• CHIEF Minister Katy Gallagher ventured into Jon Stanhope territory on January 18 when she opened Masahiro Asaka’s first solo exhibition at the Glassworks. Winner of the 2011 Ranamok Prize, Asaka’s exhibition runs until March 15.

• A SIMILAR political burst of interest in culture will be seen on January 27 at 4.30pm when Senator Kate Lundy launches an exhibition of work by members of the ACT Porcelain Artists Association (Strathnairn, 10am-4.30pm, Friday-to-Sunday, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt, until February 12).

• AN exhibition of work from 2003 to now by Canberra fibre artist Nancy Tingey will run at Belconnen Arts Centre from January 21-February 12. Included are constructed textiles, installations, charcoal drawings, wall pieces and watermedia made in collaboration with English papermaker Jackie Scammell.

• MURRUMBATEMAN’S Flint in the Vines now has an open-air cinema, which will get its first airing next week. The screenings are at sundown as follows: January 25, “American Graffiti”;  January 26, “Lantana”; January 27, “The King’s Speech”; January 28, “Sideways” and March 2, “Red Dog”. Tickets are $10, and a dinner and movie package is available. Bookings to 6227 5144 or www.flintinthevines.net.au

• THE annual outdoor Summer Sounds Concerts Series at the Australian National Botanic Gardens on the Eucalypt Lawn every Saturday and Sunday in January from 6-7.30pm culminates in a blockbuster final weekend on January 28 and 29, with double the entertainment, commencing at 4.30pm. Entry is by donation. More information at www.anbg.gov.au/gardens

• QUEANBEYAN Art Society has found an unusual new sponsor in Goulburn Yurtworks. You might wonder what a yurt-builder sees in the arts, but it’s clear enough to owner Mike Shepherd, who is keen to promote his Mongolian-inspired building as the perfect backyard studio for painters and a good way of getting them out of the house.

• The ACT Writers Centre has two “How to sell your book to an Australian publisher” workshops with publishing expert Rhonda Whitton in early February. One is open to all participants, and the other is a free session for writers from non-English speaking backgrounds. Visit www.actwriters.org.au or phone 6262 9191.

• BOOGIE, blues and soul singer Shaun Kirk will be performing to launch his album “Thank You for Giving Me the Blues”, 8pm, January 27, Old Canberra Inn, 195 Mouat Street, Lyneham.