Monday 2nd December

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: I have your arts and culture guide for the week + a wrap of local sport.

☀️ Weather: 30° and sunny.

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Friday: 🎄 RSPCA Christmas Markets

This Friday, the RSPCA will be hosting its annual Christmas Markets. There will be retail stalls with pet items, candles, jewellery, crafts, and Christmas goodies, as well as food and drink stalls and real Christmas trees for sale. Details here.

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🎨 Arts Around Town:

Anne Dangar + Ethel Carrick: This Saturday, celebrate the opening of the NGA’s next major exhibitions: Ethel Carrick and Anne Dangar. There will be a series of tours, talks and activities at the opening night event. Details here.

Anne Dangar occupies a unique position in art history as one of Australia’s most important yet under-acknowledged modern artists. And Ethel Carrick was a gifted painter and colourist who was among the first artists to introduce a post-impressionist approach to Australia.

Glorious! A Handel Celebration: Discover the man behind Messiah, Water Musicand the Coronation Anthems, and meet some of the artists he collaborated with in Glorious!, a beautifully inventive Salon experience using narration, music, mime and masks to magically recreate the experience of 18th-century London. Details here.

Grainger Gallery Exhibitions: The Grainger Gallery is hosting its last three exhibitions of the year. They open this Thursday evening. Details here.

ANU Graduating Exhibition: See the next generation of creative talent at the 2024 ANU School of Art & Design Graduating Exhibition. Details here.

Belco Arts Exhibitions: The next block of exhibitions at Belco Arts opens this Friday, including Dear Forests.... This thought-provoking showcase brings together artists from across Australia, each offering a unique creative lens on the vital topic of forest preservation. Details here.

Behind the Lines 2024: The annual exhibition celebrating the year’s best political cartoons has opened at Old Parliament House. Details here.

CSO at Government House: The Canberra Symphony Orchestra will be performing an afternoon concert at Government House this Saturday featuring exquisite works for violin, cello and piano. Details here.

Illuminate 24: The Friends of the National Botanic Gardens Photographic Group present their 11th annual exhibition: Illuminate ’24. It’s on now until December 15 in the Visitor Centre Gallery. Details here.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Q is bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to its brand new outdoor performance space. The show is running until December 14 and has a pay-what-you-want ticket price. Details here.

A Feeling for Place Exhibition: Local artist Vijaya Sen is exhibiting her paintings at the Civic Library. A Feeling for Place shows places and scenes in Canberra, Sydney and India. Details here.

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Comedy: 🤣 A Very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas

This 2-hour comedy gala event features some of the very best acts from the upcoming 2025 Canberra Comedy Festival. It’s happening at the Canberra Theatre this Friday. Details here.

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Something to do: ✂️ Cutlery Pockets & Card Making

In this workshop guided by Sumaya Garba Imoro from Ghana, you will create beautiful Christmas cards and cutlery pockets using upcycled materials, which are perfect for a festive table decoration. It’s happening this Saturday in Whitlam. Details here.

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This Weekend: 🕺 Battle of the Big Bands

Canberra Swing Katz, ConneXion Big Band and In Full Swing Big Band are hosting a Christmas Ball at Albert Hall this weekend. This event is open to the public, and patrons can come to dance (instruction provided for beginners) or to sit and listen. Details here.

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Kids: Canberra Aqua Park

Canberra Aqua Park is an inflatable obstacle course on Lake Burley Griffin. It’s open once again during the warmer months. The course includes slides, ladders, and a jumping pillow. Details here.

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Tidbits:

Wettest Day of the Year: 40mm of rain was recorded at Canberra Airport on Saturday, making it the wettest day of the year. More rain is forecast tomorrow and Wednesday.

New Hotel: An office block that was converted into a hotel has opened in Tuggeranong. The 76-room Punthill branded hotel was previously the Tuggeranong Innovation Centre Office Precinct. More.

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Sport:

🏑 Chill Lose Grand Final: The Canberra Chill men's team won their semi-final on Saturday to progress to the grand final of the Hockey One League. Unfortunately, they lost the final 5-2 to Melbourne. Match report.

🏀 UC Capitals vs. Southside Flyers: The UC Capitals will be playing the Southside Flyers at AIS this Wednesday. Details here.

⚽️ Canberra United: Canberra United lost to the Central Coast Mariners 2-1. United have a bye next week and will be playing Melbourne away on the 15th.

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