Here’s arts editor HELEN MUSA’s parade of what’s on where. She calls it Artsweek and it’s a big week this week. 

Daredevil artist activist and filmmaker George Gittoes shines a spotlight on the creativity and resilience of frontline artists responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in his new anti-war documentary film Ukraine Guernica – Art Not War, at the National Film and Sound Archive, followed by a Q&A via Zoom with Gittoes and producer-musician Hellen Rose, July 4.

Viv Lawes, the next presenter for ArtsNational, will talk about the East India Company and the opening of East-West trade bringing previously unknown art and artistic practices to the West. National Library July 8.

Musicians and performers interested in being part of the 2025 National Folk Festival have until July 28 to register interest at folkfestival.org.au

Concerts

• Legendary singer-songwriter Neil Murray, of Warumpi Band fame, is playing at Smith’s Alternative, Civic, July 5.
• Ellery String Quartet presents old and new favourites in a celebratory concert before cellist James Monro departs for Switzerland. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, July 5.
• Judith Clingan and Wayfarers Australia have an Elizabethan feast, which also involves 16th century instrumental music, dramatised excerpts from Shakespeare and 16th century dances accompanied by a renaissance band. At the pavilion opposite 21 Gladstone Street Hall, July 6.
• Guitar Trek – Tim Kain, Minh Le Hoang, Matt Withers and Callum Henshaw – plan to play a “wildly eclectic” selection at Wesley Music Centre, July 6.
• Canberra Choral Society and the National Capital Orchestra, with guest choristers from The Llewellyn Choir and four soloists, will perform Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at Llewellyn Hall, July 6.
• Rock legends Eskimo Joe will be joined by Dan Sultan at The B, Queanbeyan, July 7.
• Young pianists from the studio of Jinbo Huang will perform a selection of music for piano solo and piano duet. Wednesday Lunchtime Concert, Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, July 10.
• Each year, the Australian Youth Orchestra offers tailored training and performance programs for aspiring musicians, composers, arts administrators and music journalists, aged 12 to 30. Applications close on July 31 at ayo.com.au
• The house concert with US-based classical guitarist Rupert Boyd and cellist Laura Metcalfe has been postponed from July 11 until August because of family illness.

Stage

• Directed by Rachel Robertson Perform Australia’s Advanced Diploma of Performance students present Inflamed Maladies: A Sick Story at The Mill Theatre, Fyshwick, until July 6.
• Garry Starr returns in Greece Lightning, as he tackles all of Greek Mythology. The Q, Queanbeyan, July 6.
• To mark its own production of Crime and Punishment, The Street Theatre’s director Caroline Stacey has invited writer Subhash Jaireth and Canberra actor Karen Vickery, both Russian speakers, to discuss interpretations and adaptations of the famous novel. At The Street Theatre, July 6.
• The Woman in Black, horror at Canberra Theatre, July 9-14.
• Acting the Playtext is an acting-for-the-fun-of-it course for actors, theatre lovers, teachers and drama students in Year 12 and anyone who wants to be creative. At Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning. July 8-August 5. Enrolment and enquiries to wilkinspeter45@gmail.com

Galleries

• Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s NAIDOC week exhibitions focus on women exploring their connection to place as Jamie Lea Trindall’s All Guns Blazing explores traditions of carving and string making, while Rechelle Turner and Megan Dale’s Sisters Intertwined shows print making and textiles. All are on show until August.
• Everything I Am Not is an exhibition showcasing collaborative works created by individual pairs of artists and composers. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, July 5-14.
• A group show, Sanctuary, sees 23 Australian and three international artists portraying their “sanctuary” through the specialised craft of the handprinted photograph. Sutton Village Gallery until July 21.