The Australian Youth Orchestra’s elite group, Young Symphonists, are at Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, October 5. Free concert.

This year’s Japanese Film Festival features ten fresh feature films from Japan at Palace Electric from Oct 9-15. The festival opens with Mom, Is That You?! directed by Yoji Yamada.

Dept of Rock’s 2024 Public Service Battle of the Bands will be at Smith’s Alternative in Civic from October to December, with heats 1-4 running on October 8, 15 and 22.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Arts Trail is in Braidwood, Bungendore, and Queanbeyan over the first three weekends in October. Starting with Braidwood on October 5 and 6, there will be a self-guided tour of the outdoor sculpture collection, Mona Farmand, pop-up gigs from groups like The Gypsy Jazz Project and a launch event at Braidwood Regional Arts Group’s exhibition Lumina.

The National Film and Sound Archive celebrates Canberra Art Biennial with a curated program of screenings and special events from October 5-13.

Other features this weekend at the NFSA include Work Hard, Play Hard, the ANU Silent Film Scoring Showcase on October 3, and Vinyl Lounge, where vinyl lovers share favourite records and requests, October 4.

In  Ginsights, an informal reader/writer conversation, Canberra poet Sarah St Vincent Welch will read from her recent publications Open and Chalk Borders.  Big River Distillery at Tenancy 3, Building 3, at 1 Dairy Road Fyshwick, October 3.

Stage

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be staged by BJ Anyos for Child Players ACT, for their 20th anniversary season. Belconnen Community Theatre, October 4-12.

• Gone Buggo Show, Let Me Explain, is a school holiday activity for the whole family, featuring Steven’s bugs through macro photographs on LEGO dioramas. The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre, October 8, free.

• Rockspeare Henry Sixth Part Two, Theatre at Dairy Road, October 9-24.

Concerts

• Castle Hill RSL North West Wind Ensemble is touring to St Saviour’s Cathedral, Goulburn on October 5, the National Gallery of Australia’s Gandel Hall, October 6, and Floriade – Stage 88, October 7. Free concerts.
• Sound Explorations #2 features Nicci Haynes (drawing projections), then four sets of mixed jazz, guitar, keyboard and invented electronic instruments, ANU Drill Hall Gallery, October 5.
• Canberra Bach Ensemble has four cantatas, St Christopher’s Cathedral, October 5 and 6.
• Musica Viva has classical virtuosi and didgeridoo master William Barton exploring Brahms, Ligeti, and more. Llewellyn Hall, October 5.
• Resonances is a one-off performance by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra featuring stringed instruments made by Arthur Edward Smith. Gandel Atrium, National Museum of Australia, October 9.
• A piano recital by Irma Enriquez features works by Latin American women composers and poets. Wesley Music Centre, October 9.
• Akkordeonist Anton Wurzer performs in Wesley Music Centre, Forrest’s lunchtime series, October 9.

Galleries

• M16 Artspace has three new exhibitions and a Chutespace installation running from October 3 – 27: Foundation Traces by Nick Offer, focusing on the remains of the NASA Space Tracking Station in the Orroral Valley; Position x Perspective = Perception by Benni Phillips-Nozdrachev; Bird Guides by Jorji Gardener; and Gathering Moss/Roostones by Rowena Evans.
• Stephen Harrison’s new exhibition, To See In A Dream, curated by Chrissy Schaefer, opens at Capital Wines’ Kyeema Art Gallery, Hall Village, October 3 – November 3.
• Shohei Imamura. The festival opens with Mom, Is That You?! directed by Yoji Yamada.
• Alice Springs designer Elliat Rich’s exhibition of collectable design. Elliat explores mythologies and modernity, Canberra Glassworks, October 3 to December 15.
• Civic Art Bureau’s Exhibition No.1 sees works by eleven distinguished artists, showing Upstairs @ Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga St, Canberra City. Opening event, October 5.
• Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao closes at the National Gallery of Australia on October 7.
• Ghostland, an exhibition by Tasmanian artist Julie Gough, showcases the representation of Aboriginal histories through the works, School of Art & Design Gallery until October 25.
• The exhibition, Candle. Collapsar, by Loulia Panoutsopoulos, weaves together photographic, drawing and sculptural practices. ANCA Gallery, Rosevear Place, Dickson, October  9 – 27.