ROBYN Archer has today given Canberra its first taste for what’s to come in the capital’s 100th year in 2013.

The Centenary creative director says Canberra will celebrate the milestone through a year-long calendar of events, “showcasing the very best of what goes on in Canberra each year – the people, the places and the events”.

But despite Archer’s accomplished arts background, Centenary of Canberra will not only feature arts, but sports, science, arts, politics and history.

According to organisers: “It will be the first time that Canberra’s annual calendar of events is ‘packaged up’ and promoted to a national and international audience – revealing a lively, active 21st century city most apt to be the nation’s capital”.

It’s not only about 2013, but beyond that has also been “firmly in the thinking development and decision making of the Centenary of Canberra team”.

This week’s announcement is the beginning of a series of announcements that will be made from now until September, when the full program is launched.

In a framework of Canberra seasons, the program’s centrepiece will be the opening of the National Arboretum.

The big party will be on the long weekend of March 10 and 11 with, “Canberra… in so many words” – a physical breakout of words all around the city, the world premiere of a new “Centenary Symphony”, commissioned from composer Andrew Schultz and to be performed by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Centenary choir, multiple music stages featuring Canberra bands for both young and old and performances by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and for the over-18s “The Longest Bubbly Bars in the World” to treat people on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin to local taps and wine.

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The weekend will also coincide with “Enlighten”, which will be in its third year, the Canberra Festival “absorbed into the whole-of-March celebrations” and the youthful You are Here festival.

Over the other months there will be strong partnerships with the cultural institutions and interaction with the wider community, including “Portrait of a Nation”, an interactive online project that invites residents to discover the stories, secrets and meaning behind their street and suburb names – most of which named after prominent Australians.

“Spin: Canberra’s Weekends on Wheels”, a multi-sited event across the city will celebrate all-things-with-wheels and, so far, includes 2013 WEMBO World Solo 24 Mountain Bike Championships and the National Trust ACT’s Centenary of Canberra Vintage Car Rally.

Throughout the year there will also be an emphasis on Canberra’s sporting excellence with events including; the IPS Handa Australian Women’s Open golf tournament; the British and Irish Lions versus Brumbies match; the National Archery Championships; SCOTT Australian 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships and the Australian Masters Rowing Championship.

In terms of discussion and debate, events will include: “Big Issues/Big Talk” a range of talk, lectures, debates, forums and seminars in fields such as science, law, human rights, culture, architecture, art and medical science; Questacon turns 25 and will celebrate with the launch of a new technology learning centre in Deakin; NICTA will begin treating the first set of patient tests for its innovative “bionic eye”; and “Windows of the World” will see many embassies and high commissions opened to the public.

Centenary will also be supported by two books: “100 Canberra Houses” by Tim Reeves and Dr Alan Roberts, a collection of the best domestic architecture in the ACT; and “Treasures of Canberra” by Betty Churcher, which showcases the city’s best works of art, artefacts and archival material.

The latest program is at www.canberra100.com.au