If you’re scratching your head thinking of a gift for the art lover in your life, look no further than this creative Christmas gift guide.
Supporting local artists and makers
Giving someone a uniquely Canberra Christmas gift this holiday season has never been easier, with so many amazing local artists and makers throughout the Canberra region offering unique gifts both online and in store.
artsACT has compiled a webpage that will help you explore Canberra’s local arts scene and buy a truly one-of-a-kind gift, crafted by locals. With this resource, supporting our local artists is simple; there are a range of options allowing you to buy from an art gallery, a local shop or directly from the artists themselves.
Visit arts.act.gov.au/support-our-local-artists for the full list.
Eye candy
Have your friends or family just moved into a new place and have a few blank walls? Whether it’s that or they’re just a lover of the visual arts, Canberra has many galleries where you can pick up some exquisite works produced locally and abroad.
Visit the Scott Leggo Gallery, Kingston; Aarwun Gallery, Gold Creek; or Craft ACT, Civic.
DIY delights
For those who enjoy a hands-on experience with artistic endeavours, consider buying sketchbooks, brushes and paints, a canvas, drawing pencils, books, woodworking equipment or a beautiful journal and pen – to name just a few.
If they’re starting out, book them in for some lessons. CIT and CIT Solutions offer a range of short courses, and private lessons are available from a host of local providers.
Visit Spotlight; Bunnings; Officeworks; Typo; Pepe’s, Canberra Centre; or Eckersley’s Art & Craft, Braddon or Belconnen.
Break a leg
Make the theatregoer in your life’s Christmas with a subscription to one of the Canberra region’s fine theatres, a gift certificate or tickets to a show.
You can buy a subscription for The Q at Queanbeyan, or Canberra Theatre; The Street Theatre offers gift cards of any amount.
Music to my ears
This one’s for the beautiful people who love beautiful live music. In 2021, the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will set off on a new beginning of sorts under incoming artistic advisor Jessica Cottis. They will also triumphantly return to the stage in style after a disrupted 2020, performing a rich program encompassing almost everything from John Williams to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Visit cso.org.au to look at the subscription packages available.
Crossing streams
Gone are the days of handing out DVDs or even iTunes gift cards – streaming is now the go. So whether your indulgence is movies or music, why not choose a Christmas gift card for their streaming service of choice.
Get the resident couch potato a Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video or Disney Plus gift card; or if they’re a sports lover, look to the Kayo.
The music lover will appreciate a voucher for their streaming service of choice, be that Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal.
Visit netflix.com; stan.com.au; kayo.com.au; spotfiy.com; disneyplus.com; primevideo.com; apple.com/au/apple-music/; or tidal.com for more.
Museum Friends
If you know someone with a passion for history, heritage and learning, sign them up for an individual or group gift membership into the National Museum of Australia’s Museum Friends program. Museum Friends enjoy a multitude of benefits including discounted entry to major exhibitions, which in 2021 will include the much-anticipated Ancient Greeks exhibition from December, exhibition previews and behind-the-scenes tours, and discounts at the Museum Shop and Cafe.
Add children aged 3 to 12 to the membership for $5 each to enjoy free exhibition entry and discounted school holiday activities.
Visit nma.gov.au for more.
Book it in
Several excellent Canberra-centric books have been released recently that would make excellent Christmas gifts, including local artist Mick Ashley’s coffee table book It Came from Centenia; Trevor Dickinson’s Beautiful Bus Shelters of Canberra; Our Bush Capital, a children’s book written by Samantha Tidy, Illustrated by Juliette Dudley; and cookbook Tears, Laughter, Champagne: A Story of Friendship Forged Through Fire and Food by Karen Downing.
