IT’S SCIENCE WEEK and this Sunday 23 August 4pm Griffyn Ensemble director, Michael Sollis, will be joined by astronomer Fred Watson and the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra in “The Sound of Light – an aural journey through the lights across the universe”.

WATSON will lead the audience on a trip through the southern skies. As well, Kiri Sollis will be performing a flute concerto with Mandolin Orchestra, “Perpetuum Mobile”, by Urmas Sisask. At Belconnen Arts Centre, tickets at the door or griffynensemble.com

AVIARY Art is a skyline exhibition at Canberra’s first rooftop bar. The inaugural exhibition dates are August 20 to September 11 in the Aviary Rooftop Bar, Westside. Exhibiting Artists include ANU School of Art graduates and students Art-by Walrus, Joel Arthur, Eleanor Neumann and Belle Palmer The artworks will be for sale via silent auction. Bids can be placed online for the duration of the exhibition at aviaryart.com

THE 12th Annual AICE Israeli Film Festival is in full flight at Palace Cinemas until August 30. Artistic director this year is Richard Moore, former director of the Melbourne International Film Festival, who says, this year’s program has a strong focus on the ‘dark arts of the documentary’ and is divided into a few thematic sections. Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au

A new musical coming up at Theatre 3 on August 21-22 only tells the entire history of Ireland. Written and composed by local Irish-born Caroline McNicholas, “The Haunted Celts” travels through Druid rituals, the arrival of Christianity, ‘transportation’ the 1916 Easter Rising and into contemporary Ireland. They’ve lured in top Irish singers Carmel Conway and Alice Gildea the 2015 World Irish Dancing Champion, Conor Simpson, dancers from Kokoloco, members of Coro chamber choir, harpists An Si, fiddler Sandy Gibbney, pianist Mike Dooley and McNicholas’ own band, Night Potion. Bookings to canberrarep.org.au or 6257 1950.

“EMBEDDED in you” is an installation by Sydney artist Lucas Davidson, combines video and mirrors to break with the standard 16:9 format of the screen. The mirrors reflect and distort the moving image, creating an environment that requires the viewer’s firsthand experience. At ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place Dickson, 12-5pm Wednesday to Sunday until Sunday, September 6.

THE Song Company is welcoming Italian lute/theorbo/guitar virtuoso, Simone Vallerotonda  for its latest concert, “A Night in Siena” at 6pm in Wesley Uniting Church on Saturday, August 22. Billed as “a cornucopia of musical cameos, comic tricks and touching moments of humanity”, it features Horatio Vecchi’s magnum opus “Le Veglie di Siena”. Bookings to songcompany.com.au or tickets at the door.

“Interrestrial” is an interactive ceramic exhibition tha aims to defy traditional ‘look-but-don’t-touch’ gallery conventions and invites you to touch and play with the works. It features the work of recent graduates from the ANU School of Art, Verney Burness, Richilde Flavell, Isabelle Mackay-Sim, Michelle Lim and Zoë Slee. The show spans a variety of ceramic approaches from functional objects to sculptural forms and installations, challenging the perceptions of how ceramics can be used. Opening: Friday August 28 at 6pm in Nishi Gallery, 17 Kendall Lane, NewActon.

FOLLOWING the ‘GLINT’ Glass + Print residency in 2014, Kingston neighbours Megalo Print Studio and Canberra Glassworks are once again working together to host a residency which will see glass and print artists working collaboratively across both studios over the next 6 weeks. Glass artists selected for the GLINT residency include George Agius (SA), local artist Spike Deane and Canberra Glassworks studio artist Debra Jurrs. Local designer Luke Chiswell has already designed their ‘Hotshop Chic’ t-shirt which is available for purchase at the Canberra Glassworks shop.   Members of the public will be able to see the artists working from their studio spaces in the Engine Room at Canberra Glassworks until September 14.

THE Phoenix pub in Civic has a busy night this Saturday August 22 from 9:30pm, with The Hard Aches, Hannahband and Propeller. Entry $5.

BORN in Canberra, blues singer/songwriter Owen Campbell returns with a range of artists to help give shelter to orphans in Indonesia. ‘Art for Charity’, at Canberra’s Polish Club this Saturday August 22, covers a broad spectrum of art ranging from poetry to blues, and techno to short documentary films, and aims to raise money for a refugee school in Indonesia. The Cisarua Refugee Learning Centre is a school for refugee children, run by refugees. $2000 can pay a year’s rent– this is the target. Minimum donation of $15, with a recommended donation of $20. The line-up includes Campbell, electronica artists Gabe Gilmour, Doppel and Prole, poetry/contemporary dance performer Melinda Smith.

QUEANBEYAN City Council’s art exhibition runs daily until September 27 at QAS Gallery 6 Trinculo Place, under the Queanbeyan Bridge. All welcome.

As part of her RAW Canberra “Accessories Designer of the Year” award, artist Peony N’ Pearl will have her very own pop-up store at Canberra Outlet Centre in Fyshwick every weekend in August. Open from 10am to 6pm every Saturday and Sunday, she’ll sell jewellery and floral accessories.

“MASTERCLASS for Performers of Art Song” sees diva Yvonne Kenny, patron of Art Song Canberra, giving a masterclass for singers and accompanists at Wesley Uniting Church in National Circuit, Forrest. Audience members will be welcome: Admission $30, concession $25, full-time student $15. Bookings to trybooking.com or at the door.

FRIENDS of the Classics Museum have their annual winter dinner at Teatro Vivaldi this Saturday 22 August 22 at 7pm for 7.30pm. The theme is ‘Vesuvius at Vivaldi’. The classically inspired Roman banquet features Professor Matthew Spriggs, who will speak on the subject of ancient lead curse tablets in Britain. Bookings to Teatro Vivaldi 6257 2718.