This Week in the Can

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This Week in the Can Posted on 5 July, 2021

From live music and theatre to exhibitions and festivals, here’s what’s happening this week in Canberra. WHAT NOT TO MISS

Carmen

Carmen is the femme fatale you can’t forget. In Bizet’s famous opera, she sings her sensual Habanera and lures Don José into her world. He gives up everything to follow her. But Carmen’s wandering eye has already found a new lover: the dashing bullfighter Escamillo.

Don José’s jealousy is fierce. Escamillo’s passion is strong. In a gripping finale, Carmen must face her fate.

Experience the thrilling Spanish colour and rhythms of Bizet’s vibrant score with Opera Australia’s singers, live chamber orchestra and a children’s chorus drawn from the local community.

This new production includes gorgeous sets and vintage-inspired costumes. You can hear classics such as the Habanera and the Toreador Song just as Bizet meant them — loud, live and completely unamplified.

Happening 8-10 July at Canberra Theatre Centre.

See canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/carmen for more information.

Kite Flying Festival Canberra, your wait is over! Australia’s biggest kite flying festival, Festival of the Winds, is on again at The EPIC Center. Coming to Canberra for the second year in a row, the festival is bigger and better with ample free parking, delicious food and entertainment. Happening Sunday 11 July 2021. See the Festival of the Winds Facebook page for more information. Ruth Lane-Poole: A Woman of Influence Ruth Lane-Poole’s articles on interior decoration in popular magazines in the mid-1920s introduced many homemakers to her ideas on good taste and practical design. Such was her standing, that when the Federal Capital Commission was faced with the challenge of furnishing Canberra’s two official residences – Government House and The Lodge – in time for the opening of Parliament House in 1927, it was Ruth Lane-Poole that they engaged to work with the architects on matters relating to interior furnishing. This exhibition brings together items never exhibited before outside the official residences, and which explore the inspirations for her design philosophy and the rich legacy of her Irish family associations. Showing from 10 July until 23 October 2021. See cmag.com.au/exhibitions/ruth-lane-poole-a-woman-of-influence for more information. Wintervention Lace up your skates. It’s the most winterful time of year! Canberra’s most coveted winter attraction, Wintervention is back for 2021, turning Civic Square into an open-air ice-skating arena from Friday 25 June until Sunday 11 July for the school holiday period. Take a moment to enjoy the true joys of winter and embrace the frost around entertainment, activities, food, and market stalls. The rink is open 10 am to 8 pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and 10 am to 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors are required to book in for their skate sessions. The markets will run across two weekends (Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June and Friday 2 to Sunday 4 July). Stars on Ice will keep the crowds entertained with live performances on Fridays and over the weekend. Throughout the week skate sessions, music performances and hot drinks and food stalls are available. Whether you’re a skater or a spectator, get down to Civic Square for the ultimate winter fun and capture the season in all its glory at this family-friendly event. Happening until 11 July at Civic Square, City. See wintervention.com.au for more information.

Free school holiday fun at Marketplace Gungahlin Not sure where to take the kids for School Holidays? Marketplace Gungahlin has wrapped up the ultimate FREE School Holidays Program for The Hub Members from 26 June–11 July! Enjoy daily workshops, face painting and get glitz’d! All you have to do is job The Hub, Marketplace’s free membership. Click here to join and access these great free school holiday activities! Donut Decorating Get excited—we promise they will look as good as they taste too! Let the Marketplace team take you on an adventure as we create a yummy, fun and extravagant donut. From sprinkles to marshmallows the only question is: how many toppings are too much? Friday 2 July – Tuesday 6 July | 11 am-1 pm | Centre Court, Outside Big W | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-sdonut-decorating DIY Herb Jars Do you have a green thumb? Or want to help Mum, Dad and the family by growing your own herbs for your meals? Let’s get creative and decorate your very own DIY Herb Jars. Take them home, give them some love and watch them grow! Wednesday 7 July – Sunday 11 July | 11 am–1 pm | Centre Court, Outside Big W | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-s-diy-herb-jars Face Painting & Get Glit’zd Marketplace also has Face Painting and the Getz Glitz station for you these School Holidays. Let the kids transform into their favourite character and get their glitz on with our hair and face glitter station. Be ready for the tiger that will be roaring at you or the glitzy Princess ready for her royal ball! Saturday 10 July, Sunday 11 July | 2–5 pm | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-face-painting

Sesame Street Circus Spectacular The enormously popular Sesame Street Circus Spectacular, ready to wow Canberra audiences of all ages, has extended its season by two weeks and will now run through until 2 August! With new COVID-19 protocols in place, and in close coordination with government agency guidelines, live performances will commence in Majura Park on 25 June. This 90-minute Circus spectacular features incredible performers from Argentina, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Africa and Australia, plus all your favourite Sesame Street characters under the big top, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie and Super Grover. In an extraordinary circus performance, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Super Grover and the Sesame Street characters all work to find their own personal and unique talent at the circus and join daredevils and a host of other incredible performers in this must-see show. Every element within the show was newly developed for the tour, which was written and produced locally and includes the original Sesame Street voices that were recorded in New York especially for this production. Happening until Monday 2 August Majura Park, Majura Park Shopping Centre (opposite Costco), Spitfire Avenue, Majura Park See ticketmaster.com.au/artist/837678. Tickets can also be purchased with the circus direct: 0413 880 044. NAIDOC WEEK 2021 Heal Country. Both a call to action and a promise to continue to seek protection for land, waters, sacred sites and cultural heritage, this is the theme for NAIDOC Week 2021. Read more here. Symbols & Clay Led by Ngarigo woman artist Gail Neuss, the National Arboretum Canberra is hosting a workshop to learn about symbols used in Aboriginal artwork. Perfect for children aged eight and up, you can drop them off while you explore the living collections of forests and gardens at the Arboretum. Bookings are essential. Monday 5 July 10 am-11.30 am or 1.30 pm-3 pm | $20 per child | Book at stickytickets.com.au Storytime and craft Perfect for little ones aged from four to seven years old, Ngarigo woman and artist Gail Nuess will read Little Bird’s Day by Indigenous children’s author Sally Morgan, a Palyku woman from the Pilbara. Illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr, a Yolngu man from the Ganalbingu clan, Little Bird’s Day is a heartwarming story that follows a day in the life of Little Bird. Using seed pods, emu feathers and other natural materials they will create their own bird to explore their creativity and “sing the world alive”. Parents must stay during the duration of the workshop. Tuesday 6 Jul 10 am-11 am or 1 pm-2 pm | National Arboretum Canberra | $15 per child | Book at stickytickets.com.au NAIDOC Week at the National Film and Sound Archive This NAIDOC week, the National Film and Sound Archive will be screening stories about and by inspiring artists including Mervyn Bishop, Australia’s first Aboriginal press photographer (and the subjects of NFSA’s latest exhibition) artist Tracey Moffatt and Yolngu man David Gulpilil. Make sure to check out the NFSA website to learn more. Friday 9 July | My Name is Gulpilil | 6 pm | $10-$12 Saturday 10 July | Another Country | 2 pm | $10-$12 Yarning Sticks Perfect for the family, yarning stick circles bring people together to speak and listen from the heart. Ngarigo woman and artist Gail Neuss will be talking about natural materials used to create art, while the whole family is invited to explore a hands-on artefact display and create their own yarning sticks out of yarn, feather, bone and seed pods. Wednesday 7 Jul |National Arboretum Canberra |10 am-11.30 am or 1.30 pm-3 pm | $15 per child | Book at stickytickets.com.au NAIDOC in the North Belco Arts is back with another program packed with activities to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through story, song, art, dance and ceremony. To honour the 2021 NAIDOC week theme ‘Heal Country’, NAIDOC in the North will present the photographic exhibition Healing Ngunnawal Country. There will also be plenty of food, kids activities and community information available on the day. Saturday 10 July | Fitzroy Pavilion, EPIC | 10.30 am-2.30 pm | Free | belcoarts.com.au/naidoc Woden Community Event Head to Woden Town Square to explore workshops, stalls, food and more at the seventh annual ACT Community Sector NAIDOC Week Event. The free event will include a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony by Billy Tompkins, a performance from Wiradjuri elder Johnny Huckle and more. Visit the ACT Community Sector NAIDOC Week Event Facebook page for more information. Tuesday 6 July | 10.45 am-2.30 pm | Free Indigenous art exhibition The first floor of the Hellenic Club in Woden will be hosting artwork from Indigenous artists including Anthony Best, Natash Best and Rayne Orion. The works from the exhibition will also be for sale! Find out more at hellenic club.com.au. Until Sunday 11 July | Hellenic Club of Canberra | Free Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion Celebrating the fusion of art and fashion Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion celebrates Indigenous art, history and culture through contemporary fashion and design. Opening earlier this year, the exhibition features a selection of garments and textiles by First Nations designers and artists from around Australia, highlighting the strength and diversity of the rapidly expanding Indigenous fashion and textile industry. Read more about Piinpi here. Until 8 August | First Australians Focus Gallery, National Museum of Australia | Free NAIDOC Virtual Highlights Tour From the comfort of your own home, explore Australia’s First National Identity with the National Portrait Gallery. The Zoom tour will recognise portraits in the collection that shine a light on occupation, stories, and resilience. Bookings are essential. Tuesday 20 July | 12.30 pm-1 pm | National Portrait Gallery| Free online Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia Presented in partnership with the South Australian Museum, Yi d aki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia was recently introduced to the National Museum of Australia. Featuring 20 key objects displayed in a stringybark forest setting, museum-goers are invited to discover the power of the didjeridu and its meanings with the Yolngu people, cultural custodians of the instrument. Until 26 September| Free| National Museum of Australia Know My Name (Part Two) Acknowledging that only 33% of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection is by women artists, the National Gallery of Australia is continuing the Know My Name exhibition to recognise and highlight the work of women across diverse creative practices. Explore the exhibition and enjoy some artwork from First Nations women. Until 26 January 2022 | National Gallery of Australia | Free Having a Yarn—Final Footprints: My Culture, My Kinship, My Country ABC presenter Dan Bourchier will be talking to Kokatha woman Cindy Paardekooper, Yawuru man Jonathan Dodson-Jauncey and Worimi woman Kathryn Hooper to explore the importance of palliative care for First Nations people, how traditional and modern ways may co-exist in today’s society and more. The session will include discussion on “death and dying”, “finishing up”, “sorry or sad business” or “sorry camps”, and “palliative care”. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this event may contain the images, voices and names of people who have passed away. Visit palliativecare.org.au for more information. Thursday 8 July | 12 pm | Stream for free online via Palliative Care Australia’s YouTube channel FOOD & DRINK

Truffle-infused Winter Weekends at Mount Majura Cellar Door

Truffle season is upon us and Mount Majura are excited to include truffles at their cellar door as part of the winter tasting experience.

Come into the cellar door at Mount Majura Vineyard to taste a flight of wines matched with truffled brie. Combining a deliciously rich and creamy brie with truffles from neighbour Jayson at The Truffle Farm.

Happening every Saturday and Sunday until 29 August 2021.

See mountmajura.com.au/truffle-infused-weekends-supporting-raw-potential-canberra for more information.

The Pop Inn The Pop Inn is at Bowen Park this weekend—pull up a table for two and enjoy a glass of wine and a charcuterie platter. Popping up from 1 pm to 6 pm Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July. Find out more at thepopinn.com. Haig Park Village Markets The Haig Park Village Markets are about creating a vibrant farmers market filled with fresh, nutritious, quality produce and products at reasonable prices, with the added bonus of supporting and promoting our regional farmers and businesses. Rosie and Alex are born and raised Canberrans who love all things markets. Their markets will be an evolving collaboration of many farmers, bakers, artisans and talented people, seeking to share their crafted specialties. They want to support local creative talent and nurture local businesses. Working together with regional growers and local business they can create a lively and community-driven market that seeks to become a destination for locals and visitors alike. Happening Sundays from 8 am at Haig Park, Braddon. See Facebook for more information. Wintervention Lace-up your skates. It’s the most winterful time of year! Canberra’s most coveted winter attraction, Wintervention is back for 2021, turning Civic Square into an open-air ice-skating arena from Friday 25 June until Sunday 11 July for the school holiday period. Take a moment to enjoy the true joys of winter and embrace the frost around entertainment, activities, food, and market stalls. The rink is open 10 am to 8 pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and 10 am to 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors are required to book in for their skate sessions. The markets will run across two weekends (Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June and Friday 2 to Sunday 4 July). Stars on Ice will keep the crowds entertained with live performances on Fridays and over the weekend. Throughout the week skate sessions, music performances and hot drinks and food stalls are available. Whether you’re a skater or a spectator, get down to Civic Square for the ultimate winter fun and capture the season in all its glory at this family-friendly event. Happening until 11 July at Civic Square, City. See wintervention.com.au for more information. The Canberra Region Truffle Festival Beat the Canberra chill and indulge in a feast for the senses at The Truffle Festival – Canberra Region, a taste of mid-winter magic. The festival celebrates the seasonality of this special ingredient and runs throughout the entire truffle season. So come along and choose from a range of events and experiences and satisfy your taste for life’s finer things. Taste and experience the magic of these highly-prized gems. Indulge in the special flavours and aromas of truffle dishes at local restaurants and cafes. Join a hunt and see for yourself how the talented dogs unearth truffles, before learning recipes and experiencing them first hand. The Truffle Festival is the ultimate foodie festival and a fabulous celebration of winter in the Canberra region. Happening until 29 August across various venues in the Canberra region. See trufflefestival.com.au for more information. STAGE AND SCREEN Sesame Street Circus Spectacular The enormously popular Sesame Street Circus Spectacular, ready to wow Canberra audiences of all ages, has extended its season by two weeks and will now run through until 2 August! With new COVID-19 protocols in place, and in close coordination with government agency guidelines, live performances will commence in Majura Park on 25 June. This 90-minute Circus spectacular features incredible performers from Argentina, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Africa and Australia, plus all your favourite Sesame Street characters under the big top, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie and Super Grover. In an extraordinary circus performance, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Super Grover and the Sesame Street characters all work to find their own personal and unique talent at the circus and join daredevils and a host of other incredible performers in this must-see show. Every element within the show was newly developed for the tour, which was written and produced locally and includes the original Sesame Street voices that were recorded in New York especially for this production. Happening until Monday 2 August Majura Park, Majura Park Shopping Centre (opposite Costco), Spitfire Avenue, Majura Park See ticketmaster.com.au/artist/837678. Tickets can also be purchased with the circus direct: 0413 880 044. Fantastic Mr Fox In 2021, Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox burrows into town to delight and dazzle audiences of all ages. Created by multi-award-winning theatre company shake & stir, Fantastic Mr Fox is “Jaw-droppingly brilliant.” Following a series of smash-hit, sold-out seasons in Brisbane and Perth, Mr Fox and his family, friends and foes are getting set to once again leap off the page and all around the stage in this mind-blowing mix of stunning digital animation and explosive live stage action. Part interactive cartoon, part stage show, Fantastic Mr Fox is pure entertainment. No one outfoxes a Fox, especially not the horrible and greedy farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean – one fat, one short, one lean. But when they try, Mr Fox needs to save his family and friends and he’ll go to any lengths to outwit the mean humans. Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem and humongous belly laughs, Fantastic Mr Fox is one TAIL you don’t want to miss. Happening from 8-11 July at Canberra Theatre Centre. See canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/fantastic-mr-fox for more information. NFSA school holiday screening series These school holidays, the NFSA is hosting a special event of school holiday screenings. Join the NFSA for some of the best in recent family-friendly films. Whether you’re into trolls or Dalmatians, there’s something for everyone! PROGRAM Trolls World Tour – 2 July, 10.30am

Onward – 7 July, 10.30am

Cruella – 8 July, 10.30am

Spirit Untamed – 9 July, 10.30am Happening until 9 July at the National Film and Sound Archive. See nfsa.gov.au/events/school-holiday-screenings for more information. I’ve Been Meaning To Ask You Performed inside a theatre-turned-playground -turned -battleground, this is a riotous theatrical experience full of questions asked by young people and answered by adults. Watch as age collides with experience in a revealing one-hour tell-all that combines anonymous experiences with high-impact video design. Adults take a back seat as a powerful panel of 9-13-year-olds tackle the answers they receive to the questions they’ve always wanted to know. Built-in collaboration with and performed by local young people from across Canberra, I’ve Been Meaning To Ask You brings audiences both young and old together to tackle the big (and little) questions that life throws at us. Canberra Youth Theatre and The Street Presents A Critical Stages Touring Production. Created by The Good Room. Happening 9-10 July 2021 at The Street Theatre, Childers Street, City West. See thestreet.org.au/shows/ive-been-meaning-ask-you for more information. The Governor’s Family Join with the REP Company as they take you to Government House in Sydney 1897. The newly appointed Governor Mountgarrett is coming to grips with representing Her Majesty Queen Victoria. His family can barely leave the sanctuary of the House. Will the public become aware of their secrets and dysfunction? Beatrix Christian’s remarkable play explores what might have been not that long ago. No other Australian play has dealt with such a time and place. The ghosts of our colonial past cannot be forgotten. Vice-Regal secrets warrant attention at any time, even fictional ones. Happening until 17 July at Canberra REP Theatre. See canberrarep.org.au/content/governors-family-0 for more information. MUSIC Carmen Carmen is the femme fatale you can’t forget. In Bizet’s famous opera, she sings her sensual Habanera and lures Don José into her world. He gives up everything to follow her. But Carmen’s wandering eye has already found a new lover: the dashing bullfighter Escamillo. Don José’s jealousy is fierce. Escamillo’s passion is strong. In a gripping finale, Carmen must face her fate. Experience the thrilling Spanish colour and rhythms of Bizet’s vibrant score with Opera Australia’s singers, live chamber orchestra and a children’s chorus drawn from the local community. This new production includes gorgeous sets and vintage-inspired costumes. You can hear classics such as the Habanera and the Toreador Song just as Bizet meant them — loud, live and completely unamplified. Happening 8-10 July at Canberra Theatre Centre. See canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/carmen for more information.

Paradiso Reggae Night You may not be able to venture overseas at the moment but you can still get your weekly fix of culture and that holiday feels at their new Paradiso Reggae night. Featuring a regular rotating line-up of the local Reggae, Roots, and Tropical sounds – we’ll take you on a trip to a tropical paradise with LIVE music. Doors open 4 pm with live music starting at 8 pm. Chill vibes and great beats with cozy Caribbean style. With each band bringing their unique flavour each week, expect a funky mix of tropical Ska, Dub, Reggae, Roots and Latin sounds. Happening Wednesdays at The Highball Express, 82 Alinga Street, City. See Facebook for more information.

Dickson Sounds in the Village Dickson is coming alive with the sound of music! Sounds in the Village is back for 2021. Enjoy free performances from local musicians and performers every Thursday and Saturday from 11 am-1 pm. You can find the performances in the Dickson Library courtyard. Watch their Facebook page each week for information on upcoming performances. Happening Thursday and Sunday at Dickson Square, Dickson. See Facebook for more information.

Live music Fridays at Blackbird

Every Friday night a different artist will play. Drop in for amazing cocktails in a great cosy and candlelit atmosphere, with some amazing talent on stage every Tuesday and Friday night.

Happening Friday evenings at Blackbird, 114 Alinga Street, Canberra City.

See blackbirdbar.com.au for more information.

WORKSHOPS, TALKS + TOURS Free school holiday fun at Marketplace Gungahlin Not sure where to take the kids for School Holidays? Marketplace Gungahlin has wrapped up the ultimate FREE School Holidays Program for The Hub Members from 26 June–11 July! Enjoy daily workshops, face painting and get glitz’d! All you have to do is job The Hub, Marketplace’s free membership. Click here to join and access these great free school holiday activities! Donut Decorating Get excited—we promise they will look as good as they taste too! Let the Marketplace team take you on an adventure as we create a yummy, fun and extravagant donut. From sprinkles to marshmallows the only question is: how many toppings are too much? Friday 2 July – Tuesday 6 July | 11 am-1 pm | Centre Court, Outside Big W | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-sdonut-decorating DIY Herb Jars Do you have a green thumb? Or want to help Mum, Dad and the family by growing your own herbs for your meals? Let’s get creative and decorate your very own DIY Herb Jars. Take them home, give them some love and watch them grow! Wednesday 7 July – Sunday 11 July | 11 am–1 pm | Centre Court, Outside Big W | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-s-diy-herb-jars Face Painting & Get Glit’zd Marketplace also has Face Painting and the Getz Glitz station for you these School Holidays. Let the kids transform into their favourite character and get their glitz on with our hair and face glitter station. Be ready for the tiger that will be roaring at you or the glitzy Princess ready for her royal ball! Saturday 10 July, Sunday 11 July | 2–5 pm | marketplacegungahlin.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-face-painting Milky Way Photography Workshop with Ari Rex

Take your night sky photography to the next level.

Learn how to capture stunning Milky Way nightscapes.

Expert instruction is given by award-winning photographer Ari Rex. Enjoy fabulous fun, amazing stars, new adventures and great company. If you’re passionate about astrophotography, this workshop is for you!

Happening across various Saturdays until 6 November 2021.

See arirex.com.au/amwphwc for more information.

Curious Curators: Build Your Own Museum Diorama at the National Museum of Australia

Do you like to collect things? Imagine if your job was to collect, curate and design an exhibition. What objects would you choose?

Some of the amazing objects from the Trevor Kennedy Collection are on display in the Studio Gallery. Visit the exhibition then join us in a hands-on activity and create your own mini-museum diorama.

Happening until 9 July 2021.

See nma.gov.au/whats-on/family-activities for more information.

Photography Workshop: Jerrabomberra Wetlands

PhotoAccess‘ On Location series takes you out into the real world with all its joys and visual complexities. Join local photographer and artist Rory Gillen on this next instalment of photography excursions around Canberra.

This time, participants will be getting up close and personal with nature at Jerrabomberra Wetlands. The workshop is timed to capture the crisp light at golden hour, just before dusk.

Be introduced to reading and manipulating light, balancing natural light with flash, as well as long or multiple exposures. Discover the stoic beauty of the reserve in its wintery state, as well as any hibernating life hidden amongst the bushes.

This series is suited to enthusiastic amateur photographers who want to get more out of their camera and learn some advanced techniques of composition.

Happening 11 July 2021.

See photoaccess.org.au/learn/classes/winter-waterscapes/ for more information.

Kids Holiday Workshop: Zoo Safari Scrapbook

For the budding wildlife photographer! Guided by expert tutors, kids will explore during this workshop how to capture daily life at the National Zoo and Aquarium.

Day One is a field trip to the zoo, with participants trying out different approaches to creating great images of different animals. Day Two is based at PhotoAccess, where the kids will be introduced to Adobe Creative software, review and edit their images from the zoo and create their own printed safari scrapbook to take home.

Participants are welcome to use either a provided point and shoot camera or bring their own DSLR camera. Laptops loaded with the appropriate Adobe software are provided.

Suitable for Kids 10-15 years only. Cost includes entry to the Zoo.

Happening 8-9 July 2021.

See photoaccess.org.au/learn/classes/kids-beginners-digital-photography-workshop-1-summer for more information.

Kidchella School Holiday Event

Canberra Outlet is bringing you Kidchella—the hottest children’s festival this Winter!

Join Canberra Outlet for festival fun these July school holidays, daily activities include making;

Rainbow Wands

Painting your own Cactus cookie

Crowns

Keychan tassels

DIY Tote Bags and more…

There will also be a ball pit, photo booths including a Kombi and Cactus garden.

Fairy floss and sparkle stations will also be available on weekends.

Happening until Sunday 11 July daily from 11 am – 2 pm at Canberra Outlet in the atrium space between Caffe Cherry Beans and Supergrocer.

See canberraoutletcentre.com.au/news/kidchella-school-holiday-event for more information.

Sesame Street Circus Spectacular

The enormously popular Sesame Street Circus Spectacular, ready to wow Canberra audiences of all ages, has extended its season by two weeks and will now run through until 2 August!

With new COVID-19 protocols in place, and in close coordination with government agency guidelines, live performances will commence in Majura Park on 25 June.

This 90-minute Circus spectacular features incredible performers from Argentina, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, Africa and Australia, plus all your favourite Sesame Street characters under the big top, including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie and Super Grover.

In an extraordinary circus performance, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Super Grover and the Sesame Street characters all work to find their own personal and unique talent at the circus and join daredevils and a host of other incredible performers in this must-see show.

Every element within the show was newly developed for the tour, which was written and produced locally and includes the original Sesame Street voices that were recorded in New York especially for this production.

Happening Friday 25 June – Monday 2 August Majura Park, Majura Park Shopping Centre (opposite Costco), Spitfire Avenue, Majura Park

See ticketmaster.com.au/artist/837678. Tickets can also be purchased with the circus direct: 0413 880 044.

Make Your Own at Canberra Glassworks Create your own artwork with one-on-one guidance from a highly skilled Teaching Artist at the Canberra Glassworks. Make your own paperweight, bird, tumbler or vase in a short one-on-one session from 20 to 40 minutes long. Saturday or Sunday sessions available at Canberra Glassworks. Book online at canberraglassworks.com/create/myo Immerse yourself in nature-inspired art with NatureArt Lab’s Open Day Offering some of the most immersive nature art experiences available, meet Australia’s most acclaimed nature artists and get a taste of some of NatureArt Lab’s unique courses and workshops. NatureArt Lab is opening its studio doors and giving art lovers the opportunity to come and meet some of the team of established award-winning artists including experienced botanical artists. Meet NatureArt Lab’s Founding Director, award-winning wildlife and botanical artist, Julia Landford, and discover her journey; from her long career in the Australian Public Service as an international development and emerging diseases expert where she travelled across a dozen Southeast Asian countries observing and drawing, to starting up the Wildlife & Botanical Artists organisation, and most recently in 2017, founding NatureArt Lab. Illustrator, Margaret Saul, Canberra-based artist and wildlife carer, Joan McKay, professional artist and tutor, Lesley Wallington, and professional scientific illustrator and botanical artist, Anna Voytsekhovich will also be in attendance and happy to share their knowledge with all budding nature artists. All Open Day attendees will receive a complimentary limited-edition greetings card from NatureArt Lab’s beautiful range, featuring original artwork of Australian flora and fauna, all designed by award-winning artists and illustrators. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, numbers for each session are limited and need to be pre-booked. Happening 10 July at M16 Art Space, Blaxland Crescent, Manuka. See natureartlab.com.au/collections/events/ for more information. Magic of Marion: 150 Years of Marion Mahony Griffin Happy Birthday Marion Mahony Griffin Join the National Capital Authority and other National Cultural Partners as they celebrate a year of Marion Mahony Griffin in the national capital. This year marks Marion’s 150th Birthday, a woman that played such in integral part in architectural designs across two continents. Marion is known to have produced some of the finest architectural drawings in Australia and America but was also instrumental in the award-winning design plans with her husband Walter for the design of Australia’s Capital, Canberra. From walks to lectures, launches to talks, see the full program at nca.gov.au/marion. Various events happening until 10 August 2021. See nca.gov.au/marion for more information. The 5.30 Club Canberra Inspired by The 5:30 am Club in Sydney, Emily Davidson has started her own for us here in Canberra. Join her for your Power Hour on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 am-7 am at Eighty/Twenty Food in Braddon Canberra Everyone is welcome and there is no cost involved. If you want to start your morning off on the right foot, come and join The 5.30 am Club Canberra! Bring along a book, your laptop or pen and paper—anything to work on for your Power Hour! What could you do with an hour to yourself in your day? Start writing a book, smash your email inbox, journal, brainstorm ideas for your next project or plan your day…the sky is the limit! All while soaking up the sunrise over a morning brew, and all before peak hour! The Club’s motto is ‘Win the morning, win the day!’ Emily says her day is better when it starts with The 5:30 am Club. “After we meet in the morning I’m on a high—feeling fresh, inspired and ready to start the day!” Join The 5.30 am Club! Look for the blonde-haired girl with the llama on her table. See sites.google.com/view/the530club for more information. MARKETS Three Sixty Fashion Market The Three Sixty Fashion Market is a truly unique, niche, Canberra-based market dedicated to sustainable fashion. This mostly recycled fashion market is perfect for stylish, discerning shoppers who love genuine, quality vintage, retro and pre-loved fashion that is far too good to chuck in a bin or send to landfill. The Three Sixty Fashion Market is committed to a circular economy and to providing fabulous shopping for those who value ethical choices and ecological sustainability as much as they value style and fun. You’re guaranteed to uncover some intriguing fashion and great buys. Great day for a get together with the gals or enjoy an outing with family and friends, so grab a coffee and explore! The Three Sixty Market is held at the Fitters’ Workshop, a heritage-listed building and part of the Kingston Power House historic precinct. Free parking and free entry. Held indoors so protected from the weather. Happening Sunday 11 July at the Fitters Workshop, Kingston. See canberramarkets.net.au/category/three-sixty-market for more information.

Haig Park Village Markets

The Haig Park Village Markets are about creating a vibrant farmers market filled with fresh, nutritious, quality produce and products at reasonable prices, with the added bonus of supporting and promoting our regional farmers and businesses.

Rosie and Alex are born and raised Canberrans who love all things markets. Their markets will be an evolving collaboration of many farmers, bakers, artisans and talented people, seeking to share their crafted specialties. They want to support local creative talent and nurture local businesses.

Working together with regional growers and local business they can create a lively and community-driven market that seeks to become a destination for locals and visitors alike.

Happening Sundays from 8 am at Haig Park, Braddon.

See Facebook for more information.

Capital Region Farmers Market

Sample the region’s freshest produce at the Capital region farmers market

The Market is a community project run by the Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary Club in the ACT.

Find your way to the Market with our directions to EPIC. We have over 100 stallholders each week who bring their freshly picked, grown and handcrafted produce to the Market.

Speak to a stallholder and ask them where their produce comes from—you’ll be surprised what you’ll learn and pick up cooking, storage and usage tips. Find your favourite stallholder in the directory.

Happening every Saturday from 7 am– 11.30 am at Exhibition Park in Canberra.

See capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au for more information.

FAMILY

Wintervention

Lace up your skates. It’s the most winterful time of year!

Canberra’s most coveted winter attraction, Wintervention is back for 2021, turning Civic Square into an open-air ice-skating arena from Friday 25 June until Sunday 11 July for the school holiday period.

Take a moment to enjoy the true joys of winter and embrace the frost around entertainment, activities, food, and market stalls. The rink is open 10 am to 8 pm from Sundays to Thursdays, and 10 am to 9 pm Fridays and Saturdays. Visitors are required to book in for their skate sessions.

The markets will run across two weekends (Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June and Friday 2 to Sunday 4 July). Stars on Ice will keep the crowds entertained with live performances on Fridays and over the weekend. Throughout the week skate sessions, music performances and hot drinks and food stalls are available.

Whether you’re a skater or a spectator, get down to Civic Square for the ultimate winter fun and capture the season in all its glory at this family-friendly event.

Happening until 11 July at Civic Square, City.

See wintervention.com.au for more information.

OUTDOORS

Wintervention

Lace up your skates. It’s the most winterful time of year!

Whether you’re a skater or a spectator, get down to Civic Square for the ultimate winter fun and capture the season in all its glory at this family-friendly event.

Happening until 11 July at Civic Square, City.

See wintervention.com.au for more information.

Magic of Marion: 150 Years of Marion Mahony Griffin

Happy Birthday Marion Mahony Griffin

Join the National Capital Authority and other National Cultural Partners as they celebrate a year of Marion Mahony Griffin in the national capital. This year marks Marion’s 150th Birthday, a woman that played such in integral part in architectural designs across two continents.

Marion is known to have produced some of the finest architectural drawings in Australia and America but was also instrumental in the award-winning design plans with her husband Walter for the design of Australia’s Capital, Canberra.

From walks to lectures, launches to talks, see the full program at nca.gov.au/marion.

Various events happening until 10 August 2021.

See nca.gov.au/marion for more information.

EXHIBITIONS

Underworld: Mugshots from the Roaring Twenties

Unique and captivating photographs of the 1920s criminal underworld capture the zeitgeist of an era. These mugshots, known as ‘Specials’, are unexpectedly candid and intriguing portraits of suspects in custody, and they are unlike any elsewhere in the world.

Bosses, bruisers, plotters, drug pushers, addicts, sly-grog purveyors and petty crims are all captured by the camera as they stare down the lens into history. But more than simple mugshots, these portraits, and the stories of the sordid sorts they portray, also convey the rise and fall of trends such as the flapper and illustrate the post-war movement of people between Sydney and other cities such as New York and London.

The hit BBC series Peaky Blinders found inspiration in this unique photographic archive, as have artists, academics and designers such as Ralph Lauren and Karl Lagerfeld. What will you take from them?

A travelling exhibition from Sydney Living Museums.

Showing until 24 October at the National Archives of Australia.

See naa.gov.au/visit-us/events-and-exhibitions/underworld-mugshots-roaring-twenties for more information.

Reflections Of My Country

“My Country gives me inspiration to paint; also my family and community.”

Duncan Smith OAM presents an exploration of Wiradjuri Country, using traditional ochre and acrylic paints on board. His works reflect rivers, waterholes, meeting places, animals, trees, grinding stones, artifacts, scar tree patterns and land patterns.

Before painting, Wiradjuri people travel throughout their Country to collect ochre. After gathering the ochre, they grind it to a fine powder with a grinding stone, then add water and a binding agent, such as wood glue, to help it stick to the surface it is being applied to. Ochre colours are traditionally white, red, yellow and brown, and paint brushes and sticks are used to paint dots. The exhibition includes single works as well as sets of three, with every painting different to each other.

Showing from 9 July until 15 August at Belco Arts, Emu Bank, Belconnen.

See belcoarts.com.au/exhibitions/ for more information.

Heart Strong

Heart Strong features new works by six strong Aboriginal women who currently reside on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra, where their individual stories come together. Each artist uses their unique perspective to tell stories of Country, care, connection and strength.

Coming together from regions across Australia, and all at different stages of their artistic careers, these women share their individual stories and their shared experiences as strong women who lead, create and love in support of their families and community.

This exhibition is supported by the ACT Government through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grants program.

Happening from 9 July until 15 August 2021 at Belcom Arts, Emu Bank, Belconnen.

See belcoarts.com.au/heart-strong/ for more information.

Ginger Meggs: 100 Years of Adventure

The Royal Australian Mint is marking a century of Australia’s most iconic comic strip, Ginger Meggs, with a brand new exhibition.

The Ginger Meggs: 100 Years of Adventure exhibition features cartoon strips from the original 1921 comics created by Jimmy Bancks, as well as current cartoons drawn by Jason Chatfield.

Designed to delight the whole family, there will also be a range of objects on display, including figurines, lapels and money boxes, among other memorabilia featuring the lovable larrikin.

Happening until 21 November 2021 at the Royal Australian Mint.

See ramint.gov.au/ for more information.

Canberra Re-seen

Canberra Re-seen explores the idea of Canberra as a community of people, a built environment, and a physical landscape.

Developed in collaboration with Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG), the project brought together sixteen artists to create new work responding to three of Canberra’s landmark photographers—Marzena Wasikowska, Edward (Ted) Richards and Ian North—each featured in CMAG’s current exhibition, Seeing Canberra.

Curated by Wouter Van de Voorde, Canberra Re-seen selects and interweaves work from across this broader project, drawing together digital and darkroom works to generate a simultaneously affectionate and challenging look at the city and what it means to live in Canberra today.

Exhibiting artists: Peter Bailey, Andrea Bryant, Abby Ching, Annette Fisher, Susan Henderson, Tessa Ivison, Peter Larmour, Caroline Lemerle, Louise Maurer, Greg McAnulty, Yvette Perine, Brian Rope, Aditi Sargeant, Eva Schroeder, Sari Sutton, Beata Tworek, Grant Winkler.

Happening until 10 July at PhotoAccess.

See photoaccess.org.au/see/exhibitions/canberra-re-seen for more information.

Australian Megafauna Exhibition

An exhibition featuring original large scale paintings of Australia’s megafauna by Australian wildlife artist, author and paleontological illustrator Peter Schouten AM.

Peter Schouten has an international reputation for his specialised area as a Paleontological Reconstructionist, rebuilding a fossil species. David Attenborough termed his skills as “rare and precious” and among the world’s best. Peter has published some of Australia’s most outstanding wildlife publications.

His work features in books such as Gliding Mammals of the World, Prehistoric Animals of Australia, A Gap in Nature, Astonishing Animals, Possums of the World, Tree Kangaroos A Curious Natural History, Feathered Dinosaurs: The Origin of Birds and strangely enough, the Encyclopaedia of Asian Food. He has co-authored books with Dr Tim Flannery and Stephen Jackson as well as producing the book Megafauna which was a collaboration with Dr Ross MacPhee.

Peter’s works are featured in the collections of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, the Natural History Museum in New York, the Naturalis Museum in Holland and in David Attenborough’s private collection.

Showing until 25 July 2021 at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

See parksaustralia.gov.au/botanic-gardens/do/whats-on/exhibitions for more information.

Yurwang Bullarn—Strong Women’s Group

Yurwang Bullarn Strong Women’s Group is for women who are parents, carers, aunties and grandmas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Strong Women’s Group focuses on community connectedness and providing local women with an opportunity to socialise regularly and engage in activities addressing art, culture, self-care, health and wellbeing.

Yurwang Bullarn Strong Women’s Group includes Natasha Best (Wakamin), Leah Brideson (Kamilaroi), Megan Daley (Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri), Kayannie Denigan (Luritja), Krystal Hurst (Worimi) and Kristie Peters (Wiradjuri).

The pieces of art were done by the women at home during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown, with most sessions conducted on digital platforms. The women also met for a couple of sessions face-to-face towards the end of 2020, held at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Showing until 15 August at Belco Arts, Emu Bank, Belconnen.

See belcoarts.com.au/strong-women for more information.

The Trevor Kennedy Collection: Highlights

Discover objects of rare beauty and items of curiosity and wonder in this exhibition.

Drawn from the rich and diverse Trevor Kennedy Collection, this selection of stunning artworks, ceramics, furniture and jewellery highlights Australia’s history, culture and identity.

Showing until 10 October. Free entry.

I Weave What I Have Seen: War Rugs of Afghanistan

I weave what I have seen is a testimony to the creativity and resilience of a people who have faced the devastating effects of war and conflict.

The rug-makers of Afghanistan developed a complex imagery of war planes, helicopters, machine guns, maps and slogans during three war-torn decades, between the late 1970s and 2010.

Afghan rugs and carpets were traditionally made by semi-nomadic peoples recognised for their distinctive designs, their rich palette and superior craftsmanship. Significant changes to the rug designs began to appear soon after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

The persistence of war and conflict in the region and the exodus of nearly four million people into Iran and Pakistan has instigated this new genre of war art.

I weave what I have seen consists of 40 rugs of different shapes and sizes sourced from Australian private collections. The exhibition investigates the history, iconography, production and distribution of these “war carpets” in Afghanistan itself, and among the far-flung Afghani diaspora.

I weave what I have seen developed out of a research project undertaken by Nigel Lendon (Honorary Fellow, School of Art and Design) and Tim Bonyhady (Faculty of Law) at the Australian National University.

The exhibition and its national tour are organised by the ANU Drill Hall Gallery in conjunction with Tim Bonyhady.

Showing until 15 August at Drill Hall Gallery, ANU.

See dhg.anu.edu.au for more information.

While We’re Still Here

From 3 June, aMBUSH Gallery Kambri will launch their latest exhibition While We’re Still Here which explores the enduring charm and legacy of the still-life genre.

Co-curated by aMBUSH Gallery and Scott Owen, the exhibition name references the tradition of still life and the concept of ‘memento mori’ (Latin for ‘remember you must die’) which is often used by the Stoic philosophers.

Works from 20 Australian artists are showcased – including oil paintings, collage, photography and digital collage – with roots in the artistic traditions of still life but anchored in the present day either through their subject matter or their medium.

The exhibition will then run daily from Friday 4 June to Sunday 11 July from 10 am-6 pm weekdays and 12 pm-5 pm on weekends, free of charge to the public.

Showing until 11 July at aMBUSH Gallery, Kambri ANU.

See ambushgallery.com for more information.

Yours Faithfully

Yours faithfully is an interactive exhibition that invites you to rediscover the art of letter writing.

In Yours Faithfully, you can use the Museum of Australian Democracy’s (MoAD) range of tools and supplies including beautifully restored typewriters and writing supplies to express your inner thoughts. Whatever the subject and whoever the recipient, you can pop your letter in the post box located in the exhibition and MoAD will cover the postage.

In an age of pithy one liners, text messages and FaceTime, rediscover letter writing at MoAD.

Happening until 31 December at the Museum of Australian Democracy, King Edward Terrace, Barton.

See moadoph.gov.au/exhibitions/yoursfaithfully for more information.

Megan Cope: Unbroken Connections

Unbroken Connections is the exhibition resulting from Cope’s residency at Canberra Glassworks in 2020 and 2021. During her residency, Cope worked with a variety of techniques to produce a distinct body of work that includes shield forms made from blown glass on which the artist used the ‘battuto’ technique to carve away the layers and 300 dugong bones cast from recycled television screen glass.

Cope is a Quandamooka woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) in South East Queensland. In this exhibition, the artist explores the ongoing connection her People have had with the island for thousands of years and the unbroken connections between country, family and nature.

Happening until 18 July 2021 at Canberra Glassworks.

See canberraglassworks.com/visit/exhibitions for more information.

Celebrating 50 Years of Canberra Milk

Bringing together works of art and social history objects from the Canberra Museum and Gallery collection, Crafting Canberra explores how the Canberra community continues to evolve.

This exhibition examines ways Canberra has crafted a community for itself, as well as a national identity, over time.

Happening until 31 July at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

See cmag.com.au/exhibitions/don-t-forget-the-milk-celebrating-50-years-of-canberra-milk for more information.

A Shared Enchantment: Japanese, Australian and New Zealand Contemporary Enamelling

A Shared Enchantment brings together Japanese, Australian and New Zealand enamelling artists Tsuruya Sakurai, Kazuko Inomata, Hiroki Iwata, Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, Mio Kuhnen and Jasmine Watson.

Japanese enamelling Master and teacher Tsuruya Sakurai provides the link between the artists, emulating the centuries old tradition of cultural exchange in the multifaceted development of the craft of enamelling. The exhibition showcases the extraordinary technical sophistication and challenging medium of enamelling, in both traditional and contemporary craft forms.

Happening until 15 August at Drill Hall Gallery. ANU.

See dhg.anu.edu.au for more information.

Portrait

ACT-based artist Dahl presents a series of digital prints raising questions about the links between facial expression recognition (FER) technologies and traditions that understand photographic portraits as windows to a subject’s soul.

FER is a rapidly developing algorithmic technology that aims to measure variations in facial expression to detect emotional states and predict behaviour. The software is now becoming integrated into marketing, retail, educational and security surveillance systems.

Dahl focuses on the ‘deadpan’, exploring the idea of the neutral expression as perhaps a form of resistance to data collection, a loss of human agency in emotional life or a space for the viewer to find their own meaning in a portrait.

Happening until 10 July 2021.

See photoaccess.org.au/see/exhibitions/portrait for more information.

A Surrounded Beauty

Investigating the capacity of photographic portraiture to link the interiors of people and place, Rhodes seeks to reveal what is not easily seen with the eye. In A Surrounded Beauty, she captures a seeming variety of subjects, seeking out each person’s aura to explore lived experiences of isolation –Tasmania’s ‘islandness’.

Rhodes is interested in ‘atmosphere’, the in-between that mediates between an environment and the bodily feeling of being in that environment. With her camera she traces the atmosphere of the place through narrative, telling stories dependent on sensory rather than cognitive perception, drawing attention to place and how it shapes people.

Happening until 10 July 2021.

See photoaccess.org.au/see/exhibitions/portrait for more information.

Australien

Living in Australia as a child of parents who were born overseas can often be a delicate balance. Different lunches packed for school, different languages at home, different religions, different clothes, different skin.

Featuring first- and second-generation Australian artists— Lara Chamas, Mariana del Castillo, Caroline Garcia, Shivanjani Lal, Sancintya Mohini Simpson, Andy Mullens and Elefteria Vlavianos— Australien investigates the complexities of balancing the cultures of their heritage with the culture they live in today.

Showing at Canberra Contemporary Art Space until 11 July

See ccas.com.au for more information.

Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now

Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now showcases art made by women. It brings together more than 300 works, drawn from the Gallery’s collection and other collections from across Australia.

This exhibition is part of a series of ongoing initiative by the National Gallery to increase the representation of artists who identify as women in its artistic program, featuring lesser-known and leading artists such as Margaret Preston, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Destiny Deacon and Julie Rrap, this exhibition tells a new story of Australian art.

Highlights include a floor-to-ceiling presentation of artists’ portraits in a variety of mediums, the work of pioneering performance artists Bonita Ely and Jill Orr and a complete edition of Tracey Moffatt’s first major series of photographs, Something more 1989. Gemma Smith has been commissioned to paint the walls of the galleries.

By bringing together artists from different times, places and cultures, this exhibition proposes another history, upending the assumption that modern and contemporary Australian art is a male-dominated narrative.

Showing until 26 January 2022 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes.

See nga.gov.au for more information.

Harriet Schwarzrock: Spaces between movement and stillness

‘The heart is often regarded as our emotional centre. Working with this form allows me to contemplate many aspects of being.’

Luminous alone, the myriad tones and permutations of spaces between movement and stillness also echo the boundless forms of love in the autumn-winter exhibition, Australian Love Stories, at the National Portrait Gallery.

Harriet Schwarzrock’s new work explores notions of emotional processes and their physical manifestations. ‘From the subtle yet essential electricity within our bodies, I am fascinated by this interplay between the invisible and the visible, between our extraordinary similarities and differences.’

In spaces between movement and stillness, the artist has embraced science and experimentation to create visual wonders: glass, inert gases, and electricity combine into an array of organic forms, producing a captivating field of colour and movement. ‘Sometimes they have a warm glow, much like an aurora contained in a bottle; in others there are lightning-like lines meandering around the form. Although the gases are invisible, when excited by electricity they reveal subtle effects and differences.’

The creation draws reflections on the role of the human heart as our central, exquisitely responsive ‘engine’. When we’re relaxed, the heart beats at a slow and steady rhythm; when excitement takes hold – for example, in the first throes of true love – the cadence might crank with the beat of a wilful, wild machine.

Showing until 1 August 2021 at the National Portrait Gallery.

See portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/harriet-schwarzrock-2021 for more information.

Seeing Canberra

As a city initiated as an imagined capital for the new Australian nation, Canberra has been a place that quickly invited visual representation.

As it developed, artists have seen Canberra through different lenses, and these have shaped the way they understood and interpreted the evolving landscape.

In this exhibition, drawn primarily from CMAG’s collection, visitors will journey through four key periods of the city’s development and for each, will encounter an object that represents a prism to understand a way of seeing at that time.

Showing until 17 July 2021 at Canberra Museum and Gallery.

See origin.cmag.com.au/exhibitions/seeing-canberra for more information.

Independent Staines jewellers Burrells closing permanently due to Covid-19 pandemic

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An independent Staines jewellers has made the sad decision to close its doors after three decades trading in the town.

For many high street shops, Wednesday (December 2) was a time for optimism and looking forward to the run up to Christmas. But for the Staines branch of Burrells, they were starting a closing down sale.

Managing director and co-owner Edward Ferris, 40, says: “It really does hurt. I pretty much started working in that shop when I was 14.

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“But I will say the worst part always is the people that work for you. Especially now with the impact of the pandemic, it does weigh very heavily on me that you want everyone to find somewhere else [to work] as soon as possible.”

The Norris Road shop, just minutes' walk from the Elmsleigh Centre, is one of three Burrells stores, alongside Winchester and Tunbridge Wells, neither of which are closing.

The speciality of the Staines shop, Edward explains, has been dealing in more unusual jewellery, much of its trade coming from young office workers getting engaged.

It’s easy to put the closure down to the loss of trade due to the wedding industry being so unreliable in 2020, but it may not be quite that simple.

(Image: Surrey Live / Darren Pepe)

While Burrells says both it’s Staines and Tunbridge Wells wedding departments have suffered, the Winchester wedding section has thrived this year, with a strong year for wedding and engagement rings.

It may have been the pandemic that sealed the fate of the branch, but Edward says he has felt a change in people’s buying habits away from the high street over the last two and a half years.

But he is hugely grateful for those who have supported the shop over the years.

(Image: Surrey Live / Darren Pepe)

He says: “It was a store we were very proud of, and one we replicated in our Winchester store, and got a lot of praise for. I’m very proud of the people that grew within the business. It was definitely a place where we found long-serving, loyal people.”

Edward took the business over from his father Bill Ferris, who opened his first jewellery shop in Kingston in 1974.

They opened their first Staines branch in 1990 as SWAG jewellers and moved to its current location four years ago – which Edward describes as a record year for the business. It changed its name to Burrells in 2018.

From Wednesday, December 2, it will still be open to sell off its remaining stock at discounted prices – they will be in place until February 6 at the latest.

Edward has urged people to support not just his, but many local businesses in the run up to Christmas.

“I think now more than ever, we’ve needed people to visit and talk to us about what their jewellery needs are. I would urge people to get back on the high street. I know it’s very easy to shop online, but it does have a massive impact.”

Burglar of £100k watches and jewellery haul jailed

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Published: 3:42 PM June 11, 2021

Kevin Braidich, 21, of no fixed address, burgled a number of homes across London, including in Highgate - Credit: Metropolitan Police

A man who burgled and attacked a Highgate homeowner has been jailed.

Last July Kevin Braidich, 21, was arrested by officers helped by “quick thinking” members of the public, following a burglary in Highgate.

After his arrest, Braidich was linked by forensics to a string of burglaries which had taken place between June 2019 to July 2020 – including in Barnes, Chelsea and Surrey.

In total, the value of the goods he stole was around £100,000, as the burglar targeted jewellery and watches.

On Monday (June 7), Braidich, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court to five-and-a-half years in prison for five counts of burglary.

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Detective Constable Roisin Mulvihill, of the Metropolitan Police’s North Area Command, said: “This man had a total disregard for other people’s property.

“His brazen acts of theft have caused great distress to his victims and I am pleased that he was brought to justice and received a lengthy sentence that his criminal acts deserved.”

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