Here’s this week’s Arts in the City column by HELEN MUSA. 

Ceramic artist Susan Chancellor will make a meal of her art in Cold Collations. The exhibit at M16 Artspace, Griffith, appears alongside New Work by Martin Paull, Absurd Frontier by Nathan Hughes, Captcha by Matthew Francis and in Chutespace, Pixel Panel III by Karen Milder. February 22-March 17.

Nominations are open for the 2024 ACT Book of the Year Award. The award recognises quality contemporary literary works including fiction, non-fiction and poetry by Canberra authors, published in the previous calendar year, $10,000 for the winner, $2000 for any highly commended books and $1000 for each short-listed book. Nominate here

ArtsNational Molonglo Plains (formerly ADFAS) has a lecture about the story of the Cullinan Diamond Mine by UK jewellery consultant Clare Blatherwick. C3 Auditorium, 116 Monaro Street, Queanbeyan, February 22.

Terroux Peace Garden, near Hall, is holding a summer soiree on February 24 featuring the talents of the duo Stage3, made up of actor Isabelle Faure and guitarist Denis Marotte, both originally from France but now  local residents.

Stage

• Lakespeare V, King Henry V, opens at Tuggeranong Town Park, February 23,  includes several free performances. Dates here.
• Comedian Josh Thomas returns to the mainstage in a new show, Let’s Tidy Up, Canberra Theatre, February 23.
• Goulburn’s Lieder Theatre Company presents the comedy Fox on the Fairway by Ken Ludwig, directed by Blake Selmes. February 23-March 9.
• Power in Ancient Greece, 550–321 BCE. Hellenic Club in Woden, February 22.
• Vaidehi Subramanyan performs an evening of South Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, February 24.
• Canberra Youth Theatre is on the lookout for young artists to join its performance company Erth and their puppet creatures in the Enlighten Festival. Free training sessions at Gorman Arts Centre, February 26, 27 and 28. Inquiries to 6248 5057.

Concerts

• International pianists Bernice Chua (raised in Canberra) and Marko Matajič perform a range of works by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Rachmaninoff, Wesley Music Centre, February 23.
• French percussionist Adelaide Ferriere will perform at Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, February 23.
• The Necks will be in concert with improvised music trailblazers, The Street Theatre, February 22, then in Transients, Andrea Keller on piano, Julien Wilson on saxophone, and Sam Anning on double bass perform original compositions. The Street Theatre, February 23.
• Art Song Canberra will open its Season of Song with a tribute to retiring president Oliver Raymond. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest , February 25.
• Organist Linus Lee performs compositions featuring various solo instruments. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, February 28.

Galleries

• Project Alchemy, a multimedia exhibition where shattered dreams that followed the Black Summer Fires of this region are turned into pure gold. Queanbeyan Hive Gallery, February 24-March 17.
• Meandering around the Murray is Canberra painter Val Johnson’s tribute to the river. Strathnairn Homestead Gallery, February 28-March 24 .
• With Nature, curated by Alexander Boynes, brings together works in collaboration with the environment. Canberra Contemporary Art, Parkes.
• Curated by Olivier Krischer, Assembly brings together eight Hong Kong-born artists from different generations. Foyer, Australian Centre on China in the World, Fellows Lane, ANU, until May 24.