CW brings you the latest in arts and entertainment news from around the Canberra region. Highlights this week include an art prize and scholarship applications opening.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra launches scholarship

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra (CSO) has launched the Sue Daw Scholarship to provide two adults with hearing loss five months of tuition with one of their musicians.

Successful applicants will train with their choice of artist for a 30-minute session each week from July to November. They will be able to choose from the violin, cello, percussion or harp, with CSO able to facilitate instrument rental and costs throughout the period.

The scholarship is named after Sue Daw OAM, a long-time CSO supporter who played a vital role in setting up the Orchestra’s program for people with hearing loss, and also led the Canberra branch of Better Hearing Australia from 1999 to 2018.

The scholarship launch coincides with the return of Rediscovering Music, a community-focused music program which aims to teach attendees with hearing aids and cochlear implants to enjoy music. 

Applications open until 19 May; visit cso.org.au for full details.

Art Prize Open

Entries for the third annual National Capital Art Prize are now open, with artists around the country encouraged to submit their work.

The $45,000 prize pool is divided across three categories: Open Prize, First Nations Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and Sustainability Prize. Each category winner will be awarded $15,000, while the winner of the People’s Choice Award receives $2,500.

The Sustainability category is open to all mediums including sculpture and photography, while the Open and First National categories must be a painting that is framed and hung on the wall. Finalists’ works will be displayed in Canberra during September, with winners announced the week of 11 September.

Entries close 30 June; for full details, visit nationalcapitalartprize.com.au

New artistic director for Canberra Writers Festival

Renowned Canberra writer, critic and commentator, Beejay Silcox, has been appointed artistic director of the Canberra Writers Festival.

Festival director Paul Donohoe said Ms Silcox brings with her a nuanced understanding of the current cultural landscape, national and international experience at festivals, and an extraordinary network of writers and speakers.

Ms Silcox has been a judge on some of Australia’s most prestigious grant and prize panels, including the 2023 Stella Prize and Calibre Essay Prize. For her first festival, this August Ms Silcox will create a program around the theme of Power Politics Passion.

The program for the Canberra Writers Festival, 16-20 August, will be released 5 July; canberrawritersfestival.com.au

Screen Canberra farewells CEO

Monica Penders, CEO of Screen Canberra has announced plans to retire from the organisation after almost 15 years in the role.

MsPenders plans to stay on with the organisation until September to allow enough time for the board to conduct an executive search for her replacement.

Her legacy in Canberra’s film industry includes: the $5 million CBR Screen Investment fund, which boosted the economy and provided jobs for local creatives through production being created in the region; Screen POD, a development program to help creatives break into the industry; and the first ever Graduate Certificate in Screen Development with the University of Canberra.

Ms Penders is keen to continue working within the industry in Canberra and will put feelers out after some time off to travel.

Find out more about Screen Canberra at screencanberra.com.au

Milk music returns

It is time to cry over Spilt Milk – happy tears that the travelling music festival will make its way back to Canberra this year thanks to a boost from the federal government.

In an initiative to help the Australian music scene’s economic recovery from the global pandemic, the government has injected $2.5 million into music festivals, as part of the $20 million Live Music Australia program.

One of the 26 grants awarded was the regional music festival Spilt Milk, which returns to Canberra this November. Federal Member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh, says the grants will jumpstart music festivals again, bring the community together and providing a boost to businesses in the region.

“Canberrans love live music and the whole community will benefit from this support toward Kicks Entertainment – Spilt Milk Festival 2023,” Dr Leigh said.

Spilt Milk will flow at Exhibition Park in Canberra, Saturday 26 November; spilt-milk.com.au

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