The ACT’s fifth annual Reconciliation Day public holiday will be celebrated on Monday 30 May, singling us out still as the only jurisdiction in Australia to mark this occasion in this way.
From a stellar line-up of First Nations talent at the Reconciliation Day Eve Concert or the Raiders playing the NRL Indigenous Road matach against the Eels at GIO Stadium on Sunday 29 May, to exhibitions featuring Indigenous Australian artists, and a free community Reconciliation Day event at the Arboretum on Monday 30 May, there’s plenty of ways for you to celebrate your way.
Check out our list to see some of what’s on in and around Canberra this Reconciliation Day long weekend, 27-30 May. Please note, many of the events listed don’t have a specific Reconciliation Week theme – such as the RSPCA ACT Million Paws Walk lakeside on Sunday from 11am.
SPORT
NRL: The Canberra Raiders face the Parramatta Eels in the NRL Indigenous Round at GIO Stadium Canberra (home of the Ngunnawal People) on Sunday 29 May 4.05pm. Tickets: raiders.com.au
AIHL: In the Australian Ice Hockey League, Canberra Brave take on the Sydney Bears at the Brave Cave in Canberra (aka Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre) on Sunday 29 May 4.30pm. Tickets: shop.cbrbrave.com.au/tickets/
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Reconciliation Day at the Arboretum: Acknowledge Reconciliation Day at the National Arboretum Canberra on Monday 30 May from 10am to 3pm, with heaps of family-friendly activities including a smoking ceremony, storytelling, live music, panel discussions, Indigenous craft activities, workshops, and more. Free buses will run every 30 minutes between the City Interchange (outside Mooseheads) and the National Arboretum from 9.30am to 3.45pm.
RSPCA ACT Million Paws Walk: This paw-some annual fundraiser is back after a two-year pandemic hiatus with an in-person and their pooches event at Patrick White Lawns (between the National Library and Lake Burley Griffin) from 11am to 6pm this Sunday 29 May. To join the event or the virtual walk, or to donate, please visit millionpawswalk.com.au
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Reconciliation Day Eve Concert: Featuring a some of the strongest voices in the country, such as powerhouse rapper Briggs, award-winning singer Christine Anu, and soulful electronic music duo Electric Fields, Canberra Theatre Centre is the only place to catch the 2022 Reconciliation Day Eve Concert on Sunday 29 May 6.30pm. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Ainslie Salon Autumn Series: A host of homegrown and interstate musicians play Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres, Braddon, 28 May; agac.com.au
21 Forster St: A local production set in Bungendore by Kate Walder, at The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan, 26 May-4 June; theq.net.au
Become The One: An award-winning romantic comedy featuring two lovable characters at Belconnen Arts Centre, 26-27 May; belcoarts.com.au
QL2 Dance: The Quantum Leap ensemble in Terra Firma at the Playhouse, Civic, 26-28 May. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Coward Punch: A verse play by CJ Bowerbird that explores anger and grief, livestreamed online from The Street Theatre, 27 May 5pm; thestreet.org.au
Where are the scissors?: Too Peas in a Podcast live show at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 27 May 7pm; toopeasinapodcast.com.au
Elton Out of The Closet®: A live Elton John tribute show at the Village Centre, National Arboretum Canberra, 27 May; stickytickets.com.au/OCA1C
Urzila Carlson: The Kiwi/South African comic brings her new show, It’s Personal, to Canberra Theatre, 27-28 May. Tickets: canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Children’s storytime: Join author Susanna Crisp as she shares her gentle story, Under the Moonlight, Saturday 28 May 11am, Harry Hartog at South.Point; southpointcanberra.com.au
Chemical ReACTion: Rebus Theatre and Questacon present this award-winning interactive theatre performance exploring the dilemmas of science communication, at Questacon, 28 May 11am, 7pm. Free; bookings essential: premier.ticketek.com.au
Tallagandra Hill: The Gundaroo vineyard hosts The Badloves with King Canyon, Saturday 28 May 7pm; tallagandrahill.com.au
Canberra Men’s Choir: Concert at Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, 28 May 2.30pm; $15 at the door, canberramenschoir.net
Flamenco for Everybody: Poetry, percussion, Flamenco guitar, contemporary dance and the hypnotic hang come together at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 28 May 7.30pm; tuggeranongarts.com
Fleetwood Mac Show: Performed by tribute band Running in The Shadows at Bicentennial Hall, Queanbeyan, 28 May 8pm; theq.net.au
FILM SCREENINGS WITH Q&A
The National Film and Sound Archive is screening two contemporary documentaries: Wash My Soul in the River’s Flow followed by a Q&A with director Philippa Bateman on Friday 27 May 7pm; and The Lake of Scars, also followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Bill Code and Amos Atkinson, on Saturday 28 May 2pm. Visit nfsa.gov.au for details.
EXHIBITIONS
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: A Celebration of First Nations Artists – Rechelle Turner, Aidan Hartshorn and Jessika Spencer – with three exhibition openings on Saturday 28 May at 3pm. As part of Saturday’s celebrations, TAC also welcomes Tuggeranong vocalist Tahalianna Sowward-Mahanga, who will be performing a set of songs in the Lodge at 3pm, and Wiradjuri Echoes, who will lead a smoking ceremony and Acknowledgement of Country outside by the Lake at 3.15pm. The exhibitions continue until 16 July.
National Museum of Australia: Indigenous hunting and cooking tools are on display alongside stunning contemporary kitchen objects, wrapped in Country, painted by Aboriginal artists, heralding a unique and enduring partnership between the National Museum and Australian company Breville. The exhibition – An Aboriginal Culinary Journey: Designed for Living – in the Museum’s new Lake View Landing space, focusses on the continuity of cultural mark-making associated with Indigenous food culture by pairing First Nations traditional tools for living alongside six modern kitchen objects also richly marked with signs of Country and culture. To coincide with Reconciliation Day, the exhibition is open from 27 May until 7 August at the National Museum of Australia’ it will tour internationally later this year. Find out more online at nma.gov.au
ShowRoom Canberra: Find home design, build, garden and lifestyle inspiration at this two-day event at Budawang Pavilion, Exhibition Park in Canberra, 28-29 May 9am-4pm. More info: theshowroomcanberra.com.au
Australians & Hollywood: This Canberra-exclusive exhibition celebrating iconic moments in contemporary Australian film and the people and stories that brought them to life continues at the National Film and Sound Archive, Acton until 17 July. Tickets: nfsa.gov.au/hollywood
Shakespeare to Winehouse: Icons from the National Portrait Gallery, London are on show at the National Portrait Gallery, Parkes until 17 July. Tickets: portrait.gov.au/exhibitions
National Gallery of Australia: Exhibitions include 4th National Indigenous Art Triennial: Ceremony (until 31 July), Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now (until 26 June), and Judy Watson & Helen Johnson the red thread of history, loose ends (until 5 June). Open every day (except Christmas Day) 10am-5pm. General admission is free with ticket; book here.
Craft ACT: Two exhibitions – Collide + Divide, and Fire Country – continue until 2 July, at Craft ACT Gallery, Civic.
Canberra Contemporary Art Space: The Parkes gallery presents, Remnants, which acknowledges Wendy Teakel’s continued engagement with the concerns of Arte Povera and Environmental Art and our spatial and temporal relationships to land. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-5pm, until 3 July.
Canberra Contemporary Art Space @ Manuka: Through Fabric by James Lieutenant, balances fluidity and vulnerability with the surfaces of his artworks. Open Friday-Sunday 11am-5pm, until 29 May; ccas.com.au
Nancy Sever Gallery: Ben Taylor’s New Works exhibition continues until 12 June, open Wed-Sun 11am-5pm; nancyservergallery.com.au
MoAD at Old Parliament House: Home to a host of exhibitions, such as: Democracy DNA; Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings; and Behind the Lines 2021. Free entry; bookings encouraged. Book your free General Museum Pass here.
MARKETS
Capital Region Farmers Market: Fresh produce every Saturday morning 7am to 11.30am at Exhibition Park in Canberra. capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets have returned to the Old Bus Depot in Kingston every Sunday 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au
