Tuesday 22nd July

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: It’s Tuesday, 22 July.

🌧️ Weather: 16° and showers. 100% chance of rain.

🌷 Looking Ahead: Floriade

The program for Floriade 2025 has been released. The 38th edition of the spring festival runs from 13 September to 12 October with the theme Science and Nature. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki will make an appearance, there will be science workshops, and the always-popular Dog Day returns. Details here.

🎨 Arts Around Canberra

Paradise*: This vivid new exhibition peels back the glossy myths of Pacific paradise—through ceramics, painting, installation, and photography, it explores climate crisis, colonial legacies, and the resilience of Pasifika communities. Opening next Friday (25 July) at Canberra Contemporary. Details here.

You Cannot Trust an Open Sky: A powerful exhibition by Hilary Wardhaugh that responds to what the International Court of Justice calls a ‘plausible genocide’ of the Palestinian people. Details here.

Consent: Mockingbird is staging Nina Raine’s powerful, painful, and funny courtroom drama that sifts evidence from every side, weighing the emotional and moral fallout when agreement falters. Happening 31 July–2 August at Belco Arts. Details here.

Botanic Gardens: Two new exhibitions are opening at the Botanic Gardens on 31 July. Soft Echo by Canberra glass artist Akie Haga is a personal meditation on memory, belonging, and the quiet beauty often found in overlooked plant forms. In the Company of Trees by Julie Bradley reflects on her time among the trees at Mt Wilson through dynamic works on paper. Details here.

100 Years Ago: German violin virtuoso Daniel Röhn and Ukrainian pianist Olena Nikulina perform in an old‑school recital styled after the first half of the last century. Details here.

The Philosopher’s Stone: Michael Desmond draws an analogy between ancient alchemists—who sought to transform base metals into gold—and his own practice of elevating humble materials, such as fabric and coloured muds, into something enduring and meaningful. Opening at Platform this Thursday (24 July). Details here.

Lakeside at Five: Head to Tuggeranong Arts after work on Friday for an evening of live jazz with Canberra blues duo Divine Devilles. Details here.

Samuel Hodge: Samuel will be joined in conversation by the Gallery’s Director, Curatorial and Collection, Isobel Parker Philip, to discuss his newly commissioned portrait of Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, the duo behind fashion label, Romance Was Born. Details here.

📰 Tidbits and News:

Winter Festival Postponed: It’s looking like there will be a wet weekend this week, so Southern Harvest is postponing the Winter Festival at Dairy Road. The outdoor nature of the event would have made it pretty soggy. The festival has been rescheduled to 8–10 August.

Six New Murals: Six new murals have been unveiled across Canberra, brightening spaces at Macquarie Shops, Lanyon Marketplace, Evatt Shops, and Narrabundah Shops. My favourite is Magpie! Details here.

Last Call For Elsie’s: The pop-up cinema in the city is closing in just one week. The cosy community theatre has been running for the past six months. Details here

Wind Farm Returns: Two wind farms have rebated over $6.5 million to ACT electricity consumers since early 2023. Contracts for difference mean that when wholesale power prices rise, project owners return the excess money to consumers. More

Classifieds

Canberra Cellar Door: Stop by the Canberra Visitor Centre every Saturday, 11 am–3 pm, 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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