FORMER Chamber of Commerce chief Andrew Blyth was passionately extolling the virtues of cutting weekend penalty rates on the “CityNews Sunday Roast”, the weekly news and current affairs show on 2CC, when the left-field, last question loomed: was he standing for the Assembly at next year’s election?

He hummed and he haaa-ed. “A quick yes or no will suffice,” the studio urged.

But he couldn’t say yes and he couldn’t say no.

Which, of course, by instantly mastering obfuscation is confirmation of his Liberal candidacy for Brindabella.

Completely NAC-ered

WE have a depressing new acronym for the arboretum: NAC (National Arboretum Canberra), which popped up in Arts Minister Joy Burch’s announcement of two kinetic sculptures by Japanese artist Kozo Nishino destined by November for the public artwork collection at NAC and visible to motorists traversing from the busy Tuggeranong Parkway.

“Each artwork will be suspended in the air by a block colour tapered stand that will catch the attention of the approaching viewer and draw their eyes upward to the dancing sculptures silhouetted against the sky,” the minister opines. Not at 100kph, one hopes, Joy.

“CITYNEWS” arts editor Helen Musa dutifully turned out to a performance the other evening at the Ainslie Arts Centre not expecting to have her socks blown off by a 15-year-old Lyneham High School composer/pianist, whom she describes as “brilliant”.

High praise from Canberra’s arts doyenne, who was watching Caleb Campbell help launch this year’s piano division of the Australian National Eisteddfod, running from August 17-21, with a lush, romantic work that won him the composition prize last year.

“It was almost as exciting to discover that creativity runs in the family, for Caleb is the eldest son of a ‘CityNews’ favourite snapper, Andrew Campbell,” she purred.

Circus school rolls into town

THE National Institute of Circus Arts will be in Canberra in October auditioning students prepared to run away to circus school next year in Melbourne.

The courses include the Bachelor of Circus Arts and the Certificates III and IV in Circus Arts. Applications are now open and close on September 14.

NICA offers Australia’s only Bachelor of Circus Arts, which is a three-year university degree.

NICA graduates have established successful careers in Australia and internationally with acclaimed companies including Circus Oz, Circa, NoFit State Circus and Cirque du Soleil.

More information at nica.com.au or email info@nica.com.au

Somewhere on the Somme

IRREVERENT snout Pierre the Lair spotted this in the Captain’s Choice tour advertised in the “Weekend Australian”. He says he hopes the visit to Villers-Bretonneux, if that’s where they’re going, is not meant to be an educational tour!

Sounds like fun

NATIONAL Film and Sound archivist Graham McDonald hosted a recording session with a difference at the NFSA’s “Friday with Friends” session. He demonstrated how it was done in the last century by recording local artists Doctor Stovepipe and a group from the Canberra City Band on to wax cylinders and lacquer discs.