In her latest Arts in the City column HELEN MUSA reports on a new dance and science show for children. 

Buzzz ACT is a new dance and science show for children by Chamaeleon Collective that explores the importance of bees for the ecology, biodiversity and our food chain. The show will buzz into Tuggeranong (August 10) and Majura (August 17) shopping centres as a National Science Week initiative. And its Stars in 3D show will be seen in Canberra Museum and Gallery’s theatrette on August 16.

Shock news that the role of gallery manager at Australian National Capital Artists in Dickson, occupied by Liisa Naar, has been made immediately redundant, with the ANCA board citing financial unsustainability. 

Opera Australia will bring back The Phantom of the Opera, to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage next year, in the production by Simon Phillips seen in 2022. It will be the first major event in the global celebrations of The Phantom’s 40th birthday in 2026. 

Phoenix Collective is presenting Bella Italia, works by Boccherini, Verdi and Sollima. Wesley Music Centre, August 15.

Brindabella Orchestra will take a musical journey with Beethoven, Mozart, Elgar, Borodin, Silvestri and Lloyd Webber at Weston Community Hub, Corner Hilder & Gritten Streets, August 10.

Tuggeranong Art Centre’s next exhibitions include Patternmakers, by Canberra artists Vivienne Binns, Ham Darroch, Al Munro and Richard Blackwell, and Remedies, by painter Hank Reynolds, both until October 11.

Alice Taylor, founder of Elsie’s Film House in Civic and Haig Park Pikture Festival, and a former director of the Canberra International Film Festival, has joined the NFSA to lead programming for its Arc Film Series. 

Multilingual Poetry Open Mic will return to Smith’s Alternative on August 11, this time featuring poet Manoj Regmi. Originally from Nepal, Manoj has lived in Canberra since 2019 and writes poems and short stories in English and Nepali.