Arts editor HELEN MUSA takes a peep at what’s happening around the arts beat in her weekly “Arts in the City” column. 

THE burlesque variety night “Decadence and Debauchery” is back at the Belconnen Arts Centre on December 10. Expect vintage striptease, circus/sideshow, fan dancing, live music and comedy.

CANBERRA Qwire will present a concert full of “beautiful, fun and queer vocal music” for the season in “Merry and Gay”, at The Q, Queanbeyan, December 11.

VIVALDI’S classic work, “The Four Seasons”, will be performed in its entirety by soloist Dan Russell and the Phoenix Collective, at Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 3pm, December 3 at Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest. 

JOURNALIST Gary Nunn is launching his debut book, “The Psychic Tests”, which investigates why powerful and seemingly rational-thinking people believe in the “woo”. He’ll be joined on stage by a psychic who’s in the book, Melanie Obeid. Smiths Alternative, 7.30pm, December 6.

ROBYN Campbell has won the Canberra Potters’ Doug Alexander award for 2022 for her work in the members’ exhibition, “Shadow Fall #2”. Robin Booth won the Hiroe Swen award for the most original exhibit for her work, “Hidden Treasure: Borer Beetle Trails”. The exhibition continues at 1 Aspinall Street, Watson, until December 4.

ORIANA Chorale presents “Midsummer” at Canberra Girls’ Grammar School lakeside facility, Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla, 6pm, December 10.

THREE finalists have been selected from more than 60 submissions from across the country for Canberra Youth Theatre’s Emerging Playwright Commission. They are Rebecca Duke (ACT), Jamie Hornsby (SA) and Honor Webster-Mannison (Victoria). The commission, supported by law firm Holding Redlich, offers $16,500 to develop a full-length script suitable to be performed by actors aged anywhere between 7 and 25.