This spring-like weather we’ve basked in this week is forecast to end just in time for the weekend. But fear not, there’s plenty happening in the Canberra region this weekend, 4-6 August, for you to escape or embrace the winter chills. For more happenings during August, check out What’s on around Canberra in August 2023.
Events & markets
Canberra Blues Society: Celebrates the 11th International Blues Music Day with 9 local and interstate acts, a hot rod display and specialty market stalls. Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, Saturday 5 August 1pm; canberrabluessociety.com.au
Capital Region Farmers Market: Fresh seasonal produce and gourmet goods at EPIC, Saturdays 7-11.30am; capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
Winter Wonderland: Haig Park Village Markets in Braddon will once again turn into a wonderland of wintery excitement with the spectacular Winter Wonderland on Sunday 6 August 8am–12.30pm.
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets continue at the Old Bus Depot in Kingston, Sundays 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au
Canberra Raiders double header: GIO Stadium will play host to a Raiders double header against the Wests Tigers. Sunday 6 August, NRLW match kicks off at 1.45pm before the NRL clash starts at 4.05pm, ticketek.com.au
Live performances
Good Works: Jumping between the 1920s and the 1980s, this classic Australian work written by Nick Enright, produced by Mill Theatre and directed by Julian Meyrick, explores the lives of two mothers and their sons as they try to follow the rules of Catholic morality. The Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Fyshwick, until 12 August; lexisekuless.com/mill-theatre-at-dairy-road
Hay Fever: A chaotic family invite guests to join them on a retreat full of drama, secrets and wickedly fun revelations in this laugh-out-loud comedy. ACT Hub, Kingston, 3-12 August; acthub.com.au
Fanny Lumsden: The award-winning artist has dropped her new record, Hey Dawn, and brings her national album tour to Canberra at Street Theatre, Friday 4 August (sold out).
Matters of the Heart: Body image, babies and relationships are just a few topics Deborah O’Toole covers with warmth and humour. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 5 August 7.30pm; tuggeranongarts.com
The Spooky Men’s Chorale: The unforgettable all male group bring their national tour to Llewellyn Hall, Saturday 5 August 7.30pm; ticketek.com.au
Miriam Liberman Trio: A marrying of West African influences and blues melodies and powerful vocals when the ensemble performs music from their album, Just Transforming, at The Street Theatre, City West, Saturday 5 August 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
Hayley Jensen: The country music sensation and popular Australian Idol alumna brings The Acoustic Experience to the Royal Hotel Queanbeyan, Sunday 6 August 2pm; muzeek.com
Exhibitions
Know My Name: Making it Modern: Opening weekend of this new exhibition celebrating the “most influential Australian modernist women artists” displayed in a single suite at the national Gallery of Australia, Level 2. Free. From 5 August until 8 October; nga.gov.au
Feared and Revered: Explore feminine spiritual power through the ages in this exhibition on loan from the British Museum, National Museum of Australia, until 27 August; nma.gov.au
MoAD: Home to a host of exhibitions, such as Behind the Lines 2022 and Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings at Old Parliament House, free entry; bookings encouraged.
Canberra Glassworks: Presents two new solo exhibitions – a circular logic by Lisa Sammut, and What Gave You That Idea by Zoe Brand. Canberra Glassworks, Kingston, until 8 October; canberraglassworks.com
ACT Historic Places Art Prize: Features 29 works from 26 artists with locals invited to come along and vote for their favourite piece. Lanyon Homestead, until 15 October.
Jessica Loughlin: Solo exhibition of light, from the JamFactory ICON series celebrating South Australia’s most influential artists, ends 4 August, at ANU School of Art & Design Gallery; soad.cass.anu.edu.au
Exquisite Corpse – Insight into the Human Body: Students from the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology and School of Art & Design present works from a collaborative course. Project Space, ANU School of Art & Design, until 4 August; soad.cass.anu.edu.au
Beaver Galleries: Two exhibitions – Sophia Szilagyi’s qualities of quiet and Dai Li’s Bittersweet – a fiction. Beaver Galleries, Deakin, end this weekend. On until 5 August; beavergalleries.com.au
PhotoAccess Canberra: Three exhibitions – You are close be-side me by Chin-Je Melodie Liu; Resistance Relapse by Nico Krijno; and Parallel Play by Rory Hamovit. Griffith, until 12 August; photoaccess.org.au
Zig Zag: A chromatic exhibition of abstract paintings from Al Munro, Hannah Beasley, Ham Darroch and Kate Vassallo. The Mixing Room Gallery, Thor’s Hammer, until 12 August; thors.com.au
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Two exhibitions – Natalie Bateman’s Djiraali Muriyira, and Jennifer Procter’s Intertidal. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, until 12 August; tuggeranongarts.com
Bodies Without Organs: A group exhibition from Canberra region artists explores how contemporary artists transgress and subvert our understanding of materiality and form. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Parkes, until 12 August;ccas.com.au
At Mid-Career, James Drinkwater: Recognised as an exceptional early talent, the artist shares the vibrant and striking works for which he is known. Drill Hall Gallery, ANU, until 20 August; dhg.anu.edu.au
Belconnen Arts Centre: Hosts four exhibitions – Josh Evan’s ngadhi murangidyal – My Healing; Kayannie Denigan’s Reflections of Country; Julie Bradley’s Resonant; and Rebekah Lane’s Inherited. Until 20 August; belcoarts.com.au
Craft + Design Canberra: Presents two exhibitions – the collaborative work in Exuberance, and Eliza-Jane Gilchrist’s Uncommon. Canberra City, until 26 August; craftanddesigncanberra.org
Day Dreamer / Night Thinker: A solo exhibition by local artist Saskia Haalebos exploring questions of mortality, empathy and miscommunication. Megalo Print Studio 8, until 12 September; megalo.org
Changing From From to From: Immersive multimedia creations marry culture traditions and science, history and political events in this exhibition from Haegue Yang. National Gallery of Australia, until 24 September; nga.gov.au
Gulgawarnigu – Thinking of something, someone: A collection of digital works from young artists from Ngarluma country. National Portrait Gallery, until 2 October; portrait.gov.au
Ngura Pulk-Epic Country: One of the largest First Nation community art projects, created and directed by the Anangu people. National Gallery of Australia, until 8 October; nga.gov.au
How Cities Work: The interactive exhibition explores the mystery, mayhem and magic of cities, with hands-on construction sites, a futuristic design station and more. Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic Square, until 8 October; cmag.com.au
Grit & Gold Tales from a Sporting Nation: Relive the highs and lows of Australia through our rich sporting history. National Library of Australia, Parkes ACT, until 5 November; nla.gov.au
Capturing Canberra: A display of Canberra Museum and Gallery’s recently acquired Press Photography Collection with over 3,500 images telling the story of our region. Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic Square, until 28 January 2024; cmag.com.au
The ballad of sexual dependency: Nan Goldin’s career-defining work captures the intimate lives of a community of friends in the 1970s-1980s in these raw and captivating shot. View discretion advised. National Gallery of Australia, until 28 January; nga.gov.au
Blueprint: Discover objects which helped shape Australia at the new permanent interactive exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House; moadoph.gov.au
Canberra/Kamberri, Place & People: Discover the story of Canberra as the place where nationhood found a home – the people, places and history that make up this city and region. Canberra Museum and Gallery, ongoing; cmag.com.au
Have an event to add?
Email your What’s On event to [email protected] with ‘What’s On’ in the subject field. Include essential information – who, what, where, when, and entry details.
