on the critical factors that need to be addressed to ensure a successful Indigenous Higher Education Strategy. On Wednesday 18 February from 12pm to 1.30pm in the Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra. RSVP online.

ANU Meet the Author: Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson will be in conversation with the Honourable Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Member for Fraser on Stevenson’s critically acclaimed book, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption—the story of young American lawyer Bryan Stevenson whose efforts have reversed death penalties for dozens of condemned prisoners in America. It is an inspiring story of unbreakable humanity in the most desperate circumstances, and a powerful indictment of America’s broken justice system. 

This will be a rare occasion, in Stevenson’s short visit to Australia en route to the Festival Of Perth, to hear one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time. On Wednesday 18 February from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Manning Clarke Centre, Union Court at ANU. Entry is free but bookings essential. Register online at Eventbrite.

Property Council of Australia Leadership Breakfast

Over the last few years, there has been increasing focus on women’s representation as an issue of national significance. A recent report by EY showed that there are diverse perspectives on how the property sector can most effectively increase the representation of women in leadership and in the sector. Come and hear from senior leaders (Juliet Andrews, EY Director of People and Organisation, Jo Metcalfe, Operating Centre Manager GHD, Ken Morrison, Chief Executive of Property Council of Australia, and Todd Wills, Canberra Managing Partner of EY).  about work underway and how any leaders—male or female—can be part of ensuring the property sector captures the benefits of diversity.

On hand will be a member of the newly formed Property Male Champions of Change–CEOs who have committed to a listening, learning and leading journey and to step up beside women to lead the charge. The objective for the event is gender balance. Show your support by bringing with you a member of the opposite gender. On Thursday 5 March from 7.15am to 9am at EY, Level 11 – 121 Marcus Clarke Street. Free entry but RSVP essential through the Property Council website.

Portraits of a Tea Cosy

A tea cosy exhibition would not be complete without Loani Prior tea cosies and this exhibition stars 20 exuberant cosies with marvellously quirky names such as Sleeveless in Seattle and All form and No Function. To coincide with the Portraits of a Tea Cosy exhibition, Craft ACT is proud to partner with the ANU to offer knitting enthusiasts a special one off opportunity to learn from the Queen of Teacosies, Loani Prior in a two-day workshop on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March. Places are limited. For more information and to book visit Craft ACT.  On until Saturday 28 March.

Public Speaking for Women workshop

Canberra psychotherapists, Jessica Rose and Marg Cranney are supporting local women to speak up. Their Public Speaking for Women course, conducted on Tuesday nights and one Saturday in February, creates a supportive environment in which women can learn to manage anxiety and deal with self-doubt, prepare presentations that captivate audiences, constructively assess their own presentations, effectively use their voices and develop their own presentation styles. For 20 years Canberra women have been inspired by this course identifying positive experiences and outcomes in feedback to the facilitators. The next workshop will take place on Saturday 21 February from 10am to 4pm at 27 Scottsdale Street, Lyons. Future workshop dates include Tuesday 24 February (7pm-10pm) and Tuesday 3 March (7pm-10pm). For bookings visit their website or phone Jessica on (02) 6281 1769 or Marg on (02) 6288 0754.

Joe Abercrombie Book Launch: Half the World

Join the team at Harry Hartog Booksellers in Westfield Woden on Monday 16 February from 6.30pm for an evening with bestselling British author Joe Abercrombie, to celebrate the release of his Half the World. Free entry and refreshments provided. Joe’s books will be available for purchase on the night, including his beloved First Law saga. Bookings essential on (02) 6232 5832 or email woden@harryhartog.com.au.

National Gallery of Australia talks and workshops

The National Gallery of Australia has an extensive program of talks and workshops run in conjunction with their current exhibitions. Hear about local and international artists or specific techniques. Be inspired by the greats and create your own artworks. Talks and workshops cater for a range of different age groups. For full details visit the NGA website.

STAGE AND FILM

Sweet Charity

Hey big spender… Canberra Theatre Centre is proud to announce the return of smash-hit professional musicals for the nation’s capital with three-time Helpmann Award Winning production Sweet Charity. The high-octane musical tells the story of dance hall hostess Charity Hope Valentine and her co-workers. Each day, Charity dances with man after man in order to earn a living, all the while dreaming of the day she will be taken away from her sordid dance hall existence and rescued by a respectable man who falls madly in love with her.  Sweet Charity’s high-energy choreography and sharp-witted dialogue makes it the perfect night of musical theatre for adults. On  until Sunday 22 February. For session times visit Canberra Theatre Centre.

Shen Yun

An extraordinary journey inspired by 5,000 years of divine culture, Shen Yun is unique, inspirational and absolutely beautiful. Heavenly realms and timeless legends spring to life through classical Chinese dance. Dazzling costumes, thunderous battle drums and powerful flips fill the stage with colour and energy. Exquisite melodies and animated backdrops uplift your spirit and transport you to another world. Experience the wonder of authentic Chinese culture. Experience Shen Yun. Tickets available for Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 16 February for two days only. Visit Canberra Theatre Centre for pricing and session times.

MUSIC & DANCE

Opera by Candlelight

Carl Rafferty Presents Opera By Candlelight – A beautiful evening of exquisite music, food, wine, and great company! For three nights only international artists will join inspiring young Australian singers and musicians in a unique entertainment. Invite friends to join you in enjoining Australia’s most entertaining celebration of music, beauty and romance. Book a supper with wine, or a splendid banquet table. Visit the Opera by Candlelight website for tickets, pricing and dates! Book in for the Gala Opening night on Friday 20 February from 7.30pm to 10pm or the Twilight Concert on Sunday 22 February from 5.30pm at Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla.

Saturday Sound Garden

Honkytonks is bringing back live music every Saturday afternoon throughout summer and this Saturday is no different.Vibe out with live bands, sangria, tacos and all round good times. On Saturday 21 February from 3pm.

Adam Harvey

With a career spanning almost twenty years, half a million album sales, gold and platinum albums and eight Golden Guitar Awards, Adam Harvey is one of Australia’s most popular & enduring recording artists.

His new album Family Life, released on 22 August, follows the outstanding success of The Great Country Songbook, his platinum selling album with Troy Cassar-Daley. Joining Adam on his Family Life Tour are The Sunny Cowgirls and W.A. golden guitar winner Chelsea Basham. On Friday 20 February from 8.30pm to 10.45pm at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden. Visit the CSCC website or book your tickets online at Ticketek.

No Lights, No Lycra

No Lights, No Lycra makes a return for 2015. There is no light, no lycra, no teacher, no steps to learn, no technique, just free movement. NLNL is a space where you can completely let go, shake out the stresses of the week, and lose yourself in the music and the physicality of your body. NLNL is a daggy, non-pretentious place to completely be yourself.

Bec and Sam will be taking over as the (North) Canberra ambassadors for 2015. NLNL will take place on Wednesday nights from 7.30pm to 9pm, and in a new location. Head to St John’s Anglican Church Hall in Reid (corner of Constitution Ave and Anzac Park West). Lots of free onsite parking available, and admission still just $5 on the door. For more information visit the new NLNL Facebook page. On every Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Vinyl Lounge at NFSA

The popular Vinyl Lounge is back for 2015 at the National Film and Sound Archive. Join other vinyl lovers for nibbles then spin the turntables with your favourites records from 5.30pm. The NFSA’s Vinyl Lounge is on the first Friday of every month and is the perfect way to end the day (and working week). Reminscent of record clubs of the 1970s, enjoy a diverse selection of pop, rock, folk, world, funk and lounge music from the Golden Age of vinyl. Bring your own LPs and groove into the Vinyl Lounge. On every Friday from 5pm.

Phoenix Players presents High Fidelity

Phoenix Players presents High Fidelity – a rock musical about hating your job, falling in love, and your all-time Top Five! Based on the novel by Nick Hornby and the Touchstone Pictures Film. Matinee and evening shows at the ANU Arts Centre until 21 February. Tickets start at $25 from www.phoenixplayers.com.au.

Weekly Dance Party for the Over 30s

30+ Dance Event will be hosting weekly Dance Parties every Saturday night at The RUC where you will be provided with an entralling and relaxed atmosphere to meet new people at your own leisure. A fun, safe and comfortable atmosphere to dance, meet new or other likeminded persons, romance, flirt or socialise and make friends. These are popular weekly Saturday night evens and the ideal night out for fun-loving socialable 30+s with pulsating music from the 60s, 70s, 80, 90s plus much more. Visit 30 Plus Dance Event for details. On every Saturday from 8pm onwards at The RUC, Turner and $20 per head.

Smith’s Alternative Live Gigs

For more information about Smith’s Alternative Live gigs and to purchase tickets please visit their website.

Live Local Music

This post isn’t long enough to list all the various gigs around town, but if you’re into live music, we heartily suggest you check out what’s on offer at The Phoenix, Transit Bar, The Front, The Abbey, and BMA’s gig guide.

SPORT & FITNESS

ICC Cricket World Cup: Bangladesh v Afghanistan

Manuka Oval will play host to three fixtures of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 with Bangladesh taking on Afghanistan kicking off the competition in the nation’s capital. Enjoy the atmosphere, the sunshine, the lights, the crowd and the banter; all the things that make cricket culture so great. The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is contested by the 10 Full Members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), together with four Associate and Affiliate Members that qualify through the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifying programme. On Wednesday 18 February from 2.30pm at Manuka Oval. For tickets and more information visit the ICC website. Catch West Indies when they play Zimbabwe on Tuesday 24 February and South Africa v Ireland on Tuesday 3 March.

Tuggeranong BMX National Sign On Day

Come on down to the Tuggeranong BMX Club for their National Sign on Day. Have you ever wanted to try a fast paced Olympic sport for all ages? Enjoy riding your bike on weekends? Tuggeranong BMX Club’s National Sign on Day allows all new riders to come down to the track and have a ride, giving them the opportunity to have a taste of BMX Racing.

This family oriented sport allows all ages to ride and compete combining fun and excitement with the all important aspect of exercise. Children and parents can talk and create long lasting friendship with other new and existing BMX racers. You’ll need to bring full face helmet, full finger gloves, long pants, long sleeve top tucks into pants, socks and fully enclosed shoes. The club has limited full face helmets, race bikes and gloves but if you have any of the items listed above please bring them along. For more information about this event phone 0417 242 385 or visit BMX Australia.

Queanbeyan 2015 Relay for Life

ART

Bespoke

As part of DESIGN Canberra, Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre is thrilled to partner with the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MoAD), to bring you an exciting exhibition Bespoke: Design for the people. In this stunning exhibition, 6 Australian craft and design practitioners have created new works that reflect and respond to the iconic designs of the original furniture at Old Parliament House. Each artist was given unprecedented access to the rooms and collections, and the freedom to create a personal response. Informed by their own artistic backgrounds, each artist considered notions of political perspective, change, accountability and power in their pieces. The result is a thought-provoking collaboration between design, creativity and Australia’s political history. Artists include Canberra artists Jennifer Robertson, Niklavs Rubenis, Julie Ryder, Caren Florance, in collaboration with Melinda Smith; and Sydney-based artist Cecelia Heffer. The exhibition will run until November 2015. To view the full DESIGN Canberra program of events visit their website.

James Turrell: A Retrospective

Following sell-out shows in Los Angeles and at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, comes the National Gallery of Australia’s 2014 summer blockbuster James Turrell: A Retrospective. Never before seen in Australia and showing only in Canberra, James Turrell is considered one of the greatest artists of our time. The National Gallery of Australia’s retrospective combines works from LACMA’s tour with spectacular new, site-specific installations. The exhibition is open until Monday 8 June, 2015 at the National Gallery of Australia. Ensure to check the exhibitions time changes over Christmas (closed Christmas Day). Tickets are available to purchase through Ticketek but bookings are also essential as only 15 people are allowed through in any one session.

Norforce: Tony Albert

Tony Albert works in a number of art forms, including drawing, painting, photography, and installation. A founding member of Queensland’s indigenous art collective proppaNOW, Albert’s art explores political, historical and cultural issues relevant to indigenous people in Australia today. Albert exhibits internationally and nationally and has been the recipient of numerous awards and prizes. Most recently Albert won the City of Sydney commission to create a public artwork in Hyde Park. Titled Yininmadyemi – Thou didst let fall the artwork honours the military service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women. Open until 3 November 2015 at the Australian War Memorial.

Impressions of Paris: Lautrec, Degas, Daumier

Explore Parisian life through the work of three nineteenth century French masters in the new exhibition Impressions of Paris: Lautrec, Degas, Daumier at the National Gallery of Australia. Featuring over 150 prints, posters, drawings and monotypes from the national collection Impressions of Paris: Lautrec, Degas, Daumier examines the major contribution to French art made by Honoré-Victorin Daumier (1808-1879), Edgar Degas (1834-1917) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). Open until 15 March 2015 at the National Gallery of Australia.

In the Flesh

In the flesh is an enthralling and immersive experience of contemporary art that confronts the concept of humanness and the experiences of consciousness and emotion. Featuring 10 Australian artists including Jan Nelson, Patricia Piccinini, Ron Mueck and Michel Peck, the exhibition explores themes of nurture, vulnerability, self-possession, isolation, acceptance and intimacy. The exhibition is open until 9 March 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery.

Warlpiri Drawings: Remembering the Future

Warlpiri Drawings: Remembering the Future tells the story of an intriguing collection of artworks created by Warlpiri people in the 1950s. Glimpsed through the eyes of the collector as well as more recent Warlpiri interpretations, Warlpiri Drawings explores how drawing has been used to make sense of 80 years of monumental change, to picture life in the present and look hopefully towards the future. The exhibition is open until 31 May 2015 at the National Museum of Australia.

Other exhibitions

For a comprehensive round up of smaller exhibitions around town, visit Capital Magazine.

EXHIBITIONS

Let Me Be Myself: The Story of Anne Frank

A message to the young people of today, the travelling Anne Frank exhibition,Anne Frank, Let Me Be Myself, features quotations from Anne Frank’s diary and photos of her family that form a thread throughout the exhibition. To emphasise the chronological order of events, almost every panel contains a timeline. Below the timeline is the personal story of Anne Frank and above the timeline the visitor is confronted with the ‘big historical events’ of that time. The exhibition developed by the world-famous Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is travelling around major cities and regional towns throughout Australia. Guides will be available to assist visitors to understand the story of Anne Frank and its context. On now until 31 March from 10am to 5pm at the Australian Jewish Centre. Entry is $5 per person. For more information visit their website.

Portraits of a Tea Cosy

A tea cosy exhibition would not be complete without Loani Prior tea cosies and this exhibition stars 20 exuberant cosies with marvellously quirky names such as Sleeveless in Seattle and All form and No Function. Portraits of a Tea Cosy has been developed into a travelling exhibition through collaboration with the artists and Warwick Art Gallery with assistance from Museum and Gallery Services of Queensland. The exhibition will open Thursday 12 February by Mark Viner, Head of Sturt at 6pm in Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre Gallery and will run until Saturday 28 March. Craft ACT is proud to partner with the ANU to offer knitting enthusiasts a special one off opportunity to learn from the Queen of Teacosies, Loani Prior in a two-day workshop on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March. Places are limited. For more information and to book visit Craft ACT.

New Exhibitions at M16 Artspace

M16 will open three new exhibitions centred around contemporary Australian art at 6pm Thursday 12 February. Contemporary Australia are three exhibitions that explore different aspects of contemporary Australian art: Contemporary Visions of Aboriginal Art: Warlpiri Artists from the remote communities of Yuenduma and Lajamanu, Northern Territory (curated by Catherine Jackman), The Other Side: Her Riot and Alchemists’ Paradise: Tommy Balogh. The exhibition runs until Sunday 1 March. The exhibition can be explored from 12pm to 5pm Wednesday through Sundays at M16 Artspace, Kingston.

Arthur Boyd: Portrait of Friendship

Manning Clark House Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Arthur Boyd, from the period of his long friendship with historian Manning Clark. These intimate works, figurative and set against the Australian bush, include two portraits of Manning Clark as well as a series of artistic nudes. This unique exhibition takes place in the original home of Manning and Dymphna Clark– the lounge room where Arthur and Manning discussed art, culture and other issues of the day over a pot of tea. Most of these works are on loan from the Bundanon Trust collection. Entry is by donation. The exhibition will run until 15 March at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle Forrest. Opening hours are 11am to 3pm, Thursday to Sunday.

Fresh from the Hague

The Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague, has produced another Type and Media graduating show and as part of the National Tour, AGDA has brought it to Canberra.  Eight posters, representing the work of some of the best emerging type artists in the world from the graduating class of 2014 will be on display as well as the 2013 exhibition of 12 posters.

First run in 2002, The Royal Academy’s Type and Media program attracts design students from all over the world. It’s a one-year intensive course where students collaborate and delve more deeply into type design for not only print, but also film, television, video and interactive media. The Brisbane typeface produced by Troy Leinster, who is one of only four Australians to ever complete the course, is one of the highlights of the 2013 exhibition, which toured The Hague, The Netherlands; Berlin, Germany; Brisbane; Moscow, Russia; and Sofia Bulgaria. On now until Wednesday 18 February from 10am to 4pm at the Gallery of Australian Design, Kingston. For more information visit the AGDA website.

The Front Room

Explore Australia’s TV, radio and music collection at your leisure in the National Film and Sound Archive‘s latest screen and sound experience in Acton – The Front Room. Discover the history of sound, music and broadcast in comfort. Listen to radio broadcasts on a 1950s radiogram, watch classic TV in the lounge space or play CDs on one of the listening posts. Whether you’ve got five minutes or five hours, there’s always something to see, hear or do in The Front Room. Open until 24 December, 2015. Visit their website for more information.

Art is a Weapon

Art is a Weapon takes you back to an Australia gripped by the Cold War. Amid propaganda for and against communism, artists turned to an image familiar to most Australians; the Southern Cross flag of the Eureka Stockade. The portfolio contains fourteen works from ten artists, including three from prominent Melbourne artist Noel Counihan. Counihan was a Social Realist who was heavily involved in the Communist Party, and was well-known in the Melbourne art community. The works reflect both the Eureka rebellion itself and, more broadly, the themes of workers’ rights and struggles against the established authorities. Art is a Weapon explores how the Eureka story, legend and iconography have been used by groups and causes of all political flavours to spread their message. Alongside the portfolio of works, other objects and artworks using the Southern Cross motif show how the idea of Eureka has been adopted by groups as diverse as young communists and motorcycle clubs. Open now at the Museum of Australian Democracy. Visit their website for more information.

Behind the Lines 2014

Superheroes. Battle axes. Death stares. Who said politics was dry and dull? Highly anticipated and scorchingly honest, Behind the Lines 2014 celebrates the best political cartoons of 2014. The exhibition – one of the most anticipated of the year for politic tragics is now open at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. In the 2014 exhibition, cartoonists wryly comment on Tony Abbott’s first year in government. They see the Coalition attempting to deliver strong and stable leadership, as well as fulfilling their election promises to stop the boats, axe the tax, fix the budget and reduce red tape. Meanwhile, a restless Australian Labor Party waits for its Leader to ditch the past, move forward and say something. Each year the exhibition acknowledges a cartoonist as the Behind the Lines Political Cartoonist of the Year. Open until November 2015.

Afghanistan: The Australian Story

Afghanistan and the Middle East are now linked to Australia’s national story. Australia’s mission is clear: to combat international terrorism, to stabilise Afghanistan, and to support Australia’s international alliances. Yet a mission statement cannot capture the challenges, the successes, and the comradeship of the Australian men and women who pursue it. Nor the joys and heartbreaks, or the loneliness and the dedication of those who wait at home. Some of these experiences, set against the powerful imagery of a modern war, are told in this exhibition. Over time, the display will change and evolve as more veterans share their stories. Open until 3 November 2015 at the Australian War Memorial.

Enterprising Australians

An insight into how great ideas happen, hear the inspiring stories of Australia’s modern-day innovators. Discover the unique journey that inventors take from idea to product in this exhibition featuring video stories, product displays and interactive stations that explore the origins of products from a range of fields, including mining, agriculture, medical, automotive, and food science. Showing until 25 June 2015 at Questacon.

World of Cricket from the Bradman Museum at Canberra Museum and Gallery

The unmistakable sound of leather on willow will echo through Canberra this summer when the city plays host to some of the world’s leading cricket nations as they compete for the prestigious – ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Featuring rare and captivating material from the Bradman Museum, as well as contemporary equipment from those teams that will compete at Manuka Oval in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the exhibition will bridge the historical gap between Bradman and the contemporary game, and shed a light on Canberra’s own cricketing heritage. Open until Sunday 15 March 2015 at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

Rick Amor 21 Portraits

Rick Amor 21 Portraits brings together paintings, prints and drawings spanning Rick Amor’s thirty year career, confirming his status as one of Australia’s great portrait artists. A regular exhibitor and finalist in the Archibald prize, Amor’s works are held in all major public collections in Australia. In 2008, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne held a survey show of Rick Amor’s paintings and drawings. Rick Amor (b. 1948) has been a quiet presence in the Australian art scene for three decades. 21 Portraits evokes Amor’s broader practice: his professional commissions, his artistic circle in Melbourne, his periods abroad, his stern self-analysis and his brooding visions of the natural and built environment. The exhibition includes portraits of artists, poets, writers as well as four self portraits, reflecting Amor’s broad interest in culture, politics and the written word. Rick Amor 21 Portraits, draws portraits from both private collections and the Portrait Gallery’s own collection. Open until 1 March 2015 at the National Portrait Gallery.

Keepsakes: Australians and The Great War

To mark the centenary of the First World War, the National Library of Australia invites you to explore their fascinating collection of wartime albums, medals, letters and diaries in Keepsakes. Keepsakes tells the story of The Great War as experienced by Australian servicemen and women, key political leaders, civilians, artists and families on the homefront. Discover how very personal stories become our nation’s collective memory. Open until Sunday 31 May, 2015.

Power of 1: Does your voice count?

Discover the changing nature of Australian democracy and the power of your voice within it. Power of 1 is a ground breaking interactive exhibition shaped by the answers you share, about what matters to you. Step back in time to remember the events, people and experiences that have shaped each generation of Australians. Have your say about the state of democracy and help to create a new kind of museum experience curated by the voices of the Australian people. It’s time…have your say and be heard. Open until 12 November 2015 at Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Ben Quilty: After Afghanistan

After spending over three weeks talking to Australian servicemen and women in Afghanistan, Ben Quilty felt an overwhelming need to tell their stories. He went there in October 2011 as an official war artist, commissioned by the Australian War Memorial and attached to the Australian Defence Force. His task was to record and interpret the experiences of Australians deployed as part of Operation Slipper in Kabul, Kandahar, and Tarin Kot in Afghanistan and at Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates. Quilty’s work employs a wide range of genres, including portraits, figurative subjects, still-lifes and landscapes. On display until 14 August 2015.

Menzies: By John Howard

Former Prime Minister John Howard has curated this Menzies exhibition and shares his unique and personal insights, reflections and stories on the intense first term of former Prime Minister Robert Menzies. The exhibition marks the 75th anniversary of Robert Menzies’ first term as prime minister (1939-41) and features objects never before seen by the public, including personal items on loan from the Menzies family. Open now until 3 September 2015 at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Spirited: Australia’s Horse Story

Spirited: Australia’s Horse Story reflects on the powerful bonds and enduring relationships between people and horses to trace how together they have helped build the Australian nation. This exhibition features some 500 historical artefacts, including icons of the nation’s thoroughbred racing history, horse-drawn vehicles, riding equipment and trophies telling the stories of some of Australia’s leading international equestrians. Film, sound and sculptural elements bring the majesty and character of the horse into the space, with specially produced digital features exploring Australian breeds and the nation’s pony club stories. Open now until 9 March 2015 at the National Museum of Australia.