HELEN MUSA wraps a week’s worth of upcoming arts and entertainment events into one sparkling column. Here’s her latest Artsweek.

Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla – From the darkness into the light is free to visit and will be on display at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House until late 2026.

Journalist Jane Caro will present the 19th Dymphna Clark Lecture, Lecture Theatre A1, Building 9, University of Canberra, August 26.

ArtsNational Molonglo Plains has UK lecturer Chris Aslan talk about the Golden Road to Samarkand: The Architecture, Art and Textiles of Uzbekistan. C3 Auditorium, Monaro Street , Queanbeyan, August 21.

Stage

• The Paper Escaper is a Terrapin Puppet theatre production, at The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, August 21-22.
• The Drawer Boy, a modern classic of Canadian theatre by Michael Healey, is at Belconnen Arts Centre, August 21-30.
• National Opera’s production of Richard Strauss’s opera Der Rosenkavalier, in condensed form, will take the stage at The Street Theatre, August 23-31.
• Lightbulb Improv creates two fully improvised Shakespearean masterpieces right before your eyes in Shakenspeare: Faketh till you Maketh, Courtyard Studio, August 22-24.

Galleries

• In conjunction with the exhibition Light Source, there will be short performances by artists Dirk de Bruyn, Ross Manning, Nicci Haynes and Sebastian Field, centring on light’s ability to illuminate or abstract. The ANU Drill Hall Gallery, August 22, Light Source exhibition, August 22-October 19.
• Mikaela Stafford’s free, immersive installation, Inferno, blends 3D motion graphics, kinetic sculpture and lighting with a soundscape by composer Kate Durman. The National Film and Sound Archive, August 22-November 16.
• Megalo has HARD/SOFT, curated by Sydney artist-run initiative More Than Reproduction and featuring four printmakers, Fergus Berney-Gibson, Annabelle McEwen, Linda Sok, and Maddison Wandel. Wentworth Ave, Kingston, August 23-October 4.
• The Art in Miniature exhibition, inspired by the Australian National Botanic Gardens, will run at the gardens’ visitors centre, August 27 to September 21.

Concerts

• The Australian Haydn Ensemble’s show Haydn’s Miracle features works by Schubert, Purcell and Haydn. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, August 21.
• The real Herman’s Hermits will be performing their hits at the Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden, August 21.
• The National Capital Orchestra’s Community Play Day 2025 and the afternoon “play-through” concert. Albert Hall, August 24.
• Kiss The Sky recreates the look and sound of Jimi Hendrix’s stage shows, fronted by guitarist, Jimy Bleu, at The B Queanbeyan, August 26.
• Young pianist May Li performs a program of works by JS Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Miriam Hyde in the Wednesday Lunchtime series, Wesley Music Centre, August 27.