CW brings you the latest in arts and entertainment news from around the Canberra region. Highlights this week include sustainable art projects, a podcast and legends on stage.

Book of the Year now open

Now that the 2022 ACT Book of the Year has been announced, the nominations for the 2023 competition are now open.

Lucy Neave took home the title and the $10,000 prize money for her second novel, Believe In Me. The awards aim to recognise works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry created by authors in the Canberra region each calendar year.

Judged by a panel of independent experts, the recommendations are sent to the Minister for the Arts with entries awarded on three different levels. The top spot, ACT Book of the Year, is awarded $10,000, while highly commended books are given $2,000 each and every short-listed book receives $1,000.

Nominations close Thursday 15 June 5pm; arts.act.gov.au

War records digitised

In an act of preservation, the National Archives of Australia and Ancestry.com have come together to digitise 95,000 First World War records.

In this round of digitisation, the series titled MT 1486/1 tells the story of individuals who attempted to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The applicants were either rejected, discharged while in training, or served within Australia only.

The often-overlooked story is an important part of our military history and gives an insight as to why people may have been knocked back for training and service. The new series joins over 376,000 digitised records of the AIF.

See the new records and more at recordsearch.naa.gov.au

Bold Types the podcast

The second season of the National Library of Australia’s Bookmark This brings Australia’s gusty female journalists to life in Bold Types.

The podcast is inspired by the book of the same name by Dr Patricia Clarke, which told the stories of female journalists making waves at home and abroad between 1860 and the conclusion of World War II. Hosted by Amy Remeikis and Dr Clarke, the podcast invites a line-up of contemporary women journalists to share their own experiences and reflect on those who paved the path for them.

The six-part series can be found on the NLA channel, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you might find podcasts. Episode one drops Wednesday 3 May, with the rest to be released in the consecutive weeks.

Art, but make it sustainable

Inspired by the notion of find, make, renew, Mugga-Mugga Cottage is hosting a number of sustainable art workshops this autumn.

Each Saturday for the month of May, locals are invited to come and try their hand at a sustainable and exciting craft. Most of the workshops are led by experts in the field, including print artist Peter McLean teaching attendees how to engage with their natural environment through printmaking.

Learn to weave baskets with grass, stitch beautiful and intricate landscapes, or create and bind your own natural book. With limited spaces in each workshop, people are encouraged to book early; bookings are essential.

Book a workshop at Mugga-Mugga Cottage via events.humanitix.com

Short courses at Belco Arts

The Belconnen Arts Centre has announced its new Resident Company and it is one that is sure to help locals create beautiful pieces for their bodies and homes.

The CIT Solutions’ short courses are run by experienced tutors in different areas of the creative realm, teaching locals how to sew, create and paint. The workshops are run from the Belconnen Arts Centre in both one-off and ongoing sessions.

Ever wanted to try your hand at bird embroidery, Henna, woodland weaving, macrame or intricately drawn details? Now you can through the short course program. Keep an eye on the website, with more to be offered throughout the year.

Enrol in a short course at Belconnen Arts Centre; belcoarts.com.au

Students creating sustainable designs

Primary school students from across the Queanbeyan-Palerang region are invited to get creative for World Environment Day with the Minecraft Sustainable Design Competition.

Launched last year, the competition invites students to create a Minecraft world in response to a solution to a problem the world is facing. This year, they are asked to explore solutions to plastic pollution. Once their world is complete, entrants are tasked with creating a short video explaining how it offers solutions to the problem.

Entries close on World Environment Day, 5 June, and an awards ceremony will take place on Friday 23 June. Prizes will be awarded to the most innovative designs with great rewards offered by Questacon, The National Dinosaur Museum, and Cockington Green Gardens.

For more information and entries, visit qprc.nsw.gov.au

A lifetime of art

A pop-up exhibition and digital archive celebrating the lifetime of work created by Canberra region artist, Hiroe Swen, runs at Drill Hall Gallery on 3-21 May.

Born in Kyoto, Swen trained as a painter and textile artist, with a recognised career in her hometown. The artist relocated to a property outside of Queanbeyan in 1968 where she and her husband established the Pastoral Gallery. Swen taught her craft at Canberra Technical College until 2000.

Supported by the NSW and ACT governments, The world of Hiroe Swen’s ceramic art: a digital archive has captured more than 50 years of her work, documenting over 140 ceramic works, while an edited film follows her creative practice.

The world of Hiroe Swen’s ceramic art: a digital archive launch and po-up exhibition at Drill Hall Gallery, ANU, 3-21 May; dhg.anu.edu.au 

Yothu Yindi marks Reconciliation Day

Legendary Australian band Yothu Yindi headlines this year’s Reconciliation Day 2023 concert at Canberra Theatre on Sunday night, 28 May.

Wanting to bring music lovers together on beautiful Ngunnawal Country since 2018, the Canberra Theatre Centre hosts this special Reconciliation Week event. The 2023 theme for the week is ‘Be a Voice for Generations’, and creating music for decades, Yothu Yindi perfectly captures the sentiment.

Joining the band on stage is the event host, Tahalianna Soward-Mahanga, a Wiradjuri teen, and young Canberran First Nations artists Alinta Barlow and Stewart Barton.

Reconciliation Day 2023 at Canberra Theatre Centre, 28 May 7pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au

New Director at PhotoAccess

Local photography and digital media arts organisation, PhotoAccess, has announced the appointment of its new director, Alexander Robinson.

Starting in the role from 20 June, Robinson takes over from Kirsten Wehner who is moving to the National Museum of Australia. Robinson has experience in the arts sector in project management and managing roles, as well as practical experience as a recognised photographer.  

With PhotoAccess preparing to celebrate its 40th birthday next year and move into a purpose-built world-class arts precinct in Kingston, it is an exciting time for Robinson to come on board. He says now is a significant moment for the photographic community, one he is excited to be part of.

To find out more about PhotoAccess, visit photoaccess.org.au

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.