14 August 2020

Nine things to do in Canberra this week (14 - 20 August)

| Sharon Kelley
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The Canberra Satellite Selfie

ANU and National Science Week bring you the Canberra Satellite Selfie. Image: Supplied.

This week in Canberra, get ready to have the ultimate selfie taken by satellite as the ANU, as part of National Science Week and the #WhereYouAre Festival, tempts us to go outside and do something that can be seen from space.

It’s also the week of the Canberra Writers Festival with many engaging events to be watched, discussed, and participated in.

The National Film and Sound Archive presents a free screening of The Man Who Knew Infinity, based on the true story of a mathematics genius and starring Dev Patel on Friday night, while Live in Ya Lounge presents Kirrah Amosa and MCKY. Then, on Saturday, B E Y O N D: Animation Workshops are a great introduction to animation techniques.

If you’re one of Canberra’s invaluable carers, take a little time out for yourself and head over to the National Gallery of Australia for the Art for Carers event and don’t miss the Lake March by Australian Dance Party.

Moderated by Australia’s own coronavirus doctor Norman Swan, on Saturday Rebecca Huntley, Liz Allen and Sally Wheeler will be discussing Why we have to wait for a catastrophe, as part of the Canberra Writers Festival. And don’t miss Is China Telling the Truth? a discussion between Rory Medcalf and Richard McGregor, moderated by Professor Jane Golley.

For more details about these events and more, check out RISE Canberra.

Friday

The Man Who Knew Infinity

The Man Who Knew Infinity is showing at the National Film and Sound Archives this Friday. Photo: Supplied.

NFSA Live: The Man Who Knew Infinity

Where: Online
When: 6:00 pm
Cost: Free

Written and directed by Matthew Brown, The Man Who Knew Infinity is the true story of a friendship that forever changed mathematics. In 1913, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), a self-taught Indian mathematics genius, travelled to Trinity College, Cambridge. Over the course of five years, he forged a bond with his mentor – the brilliant and eccentric professor, GH Hardy (Jeremy Irons) – and fought against prejudice to reveal his mathematic genius to the world.

This event will be followed by a special Q&A and is proudly presented by the National Film and Sound Archive. Bookings are essential. Register now through Eventbrite.

Kirrah Amosa and MCKY

Live in Ya Lounge is back this week with Kirrah Amosa and MCKY. Image: Supplied.

Live in Ya Lounge: Kirrah and MCKY

Where: Online or in person at Exhibition Park
When
: 7:30 pm
Cost: Watch online for free, or in person for $27.46 – $53.84

Don’t miss the live-streamed studio production of Kirrah Amosa, live and ready to light up ya life and ya lounge with a brand new show, complete with dancers, new never-performed tunes, and half of Samoa! As always, Kirrah aims to help you escape your worries so be sure to tune in to let her and the K crew help you forget COVID-19.

MCKY is a 20-something singer and songwriter based in Canberra whose R&B and soul genre depicts modern-day and truly identifiable love stories both good and bad. Having rebranded from a different sound, MCKY’s soulful and moody sound along with her sultry vocals inspired by the talents of Sabrina Claudio, Kiana Lede, Summer Walker and Mahalia will bring nothing but chill vibes to your living room as she debuts her first performance.

Saturday

Rory Medcalf and Richard McGregor

Rory Medcalf and Richard McGregor discuss the rise of China as part of the Canberra Writers Festival 2020. Photo: Supplied.

Is China telling the truth?

Where: Canberra Theatre Centre and online
When: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Cost: Watch online for $10 or in-person for $25 adults, $20 concession, $15 junior

The rise of China is one of the biggest and most pivotal stories of our generation. And yet relations with our largest trading partner continue to plummet with Australia being put in the deep freeze after calling out Beijing for exercising undue influence in our polity and for launching massive cyberattacks against our vital institutions. Can relations with the communist superpower recover? Or is Australia destined to become an enemy of the State?
Rebecca Huntley, Liz Allen and Sally Wheeler

Rebecca Huntley, Liz Allen and Sally Wheeler address why it takes a catastrophe to wake us up, as part of the Canberra Writers Festival. Photo: Supplied.

Why does it take a catastrophe?

Where: Canberra Theatre Centre and online
When:
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Cost: Watch online for $10 or in-person for $25 adults, $20 concession, $15 junior

Why do we have to wait for a catastrophe – environmental or political – to wake up? Where are our leaders and what does leadership today really mean? How and why did we get it so wrong? At a critical time in world affairs, how do we build an enduring legacy to secure our nation for generations? Moderated by Dr Norman Swan.

Buy your tickets here to watch in-person, or here to watch the live stream online. Presented by ANU @ the Canberra Theatre Centre.

BEYOND Online Animation Workshops

Join the fun with the online animation workshops this Saturday from 6:00 pm. Image: Supplied.

B E Y O N D: Online Animation Workshops

Where: Online
When: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $50 per person

Join Eleanor and Giovanni in B E Y O N D: Online Animation Workshops as they teach you the basics of claymation, animating with found objects and creating stop motion animations from the comfort of your own home.

Sunday

Lake March

Lake March links to world-famous director Pina Bausch’s The Nelken Line. Photo: Supplied

Lake March: The Nelken Line

Where: Lake Burley Griffin
When: 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm
Cost: Free

Watch a group of dancers move continuously around the water’s edge of Canberra’s lakes to live music in Lake March, presented by the Australian Dance Party and #WhereYouAreFestival.

The Nelken Line is being performed by citizens across the globe, uniting the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn the choreography and register your place to join.

Christine Jackman

Christine Jackman is in conversation with Sabra Lane. Photo: Supplied.

Silence please!

Where: Museum of Australian Democracy or watch it online
When: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Cost: Watch online for $10 or in-person for $25 adults, $20 concession, $15 junior

Christine Jackman’s personal quest for a better way of being is a timely exploration of what happens to our brains, our lives and our communities in a world noisier than ever before. What have we learned from ISO?

Buy your tickets here for the in-person show or here to watch the live stream online.
Presented by the Museum of Australian Democracy in the Members’ Bar and Dining Room.

Monday

Satellite Selfie

The ultimate selfie is coming to Canberra.

National Science Week: Canberra’s own Satellite Selfie!

Where: Outdoors anywhere in Canberra
When: Monday 17th, Wednesday 19th and Friday 21st between 10:00 am and 11:00 am
Cost: Free

During National Science Week this year, a satellite will fly over the ACT and surrounding areas and will capture an image of as much of Canberra and the people in it as possible to create a time-capsule image of Australia’s capital from above.

Get your school, business or family and friends to go outside to an oval, park or backyard and create large designs, logos or icons on the ground that are big enough to be seen from space – but please make sure you social distance and follow the current health guidelines!

The satellite will fly over three times during National Science Week on Monday, August 17, Wednesday, August 19, and Friday, August 21 between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.

The image taken by the satellite will be uploaded to by early September so you will then be able to see and keep it forever.

For more information head to the ANU National Science Week website.

Tuesday

Inspiration at the NGA

Be inspired with a different artwork exhibition each session. Photo: National Gallery of Australia.

Art for Carers presented by National Gallery Australia

Where: National Gallery Australia
When: 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Cost: Free, bookings essential

Join carers from across the region to spend a social hour engaging with art through tours and art-making activities. Stay behind after the tour to share a coffee in the Gallery’s café.

There’s more to do in Canberra so for all the details, visit RISE Canberra.

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