Festival reinstates author for 2027, sorry for fiasco
A leading writers' festival has offered an invitation and issued an unreserved apology to Randa Abdel-Fattah over her ditching that triggered its 2026 collapse.
Arts & Entertainment
Canberra’s best coverage of local arts news plus reviews, including dining, film, theatre, music, visual arts and dance
One of Canberra’s most colourful and individualistic arts personalities, Kate McNamara, has died after a long period of illness. She was 73.
Artist Michael Winters, a kind of “wandering Greek” who surfaces in various parts of the globe with his exhibitions, has written about his latest Greek adventure on Leros.
A writer dumped from a major literary festival is threatening defamation action against a premier over what she alleges is a "vicious personal assault".
Exhibitions
Beyond the books, the library shares its treasures
The National Library's refreshed Treasures Gallery now feels different yet familiar, with fresh carpets, paintwork, and new digital screens designed to answer the questions visitors always ask, reports HELEN MUSA.
Art
‘Teacher’ Nick’s select ‘show-and-tell’ session
In a recent show-and-tell, National Gallery of Australia director Nick Mitzevich took a select group of journalists on a preview tour of the gallery’s plans for 2026. Arts editor HELEN MUSA was there.
Update
Writers’ festival cancelled after swell of outrage
The axing of a Palestinian-Australian author has led to the cancellation of one of Australia's premier writers' festivals as its embattled board stepped down.
It may be four months until Easter, but the National Folk Festival team is already in full swing preparing for its 60th celebration of culture at EPIC, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
A musical, written from scratch and inspired by child-led ideas, awaits participants in a week of sessions Mr Tim and Ms Nat, reports HELEN MUSA in her latest Arts in the City column.
Swiss author Erich von Däniken, whose books offered up extraterrestrial explanations for humanity's mysteries, has died.
A copy of Action Comics No. 1, which first introduced the world to Superman and was once sold for 10 cents, has been auctioned off for $A22 million.
Dozens of authors have withdrawn from a major Australian festival over a decision to remove its only Palestinian writer because of "cultural sensitivities".
The board of a major festival has cancelled the appearance of a prominent Palestinian author citing 'cultural sensitivity' following the Bondi terror attack.
Home from the US on a semester break, 19-year-old Canberra jazz singer Matilda Lorenz is planning to show off what she’s been learning at the renowned Eastman School of Music for the past six months.
Fire and Ash has picked up where the previous Avatar film left off, raking in a billion dollars as cinemagoers flock to the science fiction visual spectacle.
The son of the Beatles' producer says no more secret tracks by the band will ever be released as he doesn't believe there is anything new left to uncover.
Arts editor HELEN MUSA says that "brilliant individual artistry" triumphed in her picks for the best five arts moments in 2025.
Streaming columnist NICK OVERALL lists his top five shows of the year, with a few honourable mentions.
Book reviewer COLIN STEELE reflects on his top five books for 2025.
