BEAVER GALLERIES have two new exhibitions opening this week. In “The Book of Trees”, former Canberran (but now Tasmanian) artist Sue Lovegrove brings together the tradition of 11th century Persian manuscript illumination with documentary style portraits of trees.

In “Solitude,” studio glass by Holly Grace, organic forms and subtle tonal variations that occur in nature provide a rich source of inspiration. On display at 81 Denison Street, Deakin, until November 6.

Events:

“NOT in my backyard”: the 2016 International Festival of Landscape Architecture will be the biggest gathering of landscape architects in the country, running from October 27-30. There will be the announcement of the National Landscape Architecture awards, dozens of workshops, a short film competition, the Garema Place takeover, the Parks Changing Australia exhibition, and an international conference.

AS part of the festival “Kidscape”, in Haig Park on Saturday, October 29, there will be dozens of workshops, such as urban gardening, Lego city building, nature play, as well as, food and drink stalls, plus 200 deck chairs for adults. All are welcome to sit back and relax while their little thinkers get their hands dirty. Not to mention the short film competition, plus more!

THE “Come alive!” museum theatre festival runs until Saturday, October 29, at the National Library. The festival’s creative director, Peter Wilkins said: “The performances illuminate our knowledge and understanding of Australia’s stories and relate to our humanity in an enlightening and entertaining way.” 

DESIGN Canberra is an annual festival celebrating and promoting the ACT as a global city of design. The public will have an opportunity to visit our own leading makers in their studios every Saturday. Details via designcanberrafestival.com.au

THE ANNUAL $7500 Clearwater Sculpture Prize on the banks of the Queanbeyan River is coming up from October 28-30, along with the annual Queanbeyan River Festival on October 29, and the popular Queanbeyan Palerang Art Trail on October 30.

THE 2016 ‘SpringOUT’ Festival, 17th year of  Canberra’s Pride Festival, begins with Fairday, hosted by the AIDS Action Council, at Gorman Arts Centre, 11am-4pm, October 29. The festival runs until November 20.

“OBJECT therapy” is the latest project in Hotel Hotel’s ‘Fix and Make’ program. It culminates in an exhibition of 30 broken objects that have been submitted by the public and have undergone ‘therapy’. Free entry. Continues until October 30. An object therapy discussion convened by Genevieve Jacobs and  Niklavs Rubenis will see local contributors discuss their repair works as part of object therapy. Panellists include gold and silversmith Alison Jackson, craftsman and academic Rohan Nicol, academic and curator Franchesca Cubillo and design student Susannah Bourke. Sir Roland Wilson Theatre, ANU, October 27, 6pm–8pm.

“CONTOUR 556: Interventions in the Landscape,” the new major sculpture festival, is set to transform outdoor spaces with beauty, innovation and sheer eccentricity. It’s on Lake Burley Griffin Foreshore from The National Library to Kingston Arts Precinct, October 21 until November 13. Details via contour556.com.au

Talk:

IN “Question Time: Laura Tingle”, Muse’s Nikki Anderson gets her clipboard out for an interrogation of Laura Tingle.  MUSE café in East Hotel, October 30. Bookings via musecanberra.com.au 

THE Mother Tongue poetry writing and performance showcase event will be at Tuggeranong, October 29, 6-8pm. Each person will have up to four minutes to read or recite a poem or story in their language, or a mix of languages, including English. The showcase will also include a musical performance from a live band and a performance by co-founder and artistic director of Bankstown Poetry Slam, Sara Mansour. For more information email mothertonguemic@gmail.com or call Jacqui on 0433 845900.

Classes:

ART OF ENDO workshops are free for women with endometriosis. Art classes usually cost hundreds of dollars. Thanks to a pozible campaign these workshops are FREE to women with endometriosis. Margaret Kalms will teach photography and Photoshop skills, Susan Hey will teach drawing and painting.  Contact Margaret on 0414 652 567, or Susan on 0407 901 677, or visit eventbrite.com.au

Prizes and Awards:

THE AUSTRALIAN Institute of Architects have opened voting for the National Architecture Awards’ 2016 People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award gives members of the public the opportunity to vote. Voting is open until 5pm, October 27, via wp.architecture.com.au

Arts business:

AINSLIE + Gorman Arts Centres’ newest initiative is a program called  the “Ralph Indie” season, named  after the late theatre director Ralph Wilson. The team has embarked on crowdfunding campaigns to support the last two shows,  Zsuzsi Soboslay’s “The Compassion Plays”, opening November 2 (https://pozible.com/project/anthems-and-angels-part-i) and Cathy Petocz’s staging of Caryl Churchill’s “Vinegar Tom” opening November 29 (https://pozible.com/project/vinegar-tom)

CANBERRA Youth Theatre is holding a trivia night to raise money for the artistic program and for The Verbatim Project to tour to Sydney. There will be quizzes, games and raffles. Bring your own food and drinks available to purchase at the event. Gorman Main Hall, Gorman Arts Centre. November 4. Bookings to cytc.net

ANCA (Australian National Capital Artists) is looking for a new part-time gallery manager with relevant experience and a passion for contemporary visual art. Applications are due before midnight, November 6. All details at anca.net.au or by phoning 6247 8736.

THE ANU (Canberra) Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens, is holding its annual fundraising dinner in the Aegean Room at the Hellenic Club in Woden, November 4. Inquiries and bookings to tracyhennessey@hotmail.com

BUDDING theatre’s new courses for ages 12-16 start on November 6, bridging the gap between children’s and adult theatre. They’re  inviting children and young people, aged 6-21, to audition for the  Christmas production “The Night Before Christmas,” at the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, from December 13-17. Audition in person on October 23, or by video to buddingtheatre.com/auditions/

EXPRESSIONS of Interest to exhibit in gallery@bcs in 2017 are now open, but closing on Friday December 2. Situated in the Belconnen Community Centre, gallery@bcs is an affordable alternative to commercial galleries with a focus on providing a balance between amateur and professional exhibitions. Download application forms at http://www.bcsact.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/gallery_at_bcsapplicationform2015.pdf

THIS November the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia will host some of the world’s leaders, in archiving and cultural collection, to explore big-picture questions of the 21st century. The conference is delivered in partnership with the National Archives of Australia. ‘Digital Directions 2016’, November 10. Bookings to nfsa.gov.au

PLAYWRIGHTS and directors are invited to take part in a 10 minute, Christmas-themed playwriting showcase, “Santa, Baby”, running at the Courtyard Studio from December 16-17. Submissions by November 6, to submissions@buddingtheatre.com

ORIANA Chorale are inviting the wider Canberra musical community to audition. A highly regarded a cappella group who present exciting programs of interesting chorale music from all periods, the chorale, has a strong sense of collective and belonging. If you are a singer with a strong confident voice and an interest in solo parts, they would especially like to hear from you at orianachorale@gmail.com

Film:

THE 20th anniversary Canberra International Film Festival, National Film and Sound Archive McCoy Circuit, Acton. All program details and bookings to ciff.com.au

THE ‘BBC First’ British Film Festival will be focusing on pioneering director Ken Loach and a ‘Local Heroes’ retrospective that includes “Goldfinger”, “Room At The Top” and “Carry On Up The Khyber”. It opens with Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom”, a period drama based on the true-life romance between Botswanan King Seretse Khama and his British wife. Palace Electric, November 16, bookings to palacecinemas.com.au

THE 16TH ANNUAL Russian Resurrection Film Festival will be at Capitol Cinemas Manuka, 6 Franklin Street, from October 27 to November 16, with everything from contemporary comedies to psychological thrillers. Bookings to eventcinemas.com.au

HALLOWEEN will be celebrated with a jam-packed night of events at the National Film and Sound Archive as part of Canberra International Film Festival.  Includes a free talk on CGI and VFX, followed by the Australian premiere of “The Frankenstein Complex”. At NFSA, 5.30pm, October 31.

Dance:

CANBERRA school of Bollywood Dancing is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Bollywood dance and drama spectacular, “The Tale of 10 Clues”.  With more than 100 dancers from 3 years old to over 60 taking part, in popular Bollywood hits.  Erindale Theatre, October 29. Bookings to trybooking.com

“FEEL the Music” is a year-long dance program specifically created for people with hearing impairment. It will be happening at Belconnen Arts Centre on eight Fridays of each school term. The program offers a wide range of dance styles, live music, social dance gigs, and some performance. Inquiries to philip.piggin@belconnenartscentre.com.au or SMS 0417 417182.

IN “TANGO Fridays” you can practise and improve your Argentine Tango on Fridays. “Nuestra Practica y mas”, Woden Seniors Club (Hall 2), 7pm-9pm. 

Concerts and Gigs:

A CELEBRATORY concert of wide-ranging repertoire by the accomplished women’s vocal ensemble, Lady’s Mantle, now 25 years old, will take place at Wesley Music Centre, 7pm, October 29. Tickets at the door.

WESLEY scholars Mia Huang & Emily Leong piano; Jade McFaul, Georgia Elith & Louise Keast, voice; and Jonathan Lee, organ will perform”Concert Songs to the Moon”, works by Sculthorpe,  Ravel, Debussy, Grieg, Dvorak and Puccini. Wesley Uniting Church, 4pm, October 30. Tickets at the door.

A RECITAL of works by Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Satie, Prokofiev & Poulenc by local pianist and endocrinologist Dr Robert Schmidli will be held at Wesley Music Centre to raise funds to support Canberra music therapist Jenni Lavett’s US-based PhD research trip. 6pm, October 30. Bookings to trybooking.com/MYXM

CANBERRA WIND Symphony will be performing “Legally High” at the High Court of Australia at 1:30pm, October 30. Registration is essential to hcourt.gov.au

CORO chamber music ensemble is working with Dutch tenor Koen van Stadeon a concert marking 400 years since Dirk Hartog’s 1616 landing in Western Australia.  “Dirk Hartog’s playlist”, St Paul’s Anglican Church, Manuka, 3pm, October 30. Bookings to corocanberra.com

SALUT! Baroque presents “The Bawdy and Refined Dance,” a tribute to the terpsichorean arts ranging from street dancing through convivial social dances to the refined style of Louis XIV. Albert Hall, 7.30pm, October 28. Tickets at the door.

KRISTY Cox, the award winning bluegrass Australian singer-songwriter who now lives in Nashville, and who recently won a Golden Guitar, will be  performing at The Abbey, Gold creek in October.

CARL Rafferty presents international opera star, Cheryl Barker in a twilight champagne concert at ANU’s Drill Hall Gallery. October 29 and 30. Inquiries to 0417 429899.

“MOVING On: A Tale of the Millennium” is a new novel by Don Aitkin. The launch will be held at Paperchain Manuka at 5.30pm, October 27.

BLUES Rocker Claude Hay will perform at The Harmonie German Club. October 30, bookings at oztix.com.au

ELEANOR McEvoy, who wrote and sang the song “A Woman’s Heart”, is playing in The Irish Club. 8pm, October 29. Bookings to trybooking.com/213510

PHOENIX pub in Civic has as follows: Thursday Oct 27, 9pm, Black Springs, Waterford Miners, Little Lunch;  Friday Oct 28, 9pm, The Filthy Teens & Guests;  Saturday Oct 29, 7pm, Nightmare On East Row: An 80’s Halloween Show with Revellers, Moaning Lisa, Elk Locker, Zen Haircuts, Green Bricks, NeedleDick Jacqui.

ARIA award winner Taasha Coates of the Audreys will be at Smith’s Alternative in Civic on October 27. Bookings to smithsalternative.com

THUNDAMENTALS will be at UC Refectory, October 29, with a brand new live show which will debut a collection of new material along with songs from their entire catalogue as part of their ‘Never Say Never’ tour. Bookings to oztix.com.au/?Event=66760

Theatre:

CANBERRA’S Everyman Theatre makes a welcome to the stage with “The Normal Heart” by Larry Kramer, directed by Karen Vickery with all-star local cast, Riley Bell, Christopher Carroll, Robert deFries, Will Huang, Teig Sadhana, Michael Sparks, Jarrad West, Chris Zuber and Jordan Best. It’s set in 1981 New York, when freedom and equality seem to be just around the corner. Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or on 6275 2700.

TEMPO theatre is up to no good again, this time with “The Vicar of Dibley”. The play was adapted from the TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer and will be directed by Jon Elphick. Belconnen Theatre, October 28 to November 5. Bookings to canberraticketing.com.au or 6275 2700.

SOPHOCLES “Antigone” is  at The Playhouse in an edgy new professional production, October 27–29 Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

AFTER playing the Patrick Swayze part in a national tour of “Dirty Dancing”, Kurt Phelan will be here with his cabaret, “Phelan Groovy” (oh dear). At Teatro Vivaldi, 7pm, October 28. Bookings to vivaldirestaurant.com.au or 6257 2718.

“WICKED,” the musical based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” is being staged by Free Rain Theatre, at Canberra Theatre, until October 28. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

Exhibitions:

HOT upon the big Michael Taylor retrospective “Michael Taylor: a survey 1962-2016” at the CMAG, Nancy Sever Gallery in Kingston has new paintings by Taylor on show at 4/6 Kennedy Street, Kingston. 11am to 6m, until November 20.

AN exhibition of the top five entries in the Ian Potter National Conservatory Design Competition opens at the Australian National Botanic Gardens on Saturday, October 22. The exhibition features the stunning winning conservatory design by Sydney firm CHROFI, and designs by the four other finalists, as well as design concepts developed by students undertaking the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, in the Faculty of Arts and Design, at the University of Canberra. Australian National Botanic Gardens Visitor Concourse, (adjacent to Visitor Centre) Clunies Ross Street, Acton. 8.30 am to 5.00 pm until November 6.

IN “EQUUS HOMO” by Stephen Harrison we see large format photographs of humans in harsh landscapes wearing sculpted horse heads and holding decaying sculls, alongside ghost-like, life-sized half horse and man sculptures. The exhibition was awarded to Harrison as the winner of Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s Exhibition Award at Sculpture in the Paddock. Tuggeranong Arts Centre until October 29.

“OBJECT Therapy” is the latest project in Hotel Hotel’s ‘Fix and Make’ program. It culminates in an exhibition of 30 broken objects that have been submitted by the public and have undergone ‘therapy’. Nishi Grand Stair at Hotel Hotel, continues until October 30. Free entry.

AN exhibition of paintings, drawings, assemblage and sculpture, “Mutable Realities”, showcases work by noted artists Patsy Payne, Sara Freeman, Trish Roan and Peter Jordan. Looking beyond the world of reason, they use their work to explore everyday miracles, intangible realms and threshold places. Nishi Gallery, Kendall Lane New Acton. Runs until October 30.

THE “Invisible Borders” project explores migration, citizenship, identity, and the refugee experience through performing and visual arts. Shows include “Seeking Refuge”, an exhibition of sculpture, photography, paintings and multimedia considering the refugee crisis by artists Sean Davey, Lucile Carson, Euan Graham, Mona Khizam, Penny Ryan, Barak Zelig, Nicci Haynes and Caren Florance. British/Pakistani writer and community development worker Irfan Master’s show “I’m From Here”. At Tuggeranong Arts Centre, until October 29.

CANBERRA Contemporary Art Space, at Gorman Arts Centre has three new solo exhibitions: Marie Hagerty’s “Blue-blooded” hypnotises the viewer with “constructs of exhilarating fluidity. In “Almost illegible” Tony Curran presents recent oil paintings, drawings and videos; and Vanghoua Anthony Vue reinterprets Hmong textile designs and written languages. All until Novomber 19.

LARAH Nott and Jo Hawley are both relatively new artists showing at Bilk Gallery, with a shared interest in architecture and the language of form. Nott’s brooches are inspired by the floor plans of concert halls, while Hawley takes a more abstracted approach to forms, exploring the concept of internal and external spaces created from deconstructed domed circles. “Alternative Views – Larah Nott and Jo Hawley,” Bilk, Palmerston Lane Manuka, runs until November 12.

TO celebrate Belconnen’s 50th birthday, Belconnen Arts Centre asked artists throughout Australia to respond to the theme of “Traces”: speaking of place; connection to it; stories and personal memories. Alongside “Traces”, BAC has: “The Map Project,” conceived by Istra Toner, joining groups of artists from several different countries; “In Memory: The Work of Irma Darre Trickett;” and “Pivotal”, by Jen Mallinson, a series of contemporary sculptural works that explore the cycles of existence. Belconnen Arts Centre, until November 6.

M16 artspace at 21 Blaxland Crescent Griffith has, opening today, “Colour Grid Series” by Fiona Little, “Made in New York” by Carmel D’Ambrosio, “the unbearable lightness of seeing” by Francis Kenna, “Water Was Here” by Fran Meatheringham and in the Chutespace “3 x 3 (Violet)” by Little. All exhibitions open to the public from 6pm, October 20 to   November 6. 12pm-5pm Wednesday to Sunday.

IN “Sound Check,” artists Nicci Haynes & Shags tinker with instruments, weirdly wonderful inventions, high-low tech contraptions, buttons to press, sonic pencils, and an etching animation. ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson. 2pm-5pm, Wednesday to Sunday, to November 6.

GLASS artist Hannah Gason will open her first solo exhibition at Suki & Hugh Gallery on October 8. Raising the excitement level even further, the artist will launch her new design label ‘t.u.l.e.’ [tying up loose ends] alongside the exhibition. 38A Gibraltar Street Bungendore, runs until November 27.

PHOTOACCESS presents two new exhibitions celebrating the ephemeral nature of experience: ‘Grounded’ by Georgia Black and ‘Surfacing’ by Caroline Huf. Black explores transience and impermanence as a state of mind and Huf showcases a series of still and moving image works exploring ideas of surface, substance and duration. The exhibitions will continue in the Huw Davies Gallery, Manuka Arts Centre, until November 6.

IN “The World around Us”, three well-known Canberra artists, Eva Henry, Stuart Marshall and Isla Patterson are exhibiting watercolours, oils and pastels, landscapes, seascapes, people, plants and flowers. Ginninderra School House Gallery, Gold Creek, Nicholls. Continues until October 30.

AN exhibition of works by children from the Belconnen Community Service Children’s Programs runs until October 28 in gallery@bcs, Belconnen Community Centre, at Swanson Crt Belconnen.

THE Australian War Memorial’s latest exhibition, “For Country, for Nation”, is the first exhibition dedicated exclusively to exploring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories of military service in times of war and peace. It will highlight the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and explore themes of remembrance and tradition though family histories, objects, art, and photographs.

“FINDING the Essence” is a solo exhibition of print and three-dimensional works from Sydney artist, Trish Yates. Yates aims to slow your pace and focus your vision with a collection of semi-abstract woodblock and monotype prints inspired by trees and the broader landscape.  At FORM Studio and Gallery, 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan, until October 30. Monday to Friday 9.30 am–2.30 pm, Weekends 10 am–4.00 pm.

THE Drill Hall Gallery at the ANU has a double ceramics and painting exhibition: striking large-format abstracts in “Charlie Sheard – Paintings and Watercolours” and the retrospective show of ceramic art, “Doug Alexander – Ceramics: Remembering Doug Alexander (1945 -1981)”. At Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street (off Barry Drive), Wednesday to Sunday, 10-5pm, until November 6. Free entry.

“END of Day” is photographer Susan Henderson’s solo in The Photography Room at the Old Bus Depot Markets. Entrance is off the car park in Printers Way on the Foreshore side of the market building. On Sundays 10am-4pm. Appointment necessary.

“FRESH Glass”, draws inspiration from spring. In celebration of Floriade, Fresh Glass pairs studio glass vessels and sculpture with botanical installations. You can buy bunches of flowers too and watch floral artists at work. Entry is by donation at Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston. 10am-4pm, Wednesday to Sunday, until October 30

THE ANU Gold & Silversmithing Studio at the School of Art has an ongoing exhibition by its alumni. It’s a selection of works from over two decades of brilliant graduates, Gilbert Riedelbauch, Blanche Tilden, Oliver Smith, Phoebe Porter, Larah Nott, Halie Rubenis and Harriet Lee-Robinson. ANU Building 105, entry via Ellery Crescent Foyer Gallery, until November 1. Open to the public by appointment.

FOUR artists from the Canberra region are among the top entrants in the revamped Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, opening at the National Archives of Australia, daily, until November 15. Dan Power wins in the: Emerging section”.

“MIKE Parr: Foreign-Looking” is the first exhibition to bring together works involving all media across Parr’s voraciously experimental practice from 1970 to the present. This installation of performance, film, sculpture and photography provokes a challenging yet mesmerising experience. National Gallery of Australia, until November 6.

THE NGA has “Diane Arbus: American portraits”. Open now until October 30. 36 of Arbus’ most iconic photographs are exhibited alongside a selection of photographs from the NGA collection. “Design and Nature”, glass and ceramics by Art Nouveau masters Louis Comfort Tiffany and Clément Massier and 80 objects from the NGA’s collection, is open now until March 2. And in the Contemporary Asian galleries there is a new display focused on contemporary Chinese art which has opened featuring provocative works by internationally renowned artists such as Ai Weiwei, Xu Zhen and Zhang Huan, open until November.

“A HISTORY of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum”, at the National Museum of Australia. Until January 29, bookings to nma.gov.au

“DISSECTIONS” showcases the hyper-realist sculptural self-portrait of artist Sam Jinks, “Divide”, alongside the painted portrait of philosopher David Chalmers by Nick Mourtzakis, which was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in 2011. Gallery 1, NPG, to November.