FOOTBALL and art are often said to occupy different cultural spheres, but questioning this is ‘Footy Fever’, an exhibition presently showing at the Canberra Contemporary Art Space.

The show  explores the varying relationships artists have with their favourite football codes, including Aussie Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, and Wheelchair Rugby. “Footy Fever”, curated by Alexander Boynes. At the Canberra Contemporary Artspace, Gorman Arts Centre, until October 10.

PHOTOACCESS has two new shows, “Antarctica” by nature photographer and former director of the Australian Antarctic Division, Tony Fleming, and its final Members’ Exhibition for 2015, “PhotoACTIVISM,” both running until October 18.

THE Australian Haydn Ensemble and Taryn Fiebig soprano, with The Australian Haydn Ensemble, a program exploring the sublime to the dramatic of the soprano voice in the Classical Era. Haydn’s virtuosic ‘Arianna a Naxos and Haydn Symphony no. 102 as well as works by Hasse. Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 7pm tonight , Thursday, September 24. Bookings to australianhaydn.com.au or tickets at the door.

THE Foray Quintet presents “Vatra – Passion”, a scintillating program including Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet and Croatian composer Dora Peja?evi?’s Piano Quintet. This ensemble includes Kimberley Steele piano, Anneliese McGee-Collett cello, Sarina Walter viola, Elyane de Fontenay violin & Felicité Heine (violin). Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest, 7.30pm Friday, September 25 Bookings to forayquintet.com or at the door.

DAVID Black, who is a member of the faculty of ANU School of Music and an organist at Wesley will perform the RSCM Organ Recital FREE at the Wesley Uniting Church, 22 National Circuit, Forrest, at 12.40pm today Thursday, September 24.

SHAKESPEARIAN comedy is to the fore with Canberra REP’s “Much Ado about Nothing” on show, directed by Cate Clelland. Heading up the cast are Jim Adamik as the talkative Benedick and Lainie Hart as his female sparring partner, Beatrice. At Theatre 3, Repertory Lane, Acton, until October 3, bookings to 6257 1950 or canberrarep.org.au

IN the next ADFAS Molonglo Plains Lecture, Alexandra Drysdale will give a lecture entitled “Journey of the River from the Source to the Sea”. Drysdale is a graduate of both Chelsea & Cambridge Schools of Art, an art historian and a professional artist specialising in painting, sculpture and performance. She has been an artist in residence at Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon on the Shoalhaven River. At the Comfort Inn Airport, Queanbeyan, 2pm, Thursday, September 24 International Entrance fee. $25 for guests. All welcome.

“MOTHER, Wife and the Complicated Life” is a new Australian musical set to counter the Hollywood version of marriage and motherhood. Chosen for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, it was written by Amity Dry, familiar from Channel Nine’s hit TV show “The Block”, who also stars in the show that they’re billing “the ultimate Girls Night Out.” At The Q, Queanbeyan, until September 27, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

THIS Friday, writers, musicians and sound-designers will collaborate for ‘Words on a Wire’, a live story telling event presented by Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres in partnership with rip publishing. Artists will pair with each other to respond to historical images and creative provocations. Expect bedtime stories, blistering spoken word and candid reflections, all with a live score. At Gorman Arts Centre, Ralph Wilson Theatre, 7pm, Friday September 25, $5 at the door.

COUNTRY Music Awards of Australia Golden Guitar Female Artist of the Year, Amber Lawrence, heads up the “Girls Of Country” tour coming to the Canberra Southern Cross on Thursday September 24 at 8pm. Lawrence will be joined by fellow country songstresses Aleyce Simmonds and Lyn Bowtell, in a 2 hour show featuring their individual hits and some trios. Bookings to ticketek.com.au

TOBY Cole and Canberra Choral Society are staging “Come and Sing Messiah” in Llewellyn Hall on December 12, but applications to join in close on October 12 and rehearsals start on November 2. “Wonderful” and “thrilling” are some other words the society is using of the experience. Visit trybooking.com

THE 16th Lavazza Italian Film Festival has 32 titles this year. At Palace Cinemas in NewActon until October 11, Bookings to palacecinemas.com.au

ANU Drill Hall Gallery will be displaying sculptures made over the last 40 years by Sydney artist Michael Buzacott, an inventive, idiosyncratic artist working in the Cubist tradition. At the Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street (off Barry Drive), Opening at 6pm, Thursday September 24, and runs to November 1, Wednesday-Sunday, 12-5pm.

“CANBERRA Botanical” is an adjudicated exhibition of over 80 artworks running until October 5, daily from 10am to 4pm at the Nishi Gallery in NewActon. The works are for sale.

CANBERRA cross-disciplinary painter and sculptor Byrd is in his final weeks of the program “That’s Not Glass!” at the Canberra Glassworks AS ARTIST-in-residence. Byrd will be personally leading a behind-the-scenes tour of the Glassworks, giving access to some of his hidden artwork placed throughout the historic Power House. Canberra Glassworks, Kingston, 11am this Saturday, September 26.

PAINTER Isla Patterson has a watercolour show “Australia & the Antarctic” to be opened by Kerry McInnis, artist and Art Conservationist, at 3pm on Sunday, September 27 and running at the Yarralumla Gallery, Weston Park, until October 25, Mon. to Fri. 10am -5pm, Sat. & Sun. 8.30 -5pm. The Antarctic paintings from come from a trip she took in 2013.

HOU Leong’s paintings, curated by Peter Haynes, are in The Silk Road Gallery, 19 Kennedy Street, Kingston, until October 4, 7 days, Sun-Tues 10-2, Wed-Sat 10-4.

“THE Metaphysics of Space: Painting a Body of Light” is the exhibition of works resulting from the research of artist Ella Whateley, runs until September 26 at the School of Art Gallery. There are two major series in the show, ‘Passing’ and ‘Inter,’ both of which interpret key points in the changing light over a 24 hour period.

‘DREAMS of Love’, songs from George Frederic Handel to Andrew Lloyd Webber, will be presented by Bron Riley (mezzo soprano) and Noelene Akeroyd (piano). Cooinda Hall, Kangara Waters Community Centre, 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 2,15-3pm, Saturday September 26 Bookings to trybooking.com, or at the door.

A FLORAL Display and Art Show will be held at with works by local Canberra and regional artists displayed in the All Saints Anglican Church Hall and floral displays in the Church. Flower arranging demonstrations in the Church at 10.30am and 1pm on Saturday, plus guided tours of the church. At All Saints Anglican Church, 9 Cowper St, Ainslie, September 26-28.

THE Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club is the venue for a spring celebration to coincide with the opening of new function room following the removal of poker machines from the venue last month. Highlights include live music from noon featuring Owen Campbell and his band from ‘Australia’s Got Talent’, and the Black Mountain String Band, as well as free kids entertainment with the Gecko Gang including clowns, face painters and rides and free lake cruises every hour. At Southern Cross Yacht Club, noon to 5pm, this Sunday September 27. All welcome.

“SCULPTURE in the Paddock” continues at Cooma Cottage, Yass Valley Way, Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday to Monday, 10am-4pm until October 11. Admission to paddock free, but contributions are welcome via a donation box. Visitors are eligible to vote in the People’s Choice Award.

BARAK Zelig’s new solo exhibition, “Hybrids” runs at the Goulburn Historic Waterworks from this Sunday, September 27 to November 30. The official opening by Cr Geoff Kettle, Mayor, Goulburn Mulwaree Council is at 11am on Sunday, all welcome. 27th September at 11am. The opening coincides with the opening of the renovated Waterworks Firemen’s Cottage.

THE Sunday markets located at Canberra’s container precinct by the lake in Westside Acton Park are held every week and support local ACT businesses by showcasing talented artisans, designers and collectors for a fun market day out complete with food from the precinct’s street food vendors and music. There is a selection of fresh produce, vintage wares, and designer goods on offer. Noon to 6pm at 3 Barrine Drive, Acton. Free car parking and public transport available but there are currently no ATMs at the precinct.

JANET Angus is a recent graduate from the ANU School of Art. Canberra Contemporary Art Space presents her new solo exhibition “Within These Walls” at CCAS City in Hobart Place, Civic, until October 24 Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm Saturday 9am to 1pm. Angus’ paintings take the form of three dimensional constructions as a means of reflecting the structure of the human mind.

BILK Gallery is currently presenting “Slippage”, a much-anticipated exhibition of new works by jewellers Sean O’Connell (NSW) and Nicholas Basin (VIC). Aesthetically their work is wildly different, these two jewellers have a shared predilection for and revel in the “fuzzy edges, the in-between, and the slippery bits”.

STRATHNAIRN Arts at 90 Stockdill Drive Holt has Jenny Blake’s paintings in her show ‘Beyond our Hot Horizon’ in Gallery One. Meantime Gallery Two is hosting 11 still life paintings by local artist Robert Riggs in his first solo exhibition, ‘A Quiet Moment’, which evokes the quietude of the considered interior. Until September 27

“WONDER & Loss”, a springtime show of contemporary Australian ceramics by Cathy Franzi, is at Karen O’Clery’s Narek Galleries, 1140 Tathra-Bermagui Rd TANJA. Franzi, a ceramic artist working and living in Canberra, was this year awarded a PhD in the Ceramics workshop at the ANU School of Art where she has been investigating ways in which representations of Australian flora on the ceramic vessel. Continues to Sunday, November 15.

“DISTANT VOICES” is an exhibition combining the works of two artists and close friends, Roger Beale and Grahame Crocket, in M16 Artspace, Blaxland Crs Griffith. Also at M16 are “Synthesized Fragility” by Eleanor Evans, and “Waxing, Waning,” in which Lucy Chetcuti explores the cultural, spiritual and emotional relationships between people and the moon. All exhibitions run until October 4 at M16.

“Transfer,” new works by Canberra artist and printmaker, Jo Hollier inspired by a residency in Thailand, “Tideline,” images of the Kimberley coast by Elizabeth Truswell, “Rent? Home? Sanctuary?” the International Tenants’ Day Art Exhibition are all on show at Belconnen Arts Centre until October 18.

Meantime in the Outdoor Gallery at Belconnen Arts Centre, sculptor Mike MacGregor presents “The Makings of an Angel,” the result of the inaugural exhibition prize presented at Sculpture on the Edge in Bermagui in 2014. The exhibition explores the question of what constitutes an angel and what we ‘need’ in an angel.