HELEN MUSA offers a comprehensive sweep of the pre-Christmas Canberra arts scene in her latest Artsweek column. 

Jim Moginie, one of the driving forces behind Midnight Oil, will launch his new album of songs, Everything’s Gonna Be Fine, playing seated behind a piano, with guest drummer Hamish Stuart at Smith’s Alternative, December 6.

The Jewish International Film Festival presents stories from 17 countries around the world, featuring 41 feature-length films, two television series and a special short-film showcase. Dendy Cinemas, December 7-8.

The Hive (The Yellow House) in Crawford Street, Queanbeyan has a new pop-up bar, with live music. Twilight Christmas market, December 6.

Stage

• The play, Jack Maggs, originates from Dickens’s Great Expectations, now seen through the eyes of novelist Peter Carey and playwright Samuel Adamson. The Playhouse, December 5-7.
• Shortis & Simpson will present an evening of political satire, The Hair and the Shortis, looking over the highs and lows of 2024. Smith’s Alternative, December 7.
• Emma Batchelor is staging a work-in-progress showing of I Play Myself, an interdisciplinary performance work developed as part of Resident Street in 2024. The Street Theatre, December 7.
• Fresh Funk’s dance show The Last Airbender pays tribute to the TV series (and recent movie remake) of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Erindale Theatre, December 7.
• Master magician Michael Boyd joins Prinnie Stevens and “the absolute crème de la crème of Australia’s showgirls” to present The Christmas Spectacular. Theatre, December 9-10.
• Bestselling author of Bite Back, Hannah Ferguson is joined by Big Small Talk co-host Sarah-Jane Adams in a fun-serious talk show. Canberra Theatre, December 11.

Galleries

• The National Gallery of Australia will turn the spotlight on two artists, Ethel Carrick and Anne Dangar in a summer double bill of retrospectives. Both are Know My Name projects, the gallery’s initiative celebrating the work of all women artists. NGA, December 7-April 27.
• Graduate show of the 2024 ANU School of Art & Design. ANU School of Art & Design, Building 105, Childers Street, Acton, until December 8.
• Justin Pearson’s collection of recent oil paintings, Fantasia. Gallery Bodalla, December 5-January 5.
• Four new exhibitions are opening at Belco Arts: Dear Forests…an open postcard exhibition; Oikos by Peter McLean; Grounded by Robyn Evans, Sabina Moore, Amanda Andlee Poland; and Echoes of Absence Rebecca Tapscott. Belconnen Arts Centre, December 6-February 2.
• Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka has Punk, Romantic, the debut solo exhibition by Sophie Dumaresq, recipient of the 2023 CCAS ANU SoA&D Emerging Artists Support Scheme Mentorship and Exhibition Award. December 6-15.
• Behind the Lines 2024: No Guts, No Glory relives the 2024 political season through the eyes of Australia’s top cartoonists, not least Megan Herbert, the 2024 Political Cartoonist of the Year. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House until further notice.
• Canberra Potters Christmas Fair, Watson Arts Centre, December 6-15.
• Hope Flies by Isobelle Carmody has seen 30 kites decorated by award-winning illustrators and artists which are being auctioned here hopeflies.isobellecarmody.net.au to raise funds for Redkite charity. On show in Gorman Arts Centre F Block Gallery, until December 7.

Concerts

• The CSO performs Nicole Murphy’s Spinning Top; Mozart’s Adagio in E Major; Tchaikovsky’s Mélodie; and Clara Schumann’s Trio in G minor. Government House, Yarralumla, December 7.
• Music for Canberra’s end of year dress-up concert. Orana Steiner School Overture Hall, Weston, December 7.
• Smith’s@Belco features Glorious! A Handel Celebration, where countertenor and host Tobias Cole, along with his Salon players and pantomimist, Marcel Cole, perform. Belconnen Arts Centre, December 7.
• The Llewellyn Choir sings Krismas! Peace to the World! Holy Cross Anglican Church, Hackett, December 7.
• Polifemy women’s vocal ensemble performs The Waiting Sky – Music for the Christmas Season. Wesley Uniting Church, December 7.
• Canberra Men’s Choir present a Christmas concert with carols and fun songs with an Aussie twist.Tuggeranong Arts Centre Theatre, December 7.
• National Capital Authority’s Carols by Candlelight. Stage 88, December 7.
• National Opera Chorus presents A Touch of Christmas. All Saints Ainslie, December 7.
• Kompactus Youth Choir performs Spectrum of the Universe, music by Joshua Shank, Eric Whitacre and director Olivia Swift. Wesley Uniting Church, December 8.
• Recording artist and producer Kevin Welch and singer-songwriter Heath Cullen perform at the Royal Hotel, Queanbeyan, December 8.
• Paverty Bushband will perform for the Merry Muse, Canberra Irish Club, Weston, December 8.
• Advent Singen with the Austrian Harmonie Choir will feature Austrian and Australian Christmas carols. Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, December 8.