There’s lots to see and do this week in and around the Canberra arts scene.  Just check out HELEN MUSA’s “Artsweek” column, to be sure.  

NGARRA-BURRIA (to hear, to sing) is a First Peoples composers’ program project initiated by the ANU School of Music’s Chris Sainsbury together with Moogahlin Performing Arts, the Australian Music Centre and ANU and Ensemble Offspring. A concert featuring works by works by alumni Nardi Simpson and Will Kepa will be performed by Ensemble Offspring with clarinettist Jason Noble. Larry Sitsky Recital Room, 7pm, June 1. 

REBUS Theatre’s Project Alchemy is behind the screening of the feature film about Bob Brown, “The Giants,” at Queanbeyan Uniting Church, 9pm, June 3. But diagonally opposite at the Queanbeyan Hive, there’ll be food and a fundraising licensed bar from 5pm. Also, from 5pm local artist and educator Dennis Mortimer be at The Hive talking about his environmental visual arts project “Silent Canary,” on show in the gallery.

IN a follow-up, The Hive is running an environmental expo on June 5, World Environment Day.

ALSO, to mark World Environment Day, Dendy Canberra will screen Celeste Geer’s documentary, “The Endangered Generation?” which follows scientists, activists, artists and First Nations leaders from around the world as they rise to the global challenges of our time. The screening at 6.30pm will be followed by a Q&A featuring climate scientist Joelle Gergis and indigenous astronomer Karlie Noon.

Music

• SHEENA Crouch will be on stage singing the songs of Dusty Springfield with her eight-piece band. At The B, Queanbeyan Bicentennial Hall, 8pm, June 3.
• CANBERRA Youth Orchestra, conducted by Louis Sharpe and with guest narrator Charles Hudson, will take the audience on an orchestral journey through “The Composer is Dead” by Nathaniel Stookey, with libretto by Lemony Snicket. It’s a musical murder mystery where every instrument is a suspect, and an inspector is summoned to interrogate the very members of the orchestra. St John’s Hall, Reid 10am  and 11.30am, June 3.
• WAYFARERS Australia, (Canberra group) led by Judith Clingan, is holding its annual “Part Singing For Fun” in Gorman Arts Centre Main Hall, 2pm, June 3. The Wayfarers, aged 8 to 88, will share songs in two and three parts, and Taizé chants in four parts. Those who have never sung in a choir are welcome. Registration essential by emailing judithclingan@me.com
• MUSICACT is inviting the music community to its annual consultation and meet-up for local musicians and the music industry, “State of the Territory.” 122 Alinga Street, Civic, 2.30pm, June 4.
• MARUKI Community Orchestra returns with a Rossini overture, a Mozart clarinet concerto and Sibelius’ Symphony no. 2. Albert Hall, 3pm, June 4.
• THE Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra presents Beethoven Septet & Louise Farrenc Nonet – “New Perspectives”, Albert Hall, 7pm, June 6.
• CANBERRA’S Austrian Choir celebrates 42 years with a variety of songs. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 12.40pm-1.20pm,  June 7.
• THE 37th Illawarra Folk Festival is to held at the Bulli Showground from 4pm, January 19-21, 2024. Artist applications to perform are closing at illawarrafolkfestival.com.au on June 16.

Stage

• GARRY Starr is the stage persona of Australian/British actor and comedian Damien Warren-Smith, who grew up in regional Australia. He will appear as pretty well everyone at The Q in “Garry Starr Performs Everything”, June 3.  Recommended for ages 16+.
• JAZIDA Pop Up Party continues with free entertainment and activities, including a 1.5-hour cabaret show. Glebe Park, 5pm, June 2.

Exhibitions

• 2021 “CITYNEWS Artist of the Year” Dianne Fogwell’s new exhibition, “Reflection: works on paper and paintings” opens at Beaver Galleries, Deakin, June 1 then runs until June 17.
• ANNE Masters’ Gallery of Small Things has announced her first show for 2023, the first duo show in Canberra by Sandy Ji and Roshni Senapati. Senapati is flying from Brisbane to give an artist talk at 10am on June 3. At 27 Wade Street, Watson, until June 18.
• A NEW exhibition of oil paintings and charcoal drawings, “Brushes with the Bush”, by Canberra artist Jenny Gibson will be opened by Ruth Waller at ANCA Gallery, Dickson, 5.30pm on June 2. The show then runs until June 18.
• CANBERRA artists Nicci Haynes and John Pratt are exhibiting “Incidental TV” and “Travers”, alongside Mark Dober’s “On the Banks of the Murrumbidgee”.  Tuggeranong Arts Centre galleries until June 3.
• BIG hART and the National Portrait Gallery are presenting “Gulgawarnigu: Thinking of something, someone,” new digital artworks produced by young artists from Roebourne in the Pilbara region of WA. NPG, June 3-October 2. Free entry.