“RISING Stars: The Hits of Broadway, Opera and Operetta” is a concert of song by seven young opera talents either contracted to Opera Australia, or studying post-graduate opera at Sydney Conservatorium.

THEY’RE partnering with Canberra Youth Music Choir to present a program packed with classics from Broadway favourites like “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera”, as well as operatic ensembles and a cappella gospel pieces. Three local young talents Lachlan McIntyre, Tenor, Kirstin Busby, Soprano, and Samuel Bisley, 10 years old, will be presenting a solo piece each. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 7.30pm November 7. Tickets at the door, under 12 free.

“DIG.it.all-Pandas+” is the punning title of an exhibition of 3D artworks by Dr Possum, (Christopher McLaughlan) who expresses his love of giant pandas in cutting-edge art. “I first created a panda in my 3D lightwave computer program. These images became my entry in the “Perception” exhibition at the Belconnen Art Centre, expressing the fragility of the species,” the artist says. Currently showing at gallery@bcs, Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Crt Belconnen Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm. Until November 14.

OOHLALA. The Alliance Française de Canberra is getting in early with its Christmas Fair and Open day this Saturday, November 8, from 10am to 3pm. There’ll be stalls from Canberra creators offering handcrafted products. Young photographer Madeline Bishop helps turn your photo into a Christmas card), and there’ll be pétanque and board games. Get to the Alliance, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner, by 10:30am for the Nankama drums, 11:45am for the band Two4Six and 2:15pm for The Victoria Street Brass. Free event.

THREE new exhibitions are opening at PhotoAccess in Manuka Arts Centre at 6pm today, Thursday 6 November. CIT Graduate Artist-in-Residence, Lori Cicchini’s exhibition “Ghost Stories” showcases her fashion photography, based on a collection by Canberra label, Rockstars and Royalty.

FELLOW Artist-in-Residence, Andrea Pitsilos’ show “Travel Diaries” presents unexpected images taken in the US and Canada.

IN the multimedia gallery, Tasmanian artist Liam James’ “ Dole/Dolour: An Allegory for the Fifth Corner of the World” explores an alternate Australian identity. www.photoaccess.org.au

BELL Shakespeare Schools’ Festival winds up tonight at the Playhouse with the different acts from “Macbeth being performed by students from St Francis Xavier College, Campbell High School and Batemans Bay High. Well worth a look.6.30pm bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

CANBERRA performing artist and music teacher Tim Bevitt (“Mr Tim”) is releasing his second children’s rock album “I can fly” in a concert this Saturday 8th November at 3pm in Lyneham High School’s Performing Arts Centre. Mr Tim and his eight piece band ‘The Fuzzy Elbows’ promise dazzle ‘tweens’ (5-12yrs) with songs ranging from rock identification in ‘Rock Rock’, the idiosyncrasies of English in ‘Language is funny’ to some of life’s inescapable truths. Mr Tim has pledged to make music fun for kids and parents alike. Entry by gold coin donation with all proceeds donated to ‘Boundless Canberra’, the ACT’s first all-abilities playground.

THE Vinyl Lounge is on again in the National Film and Sound Archive Theatrette in McCoy Cct Acton this Friday 7 November from 5:30-6:30pm, with drinks and nibbles from 5pm. Free entry, no booking required. As they say, “hear what’s spinning on the NFSA’s turntables this month.” And you can bring your LPs and groove into the Lounge too.

The India-Australia Association of Canberra presents a popular Indian musical bonanza at Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre on London Circuit, North Building 7pm, this Friday, November 7, singing and music by Soumitra Sarkar as well as Vikas, Arun and Nasir.

JOHN Stokes’ new book, “Fire in the Afternoon”, will be read by the author and friends this Saturday 8 November from 3-5pm at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle, and Forrest. Admission Free. All welcome.

‘POKE Something That Bites’ is an exhibition by Cohen Gum, an Adelaide based illustrator with a particular interest in mental illness. His work draws people in with deceptively bright, almost cheerful colours. Influences behind Cohen’s bold illustrative style can be traced back to cartoons like Rocko’s Modern Life, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters and Invader Zim, where the lines between what was appropriate for children but was humorous for adults were often blurred. You have to see his wallpaper! His show is up until Nov 18 at the Nishi Gallery, NewActon.

“NO-longer-quite-so loved” pieces of art are on sale at The Art Exchange in the Gallery on Southside, 63 Boolimba Cres, Narrabundah, weekdays between 9am – 5pm weekdays, closing on Monday November 10. But thanks to support from SCS Volunteers, the Gallery is open between 10:30am and 3:00pm this weekend November 8 and 9.

BILK Gallery for contemporary metal and glass in Palmerston Lane Manuka is opening “Lamina,” a solo exhibition by Adelaide jeweller Kath Inglis, tomorrow, Friday, at 6pm (all welcome) and running until December 5. Inglis who is well known for her distinctive style and signature use of the material, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), manipulated by colouring, cutting, carving and more recently, heat fusing layers. Inglis says, ‘To touch this work dispels the illusion as the material is flexible, supple and as light as air.’ Some objects, she says, are like ‘the kind of object my grandmother may have placed on a doily.’

SHIAMAK’S Dance Factory is staging the first Dance Factory Show Case by its Canberra students, billed as a journey celebrating Bollywood through Dance. Highlights of the show include performances by The Shiamak Sydney Dance Team. At Gungahlin College Theatre, 23 Gozzard St, Gungahlin, ?noon this Saturday, 8th November.

THE Gallery of Australian Design and the Australian Graphic Design Association are opening a free exhibition which showcases projects for not-for-profit organisations and charities by local graphic design studios and advertising agencies tonight at 6pm, all welcome. Each of 10 case studies chosen presents the clients’ brief, design solution and outcome in a succinct and clear manner. At GAD, 47 Jardine Street, Kingston, until 29 November – general exhibition hours, Monday to Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm.

ROSE Chaffey and Hilary Peterson are exhibiting paintings at Ivy Hill Gallery on the coast road between Bermagui and Tathra from 7 November to 1 December, 10 – 5 Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Chaffey says Everywhere one looks there are human forms clothed in soft vegetation, while Peterson’s abstract paintings may refer to the spectacular coastline or to the bush, but all are informed by her environment. Drinks with the artists this Saturday 8 November from 5pm.

BEAVER Galleries has two openings tonight Thursday Nov 6, at 6pm, (all welcome) at 81 Denison St, Deakin.

IN “Ratoon,” sculptor Denese Oates exhibits mixed media sculptures exploring the idea that inspiration springs from a myriad of places, and that a universe of knowledge may be encased in small packages, ready to burst into the sunlight.”

KIRRILY Hammond’s exhibition of paintings & works on paper, “Suburbia,” whose works directly inspired by a sensitive interpretation of her surroundings. Her most recent work is inspired by the back streets of suburbia at dusk. 6 – 25 November, Tue to Fri 10am – 5pm & Sat and Sun 9am – 5pm.

18-YEAR-OLD Tkay Maidza’s latest single ‘Switch Lanes’ sees her teaming up with Gold Coast producer Paces. She’s been seen at this year’s Splendour in The Grass, Big Sound, Listen Out and mostly recently a run of shows in NYC, LA, and London, and she’ll be at The Chop Shop in Braddon this Friday, Nov 7. Entry at the door.

TODAY Thursday 6 November, at 6pm in Craft ACT: Craft & Design Centre, Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit, Graham Humphries, Craft ACT Vice President and Director, Cox Architecture will open three exhibitions exploring the humanisation of design and the emotive and physical responsiveness between the person, the act of making and the object—“Creative Licence,” “Resonant Objects” by Moraig McKenna, and an exhibition of woodfired ceramic home and table ware. Showing in the Crucible showcase is “A Shoe Lace Accessory” by April Phillips, billed as a shoes lover’s delight. These exhibitions run until December 13.

TUGGERANONG Arts Centre is launching two new exhibitions next week. “Little Things” documents Canberra illustrator, graphic designer and founder of the Good Design Club Juliette Dudley’s own assortment of coins, cacti and other collectables and explores her fascination for ‘cute’ things within the context of Kawaii, a prominent and popular aspect of Japanese culture. opens in TAC’s Gallery 1, at 6pm today, Thursday 6 November – all welcome – and continues until Saturday 29 November.

THEN in “Life Cycle – from the staffroom to the gallery floor,” 8 artist/art teachers at Lake Tuggeranong College, Richard Baldwin, George Cora, Lisa Styles, Phil Styles, Rachel Head, Linzie Ellis, Jacqui Ockwell and David Hearne, explore ideas about the cycle of life, life as a journey, science, religion and other philosophical ideas and thought. opens in TAC’s Gallery 2, at 6pm – all welcome –

FOR two weeks until Nov 17, The Front Gallery at 1 Wattle Place, Lyneham will host “Form and Dysfunction,” an exhibition of new artwork by Skye Gallagher and Gosia Pilat. Gallagher’s organic ceramic installation shows how porcelain undergoes change throughout its many stages of creation. Pilat’s drawings explore how animals might perceive their lives and the world around them. The opening is today, Thursday 6th November at 6pm. All welcome.

GEOFF Page has alerted us to ‘Jazz in Concert at The Gods’ today, Thurs Nov 6, featuring a group of local jazz heroes led by trumpeter and teacher, Miroslav Bukovsky, with John Mackey (saxophones), Tate Sheridan (piano), Eric Ajaye (bass) and Mark Sutton (drums), playing new and well-known compositions, jazz standards and a page or two from the Great American Songbook. Bookings to 6248 5538 or thegodscafe@gmail.com Dinner at 6.30; music at 8; non-eating seats can be booked but Page emphasises that eating keeps the Gods afloat.

SOUTH HILL Gallery in Garroorigang Rd Goulburn has works by Karen Green showing until November 16, Fri 12-5, Sat 10-5 and Sun 10-4 until Nov 16.

SELBY and Friends’ fifth tour of the year will be headlined by Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A Major, otherwise affectionately known as ‘The Trout’. Pianist/director Kathryn Selby’s program will also be teamed with Mozart’s Piano Trio No.1, ‘Divertimento’, in B flat major and Brahms’ Piano Quartet No.3, in C minor. Mysteriously , Selby promises some ‘classic pop’ too. Guest artists are Elizabeth Layton (violin), Tobias Breider (viola), Julian Smiles (cello) and Hugh Klüger (double bass). Nov. 10, James O. Fairfax Theatre, National Gallery of Australia, bookings to selbyandfriends.com.au