Mudgee shows how sculpture can transform a town
Arts editor HELEN MUSA visits Mudgee's flourishing Sculptures in the Garden festival and asks whether Queanbeyan or Bungendore could learn from its remarkable success.
Arts & Entertainment
Canberra’s best coverage of local arts news plus reviews, including dining, film, theatre, music, visual arts and dance
With more than 350 artists and arts organisations from across the country taking part, Creative Australia’s AusArt Day 2026 takes centre stage tomorrow in a nationwide fundraising initiative designed to help artists raise money.
A pair of enterprising musicians is taking up the baton for Parkinson’s research in a show they say will “shake it up”. And From a Diamond to a King is coming to Canberra, reports artys editor HELEN MUSA.
In a coup for the ANU Film Group, Monument, directed by Bohemian Rhapsody and X-Men director Bryan Singer, will receive its Australian premiere on October 30, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Arts & Entertainment
Courtney Act takes centre stage on canvas
Courtney Act takes centre stage at the National Portrait Gallery, while Canberra lights up for Japan and film festivals fill the screens, in the latest "Artsweek" column by arts editor HELEN MUSA
Theatre
Canberra’s Greek theatre wins over Perth
Canberra actor, director and producer Michael J Smith, founder of Greek Theatre Now, has made a successful foray into Perth with his production of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King at Kings Park Amphitheatre, writes arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Theatre
Five actors, 39 characters and one wild journey
Five actors will take on 39 characters in a fast-moving production of Mark Brown’s adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, directed and produced by Honest Puck Theatre’s James Scott, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
As part of both the BOLD and Craft + Design Canberra festivals, Liz Lea will be staging a double bill of dance works themed around design, dance, disability and dissent, titled ALTER, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
The promise of an afternoon of authentic French cabaret drew an appreciative audience of Francophiles to The Street Theatre only to be transported to the boulevards of Paris, reviews BILL STEPHENS.
Oriana Chorale's beautifully controlled voices, intricate harmonies and immersive soundscapes brought the magic of the aurora to life under Dan Walker, reviews DAVID WHITBREAD.
Here's HELEN MUSA's latest Arts in the City column.
"Mountain is timeless, cyclical and ancient... A remnant of all that has been, where the symmetry of nature meets the ethereal and each element of dance, music and costume perfectly combine.," writes reviewer SAMARA PURNELL.
NICK HORN reviews A Viola in Bloom, a recital by Robert Harris and Robert Manley.
"At times, Apcar was playing passages with his whole forearm. When the blues section of the work was reached, Apcar sang the lyrics as well. It was an extraordinary performance," writes reviewer LEN POWER.
On the prowl for any popular classic it can reinvent for the modern age, Netflix's latest flagship drama series is John Steinbeck's East of Eden, says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.
MICHELLE POTTER reviews We Come Together to Dance, a performance by Quantum Leap Australia.
The law says you can't use a song for political or commercial purposes without the permission of the author. But for artists, it's like playing whack-a-mole, reports ANDREW STAFFORD.
The second Canberra Art Fair opened at EPIC on Friday night with art, stalls and music by Sydney singer-songwriter Monico, bringing together 107 artists working in a range of media, predominantly painting.
Canberra writer Sandy Bigna has won the $10,000 2026 ACT Book of the Year Award for Little Bones, it was announced at the National Library of Australia on Friday, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
