September 16

Hello Canberra,

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Celebrate Chilean culture at Cypher + Pub Choir is back.

🌧️ Weather: 21° and showers. 95% chance of rain, most likely from late morning.

This Weekend: 🇨🇱 La Fonda

Chilean culture is coming to Gungahlin’s Cypher Brewing this weekend. The weekend-long festivities are being held in collaboration with the Chilean Embassy, showcasing Chile’s cuisine, music, arts and wider cultural heritage. Enjoy live entertainment and try dishes such as empanadas, sopaipillas with pebre, churrasco sandwiches, chorillana and completos, alongside traditional desserts including mote con huesillos and Torta de la María. Cypher is also brewing a special beer for the occasion. Details here.

🖼️ Arts Around Canberra

This week’s arts wrap:

New World: The National Capital Orchestra returns to Snow Concert Hall with a program spanning new Australian works and Dvořák’s much-loved New World Symphony, led by Music Director Louis Sharpe. Details here.

Vince Jones: Jazz musician and singer Vince Jones is celebrating his 50-year, multi-ARIA-award-winning career. He’ll be performing at The Street next Sunday. Details here.

Build, Burn, Repeat: Thor’s Hammer presents Build, Burn, Repeat, an innovative exhibition by local artist Tom O’Hara. The exhibition presents objects that are an extension of the unique process Tom developed throughout his research. Assembling hundreds of wooden segments into a complex matrix and using fire as a transformative force, Tom shapes and unifies the object, resulting in works that seem human-made and yet naturally formed. Details here.

Bilong Papua New Guinea: Bilong Papua New Guinea at the National Gallery marks 50 years of independence with a fascinating selection of works exploring culture, history and identity in a nation of over 800 languages. Details here.

Smiths@Belco: Josh Cunningham and Felicity Urquhart bring raw, genre-defying music that blends heart and history. Catch the legends behind The Waifs and Australia’s country royalty as they share songs old and new. Details here.

Victor Valdes: Enjoy the lively rhythms of Mariachi, Boleros, Banda, Son Jarocho and Mexican cumbia as Valdes leads a musical journey through Mexico’s rich soundscapes. Accompanied by his Big Mariachi Band, the performance features a fusion of trumpets, violins and heartfelt melodies that capture the emotions embedded in Mexico’s musical heritage. Details here.

Photo Access: Two new exhibitions are opening this Thursday at Photo Access: Figa no Face by Annabelle McEwen and Virtual Gaze by Lilah Benetti. Details here.

Neeman Duo: The Neeman Piano Duo brings a mix of precision, playfulness and theatrical flair, performing music for four hands at one piano—from Franck and Liszt to Corigliano and Khachaturian. Details here.

Cézanne to Giacometti: The Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie exhibition at the National Gallery ends on Sunday. Details here.

News

Bishop Pat Power has died: Retired Catholic Bishop Pat Power, known for speaking out on big issues including sexual abuse in the Catholic church, has died aged 83. More.

Coming Up: 🇮🇹 Italian Film Festival

The Italian Film Festival begins on Wednesday at Palace Electric—a celebration of Italian language, culture and cinema. Don’t miss the special events, including the 25th anniversary screening of the new 4K restoration of the Italian-Australian classic Looking for Alibrandi. Details here.

Coming Up: 🎶 Pub Choir

Now in its 8th year, Pub Choir is the easiest, funniest, largest music lesson in the world. In this entirely improvised comedy show/lesson, music witch Astrid Jorgensen will transform a crowd of strangers into a legendary choir. By the end of the show, you’ll be belting out a popular song in three-part harmony.Details here.

💐 Something to do:

Woodlands Walk: The Namadgi Spring Walks Series is about connecting with Namadgi, nature and each other. This spring, explore areas where the stunning wildflowers are in bloom. The first walk in the series is a gentle introduction from the Visitor Centre—ideal for beginners, families and anyone wanting to take their walks in Namadgi slowly to enjoy nature, learn and meet others. Admire and photograph the spring wildflowers—the ACT’s natural Floriade! Details here.

If you’d like to find out more about the National Parks Association ACT, come along to their September Talk this Thursday evening. Namadgi NP Manager Mim Jambrecina and Ranger-in-Charge Adam Henderson will present on the Namadgi rock art conservation program, including the Yankee Hat restoration project. Everyone is welcome—you don’t need to be a member. Details here.

Pressed Flower Workshop: Explore the art of flower pressing (Oshibana) and create your own unique artwork to take home. You’ll be guided through techniques of balance in floral arrangement, using colour, texture and space. Perfect for lovers of flowers, craft and slow mornings. Details here.

Kids: Art!

Art Lab with Yuriyal Bridgeman: In this National Gallery Art Lab for ages 13–18, join multidisciplinary artist and designer Yuriyal Bridgeman for a workshop inspired by his work in the exhibition Bilong Papua New Guinea. Start with a tour of the exhibition before designing and making your own body-sized shield, drawing on ideas about identity, protection and self-expression. Details here.

Incredible Insects: Discover the amazing world of Australian insects while sketching butterflies, beetles and other species from insect displays. Details here.

Young Artists Exhibition: Have a young artist in the family? Queanbeyan Art Society is holding its Young Artists Exhibition. Entry is open to all young artists aged 8–19, and works will be displayed in the QAS Gallery. Details here.

Classifieds

🎻 Mozart’s Requiem LIVE in Canberra: 24/25 September, 7:30pm, Llewellyn Hall. From The Godfather to X-Men to The Crown, Mozart’s Requiem has featured in some of pop culture’s most epic and unforgettable moments. His final masterpiece is dramatic and anguished, yet full of hope — experience it LIVE at Llewellyn Hall with full orchestra and choir this September. Details here.

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