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Dig out your cutest mittens and berets—this week in Canberra we’re all about embracing the best of winter.
Because from Winter in the City, the Xmas in July festival, tasting truffles, and much more, we have 40+ winter-ful things for you to do. There’s no excuse to hibernate!
Special Events and Festivals
The Raclette Igloo
Get ready to melt into a winter wonderland of French cheese and culture as the Raclette Igloo experience returns to Canberra. After all, why hibernate this winter when you could spend it in a private igloo, feasting on Raclette cheese, sipping on mulled wine, and enjoying your very own fire pit with marshmallows?
Until Saturday 2 July | National Triangle, Park Place Lawns | Book here.
Winter in the City
Snow is forecast in the city centre this winter with the return of the fun-filled Winter in the City. From ice skating to live entertainment, food, drinks, activities, and more (including an eight-meter tobogganing slide), it’s the perfect way to level up your winter experience. Race you to the bottom?
Friday 30 June until Sunday 16 July | Civic Square and Ainslie Place, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City | winter.inthecity.com.au
Xmas in July Festival
Mull my wine and call me Santa—a European-style Christmas market is coming to town this winter. It’s time to dig out your cutest mittens and berets, mon cherie, because from mulled wine and falling snow to hot chocolate, Christmas lights, and live music, it’s all about celebrating the magic of Christmas (in July). Meet you under the mistletoe?
Thursday 29 June until Saturday 2 July | National Rose Gardens, Parkes | christmasinjuly.com.au
Flazeda: Student SPECTACULAR
In this special performance, the students of Flazeda will be performing a SPECTACULAR to display their acts perfected over Term 1. Head along to the Harmonie German Club for some fantastic entertainment, food and to show your support!
Saturday 1 July | 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | Book here.
Poetic City
A poetry festival taking place until Friday 14 July, Poetic City will encompass a wide variety of poetry-centric events and I invite you to come along and find out what poetry might mean for you. From workshops to drop-in writing sessions, listening to performance or slam or taking the kids to school holiday workshops and activities, get ready for a serious, fanciful, sly, fun, witty, elaborate, blunt, silly entertaining, dark and hilarious time.
Until Friday 14 July | Various locations | poeticcitycbr.com
Fungi Feastival
The inaugural Fungi Feastival is a series of events celebrating the science, food and art of fungi. Head along to enjoy science events such as mushroom growing workshops, and truffle hunts, food events (including fungi-themed dinners) and even a fungi cooking class at Eastwoods in Bermagui! If that’s not enough fungi art includes fungi photography workshops and fungi movies at Narooma Kinema.
Until Sunday 16 July | Location varies for each event from Batemans Bay to Eden | Book here.
Food and Wine
Verity Lane Market Truffle Week
Last year they brought us potato, truffle, and prosciutto pizza, shoyu truffle ramen and truffle bao buns so we’re very excited to announce that Truffle Week will return to Verity Lane Market. Running from Thursday 29 June until Saturday 8 July, you’ll be able to indulge in truffle-infused dishes from Italy, Asia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
With more details to come, all we know is: we’ll take one of everything.
Thursday 29 June until Saturday 8 July | 50 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City | Book here.
Magic Monster Truffle Dinner
Celebrating the magic of Canberra’s truffle season, Monster Kitchen and Bar’s annual truffle dinner is back with a bang. In this refined vegetarian four-course dinner, the truffles from Mark and Maureen at Clear Range Truffles will be showcased in some unique dishes.
What’s on the menu? Expect to see miso oyster and shiitake mushrooms with filo pastry pie, wild mushroom truffle velouté, and parsley oil plus much more. Elevate your evening with specially chosen cocktails and wines for each course and get ready to set your palate alight.
Thursday 29 June, 6 pm | 25 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra City | Book here.
International Gin Festival
Say hello to the ultimate gin lover’s paradise. With gins from all around the world, this festival is a celebration of the delicious and diverse world of gin where you’ll get the chance to taste unique and exciting gins from international distilleries. There will also be plenty of special masterclasses and workshops, where you can learn about the history and production of gin in each country! Book your tickets now for an unforgettable gin-filled experience.
Friday 30 June until Saturday 1 July | University of Canberra, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce | Book here.
Stage and screen
Reuben Kaye—Live and Intimidating
The obscenely intelligent, rib-crackingly funny Reuben Kaye is coming to Canberra in an explosion of high camp and filthy humour. Backed by Shanon Whitelock on piano and his band, this international cabaret star will be presenting intimate, stripped-back new show, Live and Intimidating. Expect acid wit and a Swarovski-studded revolt against the ever-narrowing views of an increasingly conservative world.
Wednesday 28 June | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Home, I’m Darling
Judy is on a quest to be the perfect 1950s housewife to her husband Johnny. The problem is it’s 2018 and being a domestic goddess isn’t as easy as following a manual. This Olivier-winning contemporary British satire pulls back the gingham curtains, making sharp observations about responsibilities, nostalgia, and choice in a marriage that is unravelling at the tightly sewed seams. See you there?
Until Saturday 1 July | Canberra REP Theatre, 3 Repertory Lane, Acton | Book here.
HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Here to spice up winter with award wining films, the HSBC is kicking off in June. Showcasing comedies, thrillers, documentaries and more, it’s the ultimate celebration of film and culture from Spain and Latin America.
Until Wednesday 5 July | Palace Electric Cinema, 2 Phillip Law Street, Canberra City | Book here.
Come From Away
The worldwide smash hit, Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away, is coming to Canberra. Sharing the remarkable true story of the small town that welcomed the world, Come From Away follows the incredible real-life journey of 7,000 air passengers who became grounded in Gander, Newfoundland in Canada in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. Telling a story of unity and kindness in adversity, capturing the generosity and hospitality of the small community of Gander, who invited the “come from aways’” into their homes, this musical is not to be missed.
Until Sunday 9 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra City | Book here.
Music
The Art of the Baritone
Distinguished South African baritone, Christian Bester, is on a brief return trip to Australia and is making his way to Canberra. Accompanied by pianist Hilda Visser-Scott, he will perform operatic works by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Thomas, Lehar, Gounod and Kern in this very special concert.
Wednesday 28 June | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | Book here.
Korean Traditional Music Class with Sung Duk Hong
This is a chance to learn Korean traditional music from two master singers from Korea. Divided into two sessions, in the morning, you will be learning Pansori (a Korean opera) with Sung Duk Hong and in the evening, you will be learning Korean folk songs and Korean traditional dance with Dana Kim.
Until Friday 30 June | ANU, Australian Centre on China in the World (Morning), ANU Law School (Evening) Fellows Lane, Building 188, Acton | Book here.
Exhibitions
Zig Zag Exhibition at the Mixing Room Gallery
Taking place at Thor’s Hammer, Zig Zag is a chromatic exhibition of abstract painting by artists Al Munro, Hannah Beasley, Ham Darroch and Kate Vassallo. Showing exclusively at The Mixing Room Gallery, don’t miss out!
Friday 30 June until Saturday 12 August | 10 Mildura Street, Griffith | thors.com.au
Celebrating NAIDOC Week: Commissioning the Forecourt mosaic
The Forecourt mosaic at Parliament House is a symbolic reminder of the 65,000+ years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ presence in this country. At the display you’ll discover the work of five Aboriginal artists who were invited to submit designs for the mosaic in 1985 and discover who the artists played an important role in their communities, using their art to share their cultural knowledge with non-Indigenous peoples across the world.
Friday 30 June until Monday 14 August | Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra City | aph.gov.au
Banksia Views
A showcase of works from the Painting with Parkinson’s program, this exhibition will reflect on member’s experience with the Australian National Botanic Gardens and the Banksia Centre over the Painting with Parkinson’s 25-year history (as well as featuring recorded soundscapes from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra).
Until Thursday 29 June | Visitor Centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | parksaustralia.gov.au
Parallel Play by Rory Hamovit
Using staged and surreal images that have been crafted from handmade objects and sets, this exhibition is a series of imagined alternate realities where childhood playtime and humour deconstructs the tropes and traditions of heteronormative notions of masculinity.
Thursday 29 June until Saturday 12 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
Resistance is relapse by Nico Krijno
South-African artist Nico Krijno works with staged photography, collage and video, in a performance based practice that investigates contemporary visual codes, symbols and patterns, as well as the history of the image. Resistance Relapse explores not only these methods of creation, but the spaces in-between.
Thursday 29 June until Saturday 12 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
You are close be-side me by Chin-Jie Melodie Liu
In this exhibition, Liu reflects on the ways grief has taken different forms in an increasingly digital world by showcasing a series of large prints accompanied by photographic footnotes. The project stems from Liu’s experience of virtually attending her grandfather’s funeral during COVID.
Thursday 29 June until Saturday 12 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | Book here.
Exuberance Exhibition
in this exhibition, 16 contemporary Australian craft practitioners, designers and artists examine the concept of exuberance through colour, materiality and politics through hand stitch. Using stitch as a metaphor of repair, care and protection that is required for the environment, the objects and wall pieces will reflect the current urge of re-engagement with nature and the politics.
Saturday 1 July until Saturday 26 August | 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building, Canberra City | craftact.org.au
Body of Work—Annika Romeyn
Body of Work charts Annika Romeyn’s artistic journey over recent years, bringing together a selection of ambitious drawings and monotype prints, scaled in relation to her own body. Aiming to immerse viewers in experiences of place and landscape, this exhibition includes new work created in response to Annika’s time in Mutawintji National Park, on Barkindji and Malyangapa Country, as recipient of the 2022 Broken Hill City Art Gallery’s Open Cut commission.
Until Sunday 2 July | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Fiona Richmond: Revival
In her inaugural exhibition, artist Fiona Richmond explores a dimension of her inner world that “has been unattended to during all the conventional diversions of life.” Using medium to large formats, Richmond’s art is all about creating joy with bold colour in the simple forms of everyday objects and plant life.
Until Sunday 2 July | 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | More information here.
Bushranger Blue
We all know the legend and lore of bushrangers. Evolving from a personal exploration of isolation and grief, that surfaced during Rory King’s travels of remote Australia; ‘Bushranger Blue’ is an inquiry into the perennial themes of loneliness, death, and longing. Making no attempt to paint an accurate narrative of the history of the Australian bushranger, instead the exhibition see’s images that speak of a yearning for deep connection in the face of isolation.
Until Sunday 2 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com
Mutual acts: ecologies of a garden
Created by Lani Shea-An, this series of works employ abstract and figurative painting processes, collage, and printmaking to explore the connections and emotions that the plant kingdom evokes. It depicts her own experiences of joy and wonder in nature, particularly in reference to what she has learned through gardening.
Until Sunday 2 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Professor Hyatt’s Tarot Exhibition
Featuring unique and original artwork by artist John Hyatt (Professor of Contemporary Art at John Moore University), this exhibition will highlight the often-overlooked status of tarot cards as art pieces in their own right, and explore an art form that is truly interactive with the viewer by its very nature. The best part? Full tarot decks will be available to buy and two local Tarot readers will be dropping in throughout the exhibition to do Tarot readings.
Until Tuesday 4 July | Smiths Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra City | hyattstarot.weebly.com
Sea Poems
Including two styles of Jane Millington’s artwork, this exhibition is a must see. The first part of the exhibition focuses on soft blending to create the liquid undulations of the ocean while the second is more linear, using strong lines that run off the canvas edge to create a sense of boundlessness. Freeform and curved lines lead through both these styles, communicating the flow and direction of both the water and our emotional response to it.
Until Sunday 9 July | Aarwun Gallery, Shop 11, Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | aarwungallery.com.au
Del Amor Y Los Animales
The artworks in this exhibition have been chosen by artist Carlos Barrios, who was studio assistant to the late artist John Olsen for many years. Reminding us to be present in the moment, this exhibition explores the feeling of loving another, expressions of love for animals and nature. These works are offerings and studies of moments where people, places and animals coexist.
Until Sunday 9 July | Aarwun Gallery, Shop 11, Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | aarwungallery.com.au
Our Coloured Earth – Abstract Impressions
The first solo exhibition in Canberra of New Zealand born artist Lisa Taylor King, in this exhibition you will feel the pull, the sense of awe and power, in our landscape and nature. We won’t say anymore—you’ll have to go see if for yourself.
Until Sunday 9 July | Aarwun Gallery, Shop 11, Federation Square, O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | aarwungallery.com.au
Greg Daly: Colour
Visit this exhibition to see the work of one of Australia’s leading ceramicists. An internationally acclaimed and respected ceramic artist specialising in rich glaze effects, the work of Greg Daly is held in over 85 national and international art gallery and museum collections. In this exhibition you will find lustre glazes that capture iridescent colours and for the first time in over 12 years high temperature glazes on porcelain.
Until Sunday 23 July | Level 1, 131 City Walk, Civic (next to King O’Malley’s) Canberra City | nancysevergallery.com.au
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023
The National Photographic Portrait Prize is back for 2023. Selected from a national field of entries, the exhibition reflects the distinctive vision of Australia’s aspiring and professional portrait photographers and the unique nature of their subjects.
Until Monday 2 October | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
How Cities Work
From sewers to skyscrapers, this interactive family exhibition reveals the secret workings of our busy urban centres. Bringing to life the best-selling book of the same name, visitors big and small will be able to traverse a spectacular cityscape full of tactile and sensory activities, including a lively hands-on construction site, a futuristic design station and a towering two-metre-high cityscape.
Until Sunday 8 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Corner London Circuit and Civic Square, Canberra City | Book here.
Sport
Raiders v Titans
The Canberra Raiders are hosting the Gold Coast Titans in this epic clash. Take the whole family to cheer them on!
Saturday 1 July | GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce | Book here.
Workshops, webinars and more
Black Mountain as Inspiration
Hear Dianne Firth OAM talk about her involvement with Black Mountain being an enduring source of inspiration for her. In this special talk, she will reflect on Black Mountain in the context of the Federal Capital site, its role in the Griffin’s design for the Federal City, T. C.G. Weston’s revegetation process, the NCDC expansion of suburbs into the foothills of Black Mountain, Black Mountain and its tower, and conclude with how Black Mountain offers inspiration for contemporary artists.
Tuesday 27 June | Theatrette, Australian National Botanic Gardens | To book email your name and phone number to [email protected] , or phone Linda (0437 298 711) or Julie (6251 6972).
Art Steps for Haegue Yang
Have you seen the Haegue Yang: Changing From From To From exhibition? In this workshop your children can create abstract sculptures inspired by Haegue Yang’s artistic approach, playing with movement, colour and sound. Places are limited and booking is encouraged!
Saturday 1 until Sunday 16 July | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | Book here.
Diprotodon Insights
Join children’s author Bronwyn Saunders (of Diprotodon: A megafauna journey) at the Paperbark Garden to hear all about the largest marsupial to ever have lived. Take the kids along to this special event to learn all about the Diprotodon’s quirks, behaviour and diet; and the environment megafauna lived in.
Saturday 1 until Saturday 29 July | Paperbark Garden, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Book here.
Megafauna
Visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens to see life-size diprotodons by award-winning design-led theatre masterminds Dead Puppet Society. Roving the Gardens during the day near the Friends Lawn and Pollen Café and exploring during the night at all MEGAfauna afterDARK sessions, this is a rare opportunity to come face to face with these ancient giants as they stop to feed and interact with passers-by.
Saturday 1 until Friday 7 July | Clunies Ross Street, Acton | Book here.
Canberra Glassworks School Holiday Program
Looking for something fun to keep the kids entertained? Let them unleash their imagination in glass. Under the guidance of some of Australia’s most acclaimed glass artists, in this school holiday class they will learn introductory techniques in glassmaking to create their own masterpiece. Just a little note: the program runs only from Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
Saturday 1 July until Sunday 8 October | 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | Book here.
Acting The Playtext
ACTING FOR THE FUN OF IT presents Acting The Playtext, a six week course on developing skills and techniques to bring a playtext to the stage. Suitable for actors, teachers and students of theatre the course comprises exercises in text analysis and interpretation and performance skills.
Comprised of six two hour sessions commencing on Wednesday June 21 until Wednesday July 26, the course consists of approaches to the performance of contemporary monologues and scenes. and explores the theories and practices of leading directors such as Stanislavski, Grotowski and Peter Brook.
Until Wednesday 26 July | 51 Fremantle Drive, Stirling | For more information contact Peter Wilkins at [email protected] or 0408034373.
Dedicated to the Dedicated: Whitlam, the arts and democracy
Delve into detail as you take a guided tour through a remarkable collection of Australian art—Whitlams’ Folio, which comprises artworks gifted to Margaret and Gough Whitlam in 1979. Containing artworks by John Olsen, Brett Whiteley, Lloyd Rees, John Coburn, Arthur Boyd and more, this is a unique opportunity to see artwork by iconic artists.
Until Saturday 28 October | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | Book here.