Tuesday 19th August

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: A new immersive installation at the NFSA + See inside the Acton Emergency Services Station.

⛅️ Weather: 15° and mostly sunny. A slight, 30% chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening.

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Coming Up: 🌌 Inferno

The National Film and Sound Archive is debuting its first-ever commissioned artwork: Inferno, an immersive installation by Australian artist Mikaela Stafford. Think epic-scale motion graphics, kinetic sculpture and dynamic lighting stitched to a multidimensional soundscape by electronic composer Kate Durman. At its centre is a large resin sculpture that appears to ooze out of a 12-metre digital screen, with a Dante-inspired tome setting the tone for a dreamlike descent through identity, memory and tech saturation.

The installation is opening this Friday—it’s free!

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🚒 Kids in Canberra

Acton Emergency Services Station Open Day: ACT Emergency Services Agency is inviting the community to explore the newly opened Acton Emergency Services Station. Join firefighters and paramedics on a guided tour, grab a sausage sandwich and coffee, and enjoy the jumping castle and activities on offer. Kids can also snap a photo with Fire & Rescue mascot “Sparky the Dalmatian” and Ambulance Service mascot “Kirby the Kangaroo.” It’s free! Details here.

The Wiggles: The Wiggles: Tree of Wisdom Big Show Arena Spectacular! is coming to AIS Arena. Packed with arena-sized surprises, this high-energy show will have the whole family singing, dancing and Wiggling from start to finish—set in a 360° arena experience. I expect tickets to the two shows in Canberra will sell out. Details here.

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🎨 Arts Around Canberra

It’s a busy week for the arts:

Opening at The Glassworks: Two new exhibitions open this Thursday at the Canberra Glassworks. The Way the Light Hits the Building by emerging artist Bronte Cormican-Jones shifts the familiar—a sheet of glass becomes less about utility and more about how it changes light, reflections, and how we see ourselves in the urban landscape. Oily Water by Will Lynes explores the historical and artistic relationship between glass and painted lettering, rooted in traditional signwriting techniques such as reverse glass painting and gilding, blending art and advertising. Details here.

Light Source: This exhibition at the Drill Hall Gallery brings together a multi-generational lineup of artists exploring the possibilities of light, projection and performance. Inspired by Lye’s 1935 hand-painted film A Colour Box, it celebrates the playful, immersive and surprising ways artists have used moving image and expanded cinema to bend light, space and perception. It opens Thursday with a special live performance on Friday. Details here.

Apeiron Baroque: The recorder (flauto dolce) may be infamous in classrooms, but in the Baroque period, it was a leading treble instrument. Apeiron Baroque, with guest Alana Blackburn, will showcase the full gamut of recorders in the hands of a master player. There’s also a pre-concert event for children and families. Details here.

Hard/Soft: Opening Friday at Megalo, Hard/Soft brings together four artists—Fergus Berney-Gibson, Annabelle McEwen, Linda Sok and Maddison Wandel—to explore the push and pull at the heart of printmaking. The show looks at contrasts like hardness and softness, presence and absence, and the spaces in between. Details here.

Words of Wisdom: The Canberra Calligraphy Society’s annual exhibition and sale, Words of Wisdom, is on at the Old Barn Gallery in Pialligo. “Calligraphy is more than just beautiful handwriting...it’s the creation of wonderful shapes and interpretations, forming beautiful symbols by hand and bestowing words with harmony, beauty and integrity.” Details here.

The Drawer Boy: This brilliantly touching and often hilarious multi-award-winning play follows Miles, a young actor from the city who moves in with two ageing bachelor farmers, Morgan and Angus, to do research for a new play. Mockingbird’s staging of The Drawer Boy, one of Canada’s most beloved plays, opens at Belco Arts this week. Details here.

National Photographic Portrait Prize: See the winning photos from the National Photographic Portrait Prize at the Portrait Gallery. The 2025 winner, Untitled #01 by Hoda Afshar, is a standout. Details here.

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Ask Canberra: 🐶 Dog-Friendly Cafes and Events

Yesterday I asked for suggestions on dog-friendly cafes: Tammy recommends Sweet Bones in Scullin, Desmond mentioned the cafe at Weston Park with its great outdoor dog area and water bowls, and Jennifer pointed me to The Knox in Watson, which even has a local illustrator who regularly sketches the pups. Thanks to everyone who shared their tips!

And if you’re looking for an outing, there’s a Paws Party happening next Sunday in Haig Park—this time it’s Book Week themed.

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Classifieds

🍷 Canberra Cellar Door: Stop by the Canberra Visitor Centre every Saturday, 11am–3pm, to taste incredible local wines. Canberra Cellar Door also hosts small‑group classes and special events—subscribe to their newsletter to be the first to know what’s coming up. Details here.

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Classifieds support Canberra Digest.

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Tidbits

Star Striker Confirmed: Canberra United has confirmed star striker Michelle Heyman has re-signed with the club for the upcoming 2025/26 season starting in October. Current head-coach Antoni Jagarinec has also been confirmed.