CW brings you the latest in arts and entertainment news from around the Canberra region. Highlights this week include recognition for Canberra glass artists and Mental Health Month celebrations.

Canberra Glass MAKE

Two Canberra-based glass artists are finalists in this year’s Australian Design Centre’s MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design.

Hannah Gason hosted a solo exhibition at Canberra Glassworks late last year and has works on display in the Canberra Centre in partnership with the Glassworks and Floriade.

Lisa Cahill was internationally recognised for her work in collaboration with the Canberra Glassworks for the Sir John Monash Centre at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France. She undertook the Art Group Creative Fellow at the Canberra Glassworks in 2018.

The non-acquisition award is the most lucrative in the class of craft and design in the country with the winner taking home a cash prize of $35,000 and the runner-up receiving $10,000. First prize went to Melbourne designer Vipoo Srivilasa while the second prize went to Adelaide-based Jessica Murtagh, who was the 2021 Canberra Glassworks artist-in-residence.

Finalist entries are on display at the Australian Design Centre, Sydney until 22 November; makeaward.au

Moments of Connection

Belconnen Arts Centre is calling on artists and creatives of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to contribute to their open exhibition in recognition of Mental Health Month. The Moments of Connection entries will be on display at BAC from 31 October to 12 November.

Pieces are to be in response to the theme, which can mean a connection with self, others, animals, the world around us or any connection that sustains the creator. Created in any medium, the works must be uploaded in a digital entry and printed professionally for the exhibition.

Believing that art and creativity have a role to play in enhancing our wellbeing, BAC encourages the community to get involved this month.

Entries close Sunday 29 October; belcoarts.com.au

Courtroom meets theatre

An interactive theatre initiative explores the legal system while challenging it to understand the impact of trauma on clients. Just Hearing can be experienced by the public at Gorman Arts Centre on 20 October.

Set in a solicitor’s office, a person with lived experience of mental health challenges seeks legal advice, only to find the legal system is complicated and frustrating. The forum theatre delivery style keeps audiences engaged as they are encouraged to interject when they feel like the legal service provider could have helped their client in a more inclusive way.

Rebus Theatre, an inclusive Canberra theatre company, was commissioned to create the work by Canberra Community Law and Legal Aid as part of Mental Health Month celebrations. It will be delivered in two performances – one for mental health consumers, service providers and advocacy groups, the other for the public.

Find out more about Just Hearing at rebustheatre.com

Napier Waller Prize open

The prestigious art prize for current and former Australian Defence Force personnel is now open for applications. The Australian War Memorial 2024 Napier Waller Art Prize celebrates excellence from service personnel while raising awareness of their experiences.

Works can be submitted in any visual art medium and format. The winner receives a cash prize of $15,000, while the People’s Choice winner, as voted by the public, takes home $5,000.

The winning artwork last year was a painting by Anneke Jamieson depicting a uniformed servicewoman breastfeeding a baby. Inspired by her own experience, Ms Jamieson was awarded the top prize and the People’s Choice.

The winner and highly commended works will be displayed at Australian Parliament House in May 2024 before being accepted into the Memorial’s National Collection.

Entries close Sunday 17 December; awm.gov.au

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