THIS Sunday the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra is staging “Festival Indonesia 2014,” an annual folk festival with a variety of authentic Indonesian dance performances, music and songs.

There will also be food and craft stalls and a raffle offering a handsome travel prize. At The Embassy of Indonesia, 8 Darwin Avenue, 18 October, 11 am to 5 pm.

A sculpture festival will be held in the grounds of Canberra Grammar School as part of celebrations to mark the school’s 85th anniversary. The 10,000 Harris Hobbs Small Sculpture Prize Festival will launch the event tomorrow Thursday 16 October at 6pm and the festival will run until 16 November, 10am-4pm Oct 18 and 19, then weekdays 10am-4pm and weekend 11am to 4pm. The Australian Open Garden Scheme is supporting the project and accordingly the grounds of the Canberra Grammar School will be open to the public during the event.

“SAND and Magma” is an exhibition by Ecuadorian artist Michael Ayala Ayala tracing his journeys between Brisbane, the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador. Michael Ayala Ayala in the School of Art Foyer, Ellery Cres, ACTON. Opened by Raúl Gangotena Ambassador of Ecuador 6pm today, Thursday 16 October and runs until 25 October Tuesday to Friday 10.30am – 5.00pm Saturday 12.00pm – 5.00pm.

THE popular Australian native plant spring sale is on this Saturday 18 October at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 8.30 am – 1.30 pm or until sold out. Bring a bag or box for your purchases. In the Southern Car Park of the Australian National Botanic Gardens Clunies Ross Street, Acton. A list of plants for sale is at http://nativeplants-canberra.asn.au

THE Cat Empire has been picking a musician from every state to join them on stage during their tour and the winner of the Canberra competition will share the stage with The Cat Empire at their show here at the UC Refectory this Friday October 17.

BLUEJUICE’S last ever Canberra show is on this Saturday October 18 at the ANU, but we doubt you’ll be able to get tickets. You could try at ticketek.com

THIS Sunday, Igitur Nos presents its spring concert in a program including Handel’s “Ode to St Cecilia,” Ola Gjeilo’s “Second Eve” and Charpentier’s “Te Deum, performed with a baroque orchestra, with soloists Greta Claringbould and Rachel Walker (soprano), Lachlan McIntyre (tenor) and Peter Laurence (baritone) and conducted by Matthew Stuckings. At St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, Sunday 19 October, 3pm. Tickets at the door or bookings to stickytickets.com.au/20561/igitur_nos_sings_handel_and_charpentier.aspx

THORNTON Walker’s recent paintings continue to explore both figurative and landscape images that possibly allude to photos taken by his father in the 1930s in Canada, stills or ‘frozen moments’ from old Japanese movies and his own travel photos.

BY contrast, the organic forms and tonal variations that occur in nature provide a rich source of inspiration for glass artist Holly Grace. Both are exhibiting at Beaver Galleries 81 Denison St, Deakin, and Tue to Fri 10am – 5pm & Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm, 16 October – 4 November.

“WEEDS to Wildflowers” is the theme for spring at Ivy Hill Gallery. With seven artists — Deb Johansen, Veronica O’Leary, Tanja Riese, Julie Bradley, Liz Faul, Petra Murphy and Tony Millard—taking part there is plenty of scope for varied interpretation. 3 October to 3 November at Ivy Hill Gallery on the coast road between Bermagui and Tathra, 10 – 5 Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

‘SHIRAZ Exchange’ brings together two artists from Shiraz in Iran and one from Queanbeyan. This exhibition is a cultural exchange, exploring the differences and similarities in contemporary abstract painting. Zoya Tavakoli works with ink and acrylic on paper, Goshen Goshen’s paintings employ the stories of Persian miniature painting in a cubist style. Timo Nest is a Finnish born Queanbeyan painter, who, during a visit to India in 2013, discovered the mystical poetry of Sri Aurobindo that became both the inspiration and the title for his paintings. At The Q art space, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 253 Crawford St Queanbeyan, weekdays 10am – 4pm, Saturdays 10am – 3pm.

MISS Kitka’s House of Burlesque celebrates the 80th anniversary of Hammer House of Horror with a Hammer Horror themed market and Burlesque Show. At Canberra Irish Club, Weston, 3 -10pm, this Saturday October 18, bookings to eventbrite.com.au/e/hammer-horror-burlesque-show-tickets-12630497157

SOPRANO Louise Page and pianist Phillipa Candy bring the legendary Australian diva to life in “Nellie Melba: Queen of Song.” ‘Madame Melba’ reminisces about her life of glamour, fame and notoriety and sings the sublime music that made her an icon. It’s a fundraising concert for the Newborn Intensive Care Foundation, Canberra Hospital. At Wesley Uniting Church National Cct, Forrest, 3pm, Saturday October 18^th. Tickets only at the door.

CHRIS Harford and Rick Beviss are consummate potters who have focused their efforts over many years on creating functional wares. In “Studio to Table” they unite to present table and domestic ware that is aesthetically pleasing, technically proficient and satisfying to use. 16 to 26 October, 10am – 4pm Thursday to Sunday, Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, Watson, 10am to 4pm Thursday to Sunday. Opening event 6pm Thursday 16th October, all welcome.

IT is estimated that between 5,000 to 10,000 women and girls from Nepal are trafficked into the sex industry in India and surrounding countries against their will every year. Project Didi Australia is pleased to present ‘Hope & Opportunity’ a collaborative photography exhibition showcasing the beauty of Nepal and its darker side, with the aim of increasing awareness of trafficking in Nepal and raise funds to support survivors of trafficking. October 16 ­ 23, CIT Reid Campus Design Space, Block F15. Opening Night this Thursday October 16 6:30 ­ 8:30pm. All images will be for sale and monies raised will be used to continue skills training and education programs with Asha Nepal www.asha-nepal.org.

MADELINE Bishop, recent graduate of the ANU School of Art Honours programme presents “Monuments”, a photographic series commenting on domestic life in contemporary Australia at Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka. Opens 6pm this Thursday 16th October and runs until Sunday 26th October at 19 Furneaux Street, Manuka, and Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 5pm.

CERAMIC artists’ network, Claybodies, is staging its first regional exhibition at STUR Gallery in Braidwood. “Eclectika: ceramic artistry for the table,” sees 11 artists, Sarit Cohen, Linda Davy, Sue Fisher, Gwenna Green, Erin Kocaj, Alice Macdonald, Vicky Newman, Fran Romano, Antonia Throsby, Tania Tuominen, Jo Victoria, respond to the revival in the appreciation of studio-made tableware ceramics, resulting in works that are functional, sculptural, and conceptual. Opening 6pm, Friday 17th October by Patsy Hely, Emeritus Fellow, ANU School of Art, and live music by Richard Steele. All welcome. The exhibition runs to 9th November.

REGISTRATIONS for Playing Field Studio’s Arts Exchange Program are now open to the Canberra community. Dance with Jane Ingall is on 1st November, 10:00 am – 12: 30 pm. Script Writing with John Lombard is on 6th December, 10:00 am – 12: 30 pm. Each costs $2. Email playingfieldstudio@gmail.com to register your interest.

COMEDIAN Joel Creasey is back following a season of solo theatre shows Off-Broadway in New York, performances at Montreal’s ‘Just for Laughs’ Comedy Festival and shows in Los Angeles. He’s in town on 18th October at UC Zierholz. Bookings to 6206 3900.

FOR the first time The Sydney Consort welcomes harpist Verna Lee and percussionist Jess Ciampa in the fascinating instrumentation and collaboration with violin, viola d’amore and harpsichord weaving through the music of 17th century Spain. The program also features Nadia Piave, soprano, Stan W. Kornel, baroque violin and viola d’amore and Monika Kornel harpsichord. Sunday, 19th October, 3pm at Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, bookings to trybooking.com/DVKI or at the door 30 minutes before the concert.